As you again find yourself calculating how many hours there are in the semester if you skip all the sleep, please try to remember that we still have a few before we’re done. As much as we at The Poly love telling you to take some time off for yourself, we aren’t fooling anyone. But taking care of yourself will have a beneficial effect on your grades—not the other way around. Right now is absolutely the worst time to get a cold, sleep through a test, or have a screaming fight with your significant other, but all of those are more likely to happen to you right now than any other time this semester.

If you’re staying up all night studying for an exam, consider getting up early before it for a last review. Two hours in the morning can equal three or four after 2 am. Also, if you have many things to work on (who doesn’t?), consider taking a break to let a difficult concept percolate while you do "plug-and-chug" work on a different project.

Make a trip to the grocery store. Pick up some snack foods that aren’t chips or soda—prewashed, pre-cut baby carrots munched throughout the day will give you a lot more energy than BBQ-flavor Pringles.

Despite how much work you have, now is not the time to hole up in your room. You’ll most likely wind up asleep. Experts advise finding a place outside of your room (e.g.: the library or the McNeil Room) that you use only for studying—and don’t tell your friends where to find you.

Don’t forget the many resources available on campus to help you out, either. For those writing papers, the Writing Center is a huge help. The Learning Center has tutors available for many classes, as well. Ask around your class, too. Many students would be happy to form a study group to meet and to compare notes that you or they may have missed.