With Halloween coming to an end, midterm season approaches in full swing. These next few weeks will consist of students scrambling to finish essays they’ve had weeks to complete, cramming 2 months worth of content the night before their exam, and drinking an absurd amount of coffee. Whilst these aspects of midterm season are sometimes inevitable, there are things you can do to make this chaotic time a little more manageable.
Creating a balanced schedule is essential during the midterm season. When creating your schedule it is important to study smarter not harder. I’ve been using the Pomodoro Technique to take more effective breaks while studying. It helps me to implement 5-minute breaks after every 25 minutes of studying. During these breaks, I take a stretch, grab a snack, browse social media (with caution). During the 25-minute study periods, I break up the content I need to study into bite sized chunks so that I’m not as overwhelmed. This is key for procrastinators like myself because this method already creates a schedule for you. There’s even ‘study with me’ playlists on YouTube that play music during the 25-minute study period, and a different sound during the 5-minute break.
During midterm season, it’s easy to neglect your health. But you will be doing a huge disservice for yourself and your grades if you don’t implement healthy habits during these stressful times. An easy way to stay healthy is to go on a walk before or after studying. It’s a great way to clear your mind and stay active. When studying, I can find myself sitting in the same spot for hours straight and it makes me feel very lethargic and tired. But when I take walks, it boosts my adrenaline and gives me the energy I need to continue studying. Along with exercise, it’s important to eat healthy too. While you are studying, try to munch on some brain food and make sure you’re drinking enough water. After having a productive day filled with studying, exercising, and eating well, make sure to end it off with a good night’s sleep. Having at least 7 hours of sleep promotes good memory function, increases your mood, and strengthens your immune system.
It’s common to feel isolated, stressed and lacking social connection during midterm season. It’s difficult to make time with friends when you’re all busy studying for your upcoming exams. But maintaining these social connections during midterms is just as important as having a balanced schedule and implementing healthy habits. An easy way to maintain social connections during these times is to study in groups. It’s a great way to learn with and from your peers. If studying with others is not your forte then try taking your study breaks with your friends. Grab a coffee, go for a walk, have a 5-minute complaining session! Anything to get some human interaction so that you’re not cooped up in your room for a week straight, void of any human interaction. Maintaining connections during stressful study periods can boost your morale and motivate you to study hard so that you can soon enjoy even more friend-time after exams are over.
Regardless of if you’re in first year or just about to graduate, midterm season will always be super draining. So, remember to take care of yourself and know that your well being is more important than any grade. But, you can practice self care and do well on your midterms if you create a schedule, find a study method that works for you, implement healthy habits, and stay connected with friends. Good luck everyone, you’ve got this!