Some great health and wellness study tips to help college students have a successful academic career. Learn more stress management tips @UNHHealth on Twitter!

1. Health and Wellness Study Tips Office of Health Education and Promotion Health Services (603) 862-3823 www.unh.edu/health-services Twitter/Facebook: UNHHealth

2. Tip #1 Say “No” to All-Nighters Students who deprived themselves of sleep to study all night tend to have lower GPAs than those who made time to sleep. During deep sleep, the brain replays certain experiences from the day, which, in turn, strengthens the memory of what happened. It is thought that when it comes to factual memories, like names, faces, numbers or locations, memory consolidation happens only during deep sleep — a phase of non–rapid eye movement sleep. Source: Associated Professional Sleep Societies and http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1943283,00.html#ixzz0ZCQ8udWY (retrieved 12/9/09)

5. Study Tip #3 Forget About Energy Drinks Energy drinks are touted to be a healthy drink alternative but the reality is that these drinks are dehydrating, can have negative health effects (with or without alcohol), prohibit a normal sleep cycle (remember, Tip #1) and often crowd out other nutritious beverages. Instead, reach for milk, juice , hot chocolate or water as your energy drink of choice. If you feel you need caffeine, reach for coffee or tea, in moderation of course! You know the scenario: Mike glances over at his clock and it is already 11 PM. Another night has come too soon. He hasn't even begun to think about his ten page paper that is due at 9 AM. Mike definitely needs a jolt to get going so he grabs an energy drink out of his mini-fridge. What's this energy drink got in store for Mike? Caffeine and lots of it! But how much he’ll never know because it's not listed on the label, and it's often disguised as guarana or some other undefined supplement. Some reports indicate there is as much caffeine in one energy drink (Cocaine, Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar) as in 2 to 3 standard-sized Cokes. Because they are not regulated, energy drinks are not required to list the amount of caffeine and other ingredients on the label. So the message is, buyer beware.

7. Go for a walk or work out

8. Play video games

9. Watch television

10. Create art

11. Write in your journal

12. Laugh

13. Take a long shower

14. Listen to music

15. Treat yourself to a hot chocolate downtown

16. Make a list of all the things you want to do that are fun over the break

17. Meditate

20. Eat 3 meals and between meal snacks to keep yourself energized and to avoid extremes in hunger.

23. Shoot some hoops

24. Turn up the music and dance

25. Go to a Health Services yoga class or attend a class at Campus Recreation

26. Go ice skating or roller skating

27. Get on your board (if you have one) and skate around campus

28. Take a long walk in College Woods

29. You get the idea!!!Sources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_92494.html (last accessed 12/09/09)

30. Ahh, it is almost over! Have a safe and relaxing Break! UNH Health Services