Dear Students,
The good news: we're almost 2/3 through the fall semester. The bad news: filled with holidays, registration, events, exams and maybe even some cold weather, the final 1/3 can be a doozy. How do you make the intense final third of the semester as smooth as possible?
You probably thought the rest of this message was going to be about studying. I do think studying is a great idea, but here I want to focus on something even more important: your health. As the pace of the semester speeds up, it's easy to forget about taking care of ourselves. Here are a few simple things you can do to stay healthy this fall and ensure you're in your best shape to take on all the exciting opportunities and challenges in store:
- Schedule your shots. Public health experts are predicting a tough flu season and a surge in COVID-19 cases. The best way to protect yourself, your friends and loved ones is to get vaccinated and/or boosted. You can make appointments to get a flu shot on campus and the new "bivalent" COVID booster that protects against the recent variants of the virus. The science on the vaccines is clear: they are safe and effective.
- Get enough sleep. I know I talk about sleep a lot, but it's worth repeating. Sleeping well helps keep your brain and the rest of your body healthy, it buffers against stress and it improves your mood.
- Exercise. You already know that exercise is essential for good bodily health, but did you know that it also supports brain and cognitive function? Even in young adults, engaging in regular aerobic exercise has significant positive effects on cognitive function and brain morphology.
So, take care of yourself, and let's own the final third.
Best,
Dr. Drew
Joke: Have you heard of the physicist who got chilled to absolute zero. He's 0K now.
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