New Delhi: Sore eyes, an eternally out of bed look, sample test papers, fresh stationary, a stack of rough notes, all these well describe the life of a student gearing up for class 10 and 12 Board exams. Exam time is when students are barred from watching TV, mobile phones confiscated and friends not entertained.

Compromising on sleep is one of the most common mistakes most students commit during exams. Many students live on caffeine and sleep for less than three hours each day. Experts believe lack of sleep gives a foggy head and recommend at least six hours of sleep a night.

“Good sleep helps improve thinking and concentration. It never pays to ask your child to study all night before an exam. Sleep benefits your child far more than hours of panicky last minute preparations,” says 56-year-old Delhi-based career counsellor Dr Aparna Kaushik.

Many feel it is easy to gulp down uncountable cups of coffee in order to stay awake and alert late at night, but when that high of caffeine wears off, one may feel even slower. Likewise, energy drinks that many students rely on in order to boost their concentration during exam time are actually very high on caffeine and electrolytes.

“My daughter will appear for class 12 Board exams next month. She is literally living on tea, coffee and energy drinks. I know it is not healthy, but she considers having a proper, full meal a waste of time. When she feels hungry or sleepy, she quickly gulps down caffeine rich drinks and instantly goes back to the study mode. She does not care anymore about fitness and physical exercise,” laments 45-year-old Meenakshi Negi from Haryana.

When a child is feeling stressed out about exams, he starts overdoing it. He might start studying more than it is good for him. Dr Kanika Rawat, 39, who works with a Delhi-based charitable hospital, feels parents should relax first and ensure a positive environment at home, besides helping the child to balance the activities in the day.

“Too much studies are not productive. Parents could either help children study actively, by actually helping them with their work, or they could just provide them with a conducive and calm environment. Parents should ensure their children do not overdo it. Since parents have a greater one-on-one opportunity with children, they will be able to deal with exam stress better,” says Dr Rawat.