Praise Olorunfemi

(Waking up that morning, the 11th academic week, I discovered I had a mixed feeling, my heart was heavy and pounding, I had a clutch in my stomach, and a heavy burden tied to my chest. I wondered what was stuck in my throat as swallowing saliva became hard. I asked my heart, are you falling in love again? It said no, exams are here already…)

As a student here in the University of Ibadan, life is a bit stressful by default already, placing the body under further stress opens a student’s health to debilitating aftermath and side effects of some of these dangerous practices. The majority of students never take exam preparations seriously until about two weeks before the exams, then they embark on a sprint race to cover up what has been taught for the past 10 weeks, and instead of just revising, they discover they are just learning at that point. The interesting thing there is, at that point, a realisation of the whole situation hits like a hurricane, your panic senses are almost hyper-triggered, and then at that point, you begin to feel the pressure mount in your brain, and your mind. For a brief moment, you lose concentration in an instant, which only leads to increased pressure, the point from which your lashes grow begin to itch, as you feel the vacuum in your head, probably you even have a mental picture of how empty the head is. At that point, a quick flashback of everything at stake, for a final year student the four, five six or X years that have been spent, for the freshman the need to make it to the next level, for the students in between the need to make a first-class and the face of whoever pays your school fees (could even be yours), flashes through your mind, and at that point, desperation has been beckoned on to play it role. Students seem to be left with no choice but to resort to healthwise, reckless practices. Such as engaging in an alarming streak of TDBs, which are most times aided with different kinds of stimulants, from the use of energy drinks to coffee, and in an extreme combination of both.

The Side Effects of Taking Energy Drinks

As a student, it is almost impossible that you have not come across the cautions against some types of energy drinks or a constant intake of these energy drinks. All energy drinks are stimulants of some sort, and these stimulants are literally chemical-based, that tamper with chemicals in our bodies that ought not to be tampered with. There are various health reports and articles out there with details of the content contained in these various energy drinks, and what their benefit and side effects are on the human body. As much as it enhances alertness for some time, the disadvantages of consuming energy drinks outweigh its seeming advantages. For what temporary reason for using energy drinks, no one wants to be exposed to the risks of, cardiovascular effects (that is, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, yes you heard that right!, risk of arrhythmias: disrupting electrical activities in your heart etc), neurological and psychological effect (it can aid migraine, increase your aggression level, increase emotional turbulence and mood swings, and cause restlessness), renal effects (renal matters concerning the liver, energy drinks causes your body to dehydrate than normal which has a direct impact on your liver) and a lot of other effects. Hence, most United States-owned medical websites, like CDC Healthy Schools, and National Library of Medicine sheds more light on these things.

Effects of Coffee Consumption

Although, coffee seems a normal harmless beverage, however, for students, frequent use of coffee should be avoided as much as possible. Like any other thing, coffee also has its own advantages, although, it seems beneficial to the health, however, consuming more coffee than what the body what the body can handle opens one up to some avoidable risks. Just like energy drinks too, it can also lead to a situation of increased heart rate and increased blood pressure, it can also lead to one being dependent on it, it can lead to a disruption of sleep pattern, which always have an adverse effect on the psychology of people, they become very easily irritable, mood swings, increased level of aggression, anxiety and restlessness. 

Furthermore, having seen the potential dangers in the consumption of these products more, now combining the two, is even more dangerous. As good as this product may seem to be, for whatever advantage these products may seem to promise, as a student, you must realise and understand that it comes with a cost to your health. Most people are fond of believing that since it does not have an immediate effect, then there is nothing to worry about, which is even all the more reason to be healthwise conscious and concerned about how we indulge in the use of these things. Moreover, the desperation that follows the pressure to “Cover” for the exams in two weeks, will definitely blur if not completely blot out the line of the regulations to control the consumption of these things, as you are tempted to keep taking these things as soon as you find yourself slipping during studies, and in just a session of TDB, you might take up to two or three bottles of Predator or Fearless, and for coffee, the easiest to abuse, you take as many as possible to stay awake. 

Side Effects of these Dangerous Practices 

There are ranges of side effects to the harmful practices, as desperation will push you to keep a lot of vigils, which naturally will even tamper greatly your sleep pattern, that alone, being enough to aid, anxiety, moodiness/ mood swings during the day, strained interpersonal relationship with people around you as a result of an increased level of aggression, restlessness, and constantly feeling exhausted. Lack of sleep can lead to a very drowsy day because you are drained of energy already, which can have a negative impact on your performance during exams. It is always advisable to have a very good and sound sleep at least 24 hours before any examination. The abuse of the coffee and the frequent use of the energy can also have an adverse effect on your level of retention and concentrations during exams, as it is possible for you to feel the urge to take these things during the exams or while you are on the queue to enter the examination hall, which is almost impossible, especially if it is fixed in the morning. 

Suggested Solutions

Irrespective of whatever the situation might be, you must be able to learn to take control of how much you become pressured. Whatever ethical practice you can engage in to settle your mind and increase your concentration, please do it. Whatever the case might be, never succumb to taking stimulants. Interestingly, most organisations, clubs, associations and even fellowships are rounding off activities for the semester, so students can prepare for the coming exams. If you have to go take a one or two-day break or retreat, it becomes important for you to take it, as your academic livelihood now depends on it. 

Draw out a feasible and realistic plan of how to cover what needs to be covered, make sure to break up the bulky courses into smaller chunks, and systematically concentrate on studying these bits one at a time. You can employ the “Pomodoro” technique. Also, make sure to cut down on all unnecessary activities, they can surely wait till after exams or next semester. Make sure your plan is embedded with a sufficient amount of resting time, so much so that the rest time embedded in your plan will prevent you from stuffing yourself. 

Also, you can join yourself to a group for studies during the day, as you most likely will get more to cover when you belong to a serious study group, and even when you go for TDBs, after an intense brainstorming session with your study group, you can go and sleep, so your brain can process all you have learnt in the study in the group. Finally, in place of taking energy drinks and coffee, it is much more advisable to take fruits. For example bananas will give you more energy than energy drinks, however, it releases this energy gradually, and over a longer period of time, with no side effects. Also remember to stay positive, as, a healthy mind is also sound health, which only means a better performance.