Does anyone else hear the word “midterm” and want to cringe or vomit. All of those projects and tests you waited until the last minute to study for, even though in the beginning of the semester you said you would get them done early. Who were you kidding right? As nerve-wracking and stressful midterms can be, see it as the mid-way point in your semester. Now you only have half a semester to go! Be sure to stay calm and follow these simple 7 ways to survive your midterms. I can ensure you that you will be a lot saner and a little less crazy.
1) Lots of Starbucks
This first tip may be a little bias since I am currently sitting in Starbucks writing this, but in general, drink lots of caffeine! It doesn’t necessarily have to be Starbucks, it could be Dunkin Donuts or your favorite mom and pop coffee shop down the street. I was never a huge fan of coffee myself but there are always other replacements like tea or lattes. But a nice cold or hot coffee trickling through your body can give you a great jumpstart into studying for your midterms. You need to stay hydrated throughout the day right?
2) An Organized List
An organized list is extremely important when studying for midterms. You could write this list in an agenda, on your smartphone or laptop, or even just a piece of paper from your notebook. Having an organized list helps you keep track of what you need to accomplish. Use lots of highlighters and colored markers to help distinguish between different classes. Then when you complete an assignment go and check that bullet point off. It will help you again keep track of what you’ve completed and still need to work on but seeing the check marks get more rewarding to look at as you go through the list.
3) Study with Classmates
Study with your classmates or friends! Even if you like studying alone you can still sit with other people and just pop in your headphones to tune everyone out. But when you have a question about something that’s going to be on your midterm, they are right there to help with answer Sometimes your other classmates may answer a question differently than you might and everyone can put all of their thoughts together.
4) Find the Perfect Spot
Finding the perfect studying spot is key to successful studying. You want to be in a place that is comfortable for you but also productive. Personally laying in my bed does not help me focus because I end up getting tired and want to nap. Even though sitting in a hard chair at a desk or table seems unpleasant it helps you sit up and focus more. Try places like your schools library, Barnes and Noble, or even Starbucks. Try to be somewhere that won’t distract you so you can stay focused and get work done!
5) Communicate
Communicating during midterms is really crucial. And by communicating I mean with yourself, your friends, classmates, teachers and your boss. You first need to communicate with yourself by figuring out what you need to do for you to be successful throughout your midterms. Communicate with your friends when they ask you to go out for a drink and you have to say no because you need to study for midterms. Don’t give into peer pressure! It’s okay, they’ll see you next week.
Communicate with classmates so you can all be on the same page about the midterm your about to take. Make sure you’re not forgetting anything and it doesn’t hurt to help each other. Communicate with your teacher about any possible questions or concerns you have about your midterms. Its better to ask than to go take your exam and have no idea what your doing. Lastly, communicate with your bosses if you work. Let them know your work load for midterms and hopefully your work load at work can be less so you have time to focus on studying and not being stressed out in so many areas of your life.
6) Don’t Forget to Sleep
Sleeping is so important while studying and before taking your midterms. I remember my teachers telling me in high school to make sure you get a good nights sleep before a test and have a big breakfast since it’s the most important meal of the day! You may think not sleeping and studying more will help you pass, but most of the time it just makes you more exhausted and your more opt to forget everything you just studied. Hey, maybe some people can pull all nighters and still get A’s on their exams but you should get some rest and take breaks when you’re studying! Don’t push yourself
7) BREATHE
Lastly, don’t forget to breathe! I know its hard not to freak out when studying for midterms but you have to relax. Study in intervals, take small breaks, go for a walk, or get another coffee. No matter what it is just take a few deep breathes and have faith in yourself! You got this!