By Dr Debra Bartholomew
There’s a new diet fad in town
The craziest of the bunch
All the teenagers are doing it
It’s called “Fingers for lunch”
Or maybe it’s just those of us
Who are doing exams soon
Or maybe it’s just me alone
Eating his digits at noon
The nerves are working overtime
All I feel is a sense of dread
I feel like a hamster’s running on his wheel
But he’s doing it in my head
So how do I fix these feelings?
How do I change my diet plans?
I’m going to be doing exams soon
And I’m going to need my hands
Our Guidance Officer gives us a list
To manage our anxiety
Things I should practise in my daily life
To limit the effect stress has on me
Anxiety is even worse you know
When you’re on the spectrum of autism
It’s like what happens to a ray of light
When it falls upon a prism
So to ease the tension of these exams
Here’s a list of things to do
Strategies to keep you from having digit lunch
Or at worst munching on your shoe
Being well-prepared is crucial
So studying is key
Stick to a proper schedule
To manage your time effectively
Ensure that you get in some exercise
And especially enough rest
This will ensure that your body
Is at its physical best
Learn to do deep breathing
And you’ll feel your body de-stress
Be aware of your mind and body
That’s the practice of mindfulness
Take a walk, take a break, get some sunlight in
Listen to calming music, sing a song
Twenty minutes is all it takes
You can’t study all day long
Try relaxing aromatherapy
Oils of sage or lavender
Stretching is important too
Maybe even take up yoga
Try to free your mind from negative thoughts,
Free it from its mental jail
Stop thinking that your boat will sink
Say “Through this I know I’ll sail!”
The last thing she mentioned, funny enough
Was also eating to a routine
Drink more water, take in lots of Vitamin C
Cut out junk foods and caffeine
So there’s the list of strategies
To keep us from this finger food fad
No more nibbling on nails, from here on in,
I munch on regular food and salad!
I feel better about my chances
A bright sun’s on the horizon
Put me to the test, I’ll do my best
Exams here I come!!!
But there’s one more thing I must remember
And that’s that ‘I am awesome’ since my birth
I’m a child of God, and I will be great
Exams do not define my worth!
So be compassionate to yourself. These have been tough times. And when you’re feeling low, just remember these four letters….