First Year Newsletter
December, 2013
Wrapping up your First Semester
When you are done studying...MAKE THE MOST OF WINTER BREAK!
The ExternsEverywhere program connects students with alumni and friends of Denison for job-shadow experiences (aka. Externships). These externships help students choose their career path by providing invaluable insight into the “real world”.
If you are interested in an Externship during Winter Break, apply through DULINK. There are Externship opportunities posted on DULink with an application deadline of December 15th.
Here is more information on the Denison Externship Program:
Also, be on the look-out for your own externship by doing informational interviews with family and friends!
Please clean your rooms before leaving for winter break...
The Denison Sustainability Fellows will be doing a Green Cleaning Program on December 6th. Stop by and learn how you can clean your room and protect the environment from harmful chemicals. Those who participate in the Green Cleaning Program anytime between 12pm-1:30pm on Friday December 6th will win some awesome prizes!
Stop by tables in Shorney and Smith Hall on December 6th between 12pm-1:30pm!
HALLS CLOSE ON DECEMBER 21st at 9:00am-Clean your rooms before this date and make your RA happy! :)
Go Green and Stay Clean!!
After Winter Break is Spring Break and LEADERSHAPE! Applications due Dec. 13!
Don't miss out on the Granville Candlelight Walk!
Candlelight Walking Tour: 1pm-9pm
If you must study into the wee hours of the morning...here are some tricks and tips!
Late Night Eating & Studying Tips
- Eat regularly throughout the day - Do you miss lunch, squeeze in a quick snack between classes and then find yourself parked in front of your refrigerator at 10pm? Your body would prefer to get energy when it needs it, which is all day, rather than fill up at the end of the day. Bring food with you! Try to eat every 5 hours or so, and have a light snack for late night studying.
- Don't keep "junk food" around. Chips, dips and candy don't just "appear" magically in your food cupboard. One reason you snack on junk is because you made the choice to buy it and bring it home! Change your environment, change what you eat.
- Choose smart snacks. If you're hungry, eat. But especially if it's late at night, you'll quickly add calories if you're choosing candy, ice cream, wings, chicken finger subs, etc. Keep plenty of healthier, lower calorie foods around for when you're a little hungry (fruit, cereal, whole grain crackers, low fat cheese, yogurt, soup, etc.)
- Get physical during study breaks - Every hour (at least) stand up. Even better, take a short walk. This engages your metabolism, increases oxygen to your brain, gets your blood flowing again, and helps you refocus on studying. Don't eat food to stay awake.
- Take snack breaks rather than eat continuously. Everyone is different, but for grazers, it's easy to eat a lot more calories than you're aware of because you're focusing more on the book or the screen rather than sensing if you're still hungry or tasting the food. Eating mindfully without distraction may make you feel more satisfied.
- Portion snacks and meals - if you grab from the bag, the bag may be empty before you realize it. Serve snacks in a bowl or on a plate and put them away. A very large meal, more than 400 or 500 calories, will likely interfere with your studying by pulling blood to your stomach rather than your brain.
- Protein foods may help you stay alert. Foods high in protein may help you feel more alert and motivated. Examples: lean meat, beans, lentils, low fat dairy, soy foods, high-protein snack bars, nuts (~2-4 Tbs). Excess carbohydrates may help us relax and feel sleepy.
- Include fluid, and be aware of the calories. Stay hydrated AND get a movement break by visiting the restroom. Sometimes we reach for food when we're thirsty. If you're dehydrated, you may find yourself craving grapes or other watery foods. Make sure you get a minimum of 2 quarts of water a day, more if you're active or in hot weather. Avoid excess caffeine (>2 cups) as it may affect the quality of your sleep (and prolong stress).
- Avoid eating right before bedtime. Try to have your last snack at least 2 hours before going to bed to avoid gastric reflux and feeling tired in the morning (your body worked all night digesting). Usually our choices are sloppier when we're tired. Best strategy for studying is to eat small amounts every few hours.
- Hot foods, hot liquids - hot foods tend to make us feel more satisfied, and steaming hot foods are hard to eat quickly. Try bringing instant soup or instant oatmeal with you. Know where the microwaves are on campus to heat up a quick snack or meal.
- Limit sedentary time. Any form of exercise while you watch tv can help add activity to your day when you're short on time, but may also keep you from snacking, as the TV easily lures us to eat with constant food commercials. There's mounting evidence that this "sit time" is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic (Harvard School of Public Health).