I noticed this week that many of you have stopped sleeping. It shows. You’re stressing out. You’re not making a whole lot of sense. You look like hell.

This is a logical response to this time of the semester. So is general neglect of the self. You’re not being nearly as productive as you think you are, though. In those wee hours when you’re pumped full of caffeine and nodding off every 10 minutes, you’re not absorbing what you’re reading. You’re not being coherent in your writing. What you are doing is torturing yourself and not really getting a lot done.

This is also the time of the semester when you absolutely cannot afford to get sick. Three days in bed with the flu and you’re screwed. DO NOT STOP SLEEPING. You need sleep for your immune system. You need sleep in order to think. You are not a brain on a stick. (Make a sign and hang it over your desk if you need to.) Take your vitamins. Go for a walk. And get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. The next few weeks will be much smoother and more successful if you do.