Take a break - you need it

By: Editorial Board

Posted: 5/30/08

So the time has come: the end of Week 9. We all know what this means: Monday marks the beginning of Dead Week.

Yes, the week when no tests are supposed to be given. The week when no events are supposed to take place on campus.

However, this is also the week when professors push their students to get that term paper in by the end of the week - because they, too, want to get out of here as soon as possible once Finals Week hits.

But our advice to all students - regardless of whether you have a research paper due during Dead Week - is to have some fun this weekend. Yes, "having fun" means many things, so let us specify: have some safe, legal fun.

Take advantage of today's Battle of the Bands taking place on campus. It is free. It starts at 4 p.m., and the last of the 12 bands goes on at 11 p.m. There is even a beer garden for those over 21 - but sorry, that's not free.

If you really want to stay in and get anything finished on Friday, then you can always head out on Saturday for the Flat Tail Festival, another free event on campus from 3 to 11:30 p.m.

Really, it doesn't matter what you do this weekend as long as you make it out of the lab, step away from the computer, take your nose out of the book and just enjoy yourself for at least a little bit.

After all, you will be no good to anyone if you are suffering from sleep deprivation and are overly stressed.

Sleep-deprivation.com states that lack of sleep can lead to depression, heart disease, hypertension, irritability, slower reaction time, slurred speech and tremors.

The brain's ability to problem-solve is greatly impaired, and your decision-making abilities are compromised. Some people even experience hallucinations after enough sleep deprivation.

Sure, you might think the solution lies in caffeine, but caffeine consumption carries risks, too.

Caffeinedependence.org states that consuming too much caffeine can have mood-altering effects, especially during withdrawal - you know, that time after finals.

Excess caffeine raises anxiety levels, can decrease motivation, cause difficulty concentrating and severe headaches. It also has effects of irritability and depression. Surprisingly, as stated on caffeinedependce.org, there comes a certain point when too much caffeine can cause drowsiness.

The website recommends that you take moderate amounts of caffeine in order for the stimulant to be helpful.

So enjoy the weekend, give yourself a pat on the back for (almost) making it through the school year, and remember: safe, legal fun.

Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.