Exam Season: Some tips to take care of your eyes

Exam season is always extremely stressful; not everyone shows it in the same way though. My body and mind's way of dealing with the stress every year is mostly physical. For example, I'll start getting stomach cramps, I'll wake up nauseated and dear god, the insomnia. That's probably the worst part. I was classified as having a sleep disorder in my first year where nothing would knock me out for months, not even the sleeping pills my uni doctor prescribed me. I'll make another blog post for anyone suffering with a sleep disorder in this coming week.

Now, the lack of sleep, the stress, the looking at blue light for hours on your computer screen, reading for too long every day without a break alongside the common poor nutrition students have all contribute to horrible tired dark eyes. That's not horrible in the 'ugly' sense. In fact, when I'm studying I could not care any less about what other people see of me but that pain is agonising for yourself. That's why I thought up of easy routines to help my eyes come out of this exam season with less stress, less intense under eye circles, less bloodshot eyes and an ability to actually keep reading. If you don't look after your eyes it becomes a vicious cycle: you become tired but you keep reading which makes your eyes more tired (and repeat).

Drink Green Tea and keep the used bags.

Green Tea is the mainstream, health drink that's been used across ages. People drink it, put it in doughnuts (dying for the Crosstown Matcha doughnut) and use it for herbal remedies. It's not just a weight loss aid anymore. To make green tea work for your eyes, drink a cup, maybe a nice relaxing cup of jasmine green tea before bed or an invigorating ginger green tea in the morning. When you're done, don't throw the bag away. Get a little jar or container and put the tea bag inside, save up two and put them in the fridge. Leave the tea bag there overnight (or if you've not got time, leave it in the fridge for just enough time to chill, if absolutely desperate, freeze for five minutes). When you wake up (or whenever you need it) put two tea bags on your eyes and lay down for ten minutes before starting your routine. You'll feel great after, trust me.

Vitamin C so you can see.

The Body Shop Vitamin C (click on link for product)

So, I was in a department store and in the beauty section I was given a little shot that smelt like oranges, the sales lady told me to dip my fingers and put it on my face. I guess it wasn't a shot then. but it looked like it. Hmm, I wondered if I should, oranges are sticky, do I really want that feeling on my face? I did it because I was too socially awkward to say no. To my amazement, it felt sooo good. At first my face felt a bit sticky and gross like I'd imagined but after a little bit, the Vitamin C dried up and left my face feeling firm and awake. Now, you could either buy a Vitamin C product for all over face or, as I prefer, you could use a Vitamin C product specific for eyes and under eyes.

Rest your eyes from harsh lights.

There are so many products to help filter out that blue light on your computer or your phone. Flux is my favourite for my laptop and, though it can work on a timer so that at sunset your computer will gradually filter out the blue light, when my eyes are extremely tired I prefer keeping it on during the day too. This not only helps get you some sleep, thus decreasing the viciousness of the vicious tired eye cycle but also helps protect your eyes from harsh light when you're reading. The books for my courses were 80% PDFs rather than real books. As you can imagine, over three years my eyesight deteriorated quite badly which leads me onto my next tip...

If you need glasses, wear glasses.

At first when I got my glasses I was only -0.50, hardly anything at all. After a year at uni my eyes went to -1.00 and now, I desperately need an eye appointment because though I'm short sighted, it strains my eyes reading without my glasses. I got contacts and they worked; they made me able to see even when I didn't want to wear my glasses. But, contacts do not compare to glasses. They can end up hurting your eyes by drying your eyes out after a few hours and glasses, though chunky, though annoying, don't do that. If you can wear your glasses instead of your contacts whilst revising all day, please do, it helps.

#beauty #health #eyes #lifestyle