Take a deep breath everybody, it’s over. The race against the clock to crank out an assignment before that dreaded 11:59 mark. The sleepless nights as we bombard our brains with all sorts of information so we can regurgitate them on that final. The social pressures of making time for all of your buddies because you know it could be a few months until you see each other again.
I know I’m guilty of sacrificing sleep and forcing myself to power through, usually facilitated by energy drinks and junk food. Because let’s face it, in the earliest hours of the morning and after running on fumes for most of the day, where else is there to eat? I know the options range far and wide, but when you’re a college student looking to eat cheap and at 3 a.m., fast food chains merely have to flutter their eyelashes with that neon “DRIVE-THRU OPEN 24HRS” and before you know it, you’re not sure whether that honey butter chicken biscuit is to comfort your anxiety or fuel your body.
After 4 semesters of that grueling routine, I realized that the more I indulged, the less attention I could pay. What I mean is, I needed breaks more frequently, I started to zone out faster. Sustained focus became impossible. So while we all have something we’re striving for this summer, be it that internship you know will look great on your resume or that summer body that will look great on your social media profile, I’m dedicating this summer to reestablishing my ability to concentrate effectively and understanding what causes my mind to lose focus.
The first habit I want to drop is caffeine. It’s no secret that caffeine can get you going and give you that kickstart in the morning so you’re ready to go out and conquer the day. But caffeine comes in many forms, mostly sodas, energy drinks and coffee. Let’s just ignore the long-term effects on your enamel and focus on the short-term. The crash. Some people say that they need some of good ol’ Joe just to feel human in the morning and other people on the spectrum say that caffeine doesn’t really ‘affect’ them, they just like the taste (insert caffeinated drink of choice). Well, I hate to break it to you, but it’s because you haven’t let your body get rid of all the caffeine yet. The reason you can’t function without your coffee is because your body is still trying to purge the caffeine from your system, as a result, you feel groggy. This hangover is the biggest reason I want to quit caffeine for an extended period. As part of revamping my focus, I’m hoping training my mind is a better strategy compared to loading it up with fleeting, supplementary and unnatural energy. The brain deserves a summer vacation of its own.
The point of all this is to see whether or not I can whip my mind into shape in a sustainable manner. Despite the tradition of making ‘New Year’s resolutions’ on January 1st, summer provides a better opportunity of reinventing yourself because the stresses of school or work are not dictating your routine for a few months unless you choose otherwise. After the caffeine, I plan on engaging in active reading of paperbacks, hobbies that demand creativity, healthier sleep habits and maybe, just maybe, I’ll try exercising. If these activities have any profound effect on the way I process the world around me, then they will be documented accordingly.
