‘NEET’ knocking on the door, Don’t let fatigue take over your Child. Here’s how
NEET, as we all know, is one of the most challenging entrance examinations held in India. Your child may be attending NEET coaching for several months, and with just a few weeks before the main entrance test, it’s vital he or she take care of their mind and body. While students are often told to focus on studying hard, the fatigue and stress associated with the preparation of the exam are left unaddressed. An important thing to note here is that if a body is well rested, automatically the brain or mind will function better.
So, if your child has been feeling excessively tired lately? Or is losing the power to concentrate? That’s because he/she is overworked and exhausted. The key is to empower your child on how to strike the right balance between studies and adequate rest. However, before we find the solution to this exhaustion, it’s relevant to identify its source.
Adequate Sleep is Missing
For an aspiring medical student, sleep is last on the priority list at this crucial juncture. A good night’s rest works like magic pill and revives the body in the following ways –
• Relaxes the muscles
• Drops the blood pressure
• Restores the lost energy of the body& brain
• Enhances daytime performance
• Makes the brain more active
Recommendation: From the above points it’s amply clear that unless one gets an adequate amount of sleep daily, one’s ability to remember or retain the vast NEET syllabus is likely to be affected. Therefore, urge your child to get at least 6-7 hours of sleep every day. To keep the body clock in sync with the schedule, your child should sleep and get up every day at the same time. This way the body will automatically send a signal to the brain that it’s time to put away the book and hit the bed.
Hesitating to take Power Naps
Your child may be sticking to a proper sleep schedule, but what about power naps? The majority of us just sleep once a day. But here are surprising benefits of power nap you may not be aware of –
• A short spell of catnap can boost one’s energy and will curb the urge to reach out for caffeine infused beverages. Excessive intake of coffee is said to affect the memory in a negative way.
• Improves alertness and refreshes the mind.
Recommendation: Being awake for long hours can lead to fatigue. A power nap, which typically should be taken post lunch or between 1 PM to 4 PM can provide instant energy to your child body and will help them study for long hours. By only putting one’s head down on the desk for 15 to 20 minutes can make a big difference.
Not Following a Smart Study Strategy
This is yet another reason why students feel tired and fatigued. The strategy should be not only to study hard but also in a planned and structured manner. Your child should not only focus on covering the entire NEET syllabus, but should also follow a smart study strategy. For instance, relying on digital learning platform like Aakash iTutorthat facilitates reinforcement and self-paced learning can be helpful.
Recommendation: The NEET syllabus is very vast and one needs a certain level of planning, especially when the time gets closer to the main examination. Here’s what you need to do –
• In the last few weeks before the exam pay more attention to revision
• Do not pick up any new topic to study as it will lead to confusion
• Give equal weightage to all 3 subjects. Remember it’s easy to score in Chemistry & Physics
Proper Nutrition is lacking
You are what you eat. Certain kind or a combination of food is believed to cause lethargy and tiredness. To feel boosted and energetic throughout the day, your child must avoid following types of food and snacks –
• Starchy food like white bread, rice or pasta, noodles, pizza etc.
• Sugary snacks like cookies, doughnuts, pastries and energy bars
• Carbonated and fizzy drinks
• Excessive intake of hot beverages like tea & Coffee
The above-mentioned food can bring about drastic changes in the blood sugar levels of the body. For instance, if your child has a couple of doughnuts, the sugar and carbohydrate will provide instant energy. However, this energy is short-lived and will be replaced with the feeling of tiredness and sluggishness.
Recommendation: During this crucial time, a lot of students tend to stress eat.A bag of chips or a box of sweets is difficult to resist. Do not deprive your child of occasional treats. However, refrain from offering them rich and calorie laden snacks too often. Restrict junk or fast food once or twice a week. For the rest of the days prepare simple and fresh meals at home. Give them a lot of salads, fresh fruits. At the same time encourage them to drink a lot of water and natural juices to keep their body hydrated for a long time.
The Bottom Line
If you want your child to excel in the NEET examination they can’t be feeling tired and exhausted before the big exam. Identify the source of fatigue in your child’s schedule and rectify it immediately. Small yet significant changes can make a big difference.
by RG