Midterms on the Way! Julia Slade Gives HerCampus Studying Tips!

With Midterms just around the corner, Julia Slade, sophomore communication disorders major at UMass and Vice President of Scholarship for Sigma Kappa sorority gives HerCampus tips on studying for midterms!

"I wanted to give some tips on Finals week. They may seem random or obvious, but they have always helped me"

1. The best way to avoid finals stress is to do your work/studying on time.
I would suggest ( and I myself am doing this) to start studying now. You may think, "Julia its only Wednesday.My midterm isn't until Monday." Well, with classes all day during the week and going out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night it will be Monday before you know it.
So after GLEE ends tonight, try studying.

2. Don't study on your bed.
This is the most comfortable place to study and that is the problem. The minute Macro Economics starts to bore you, you will fall asleep. Also studying on your bed makes it harder to fall asleep at night. According to various psych professors, you equate the stress of studying with your bed and therefore have difficulty sleeping.

3. Procrastinate...in a good way.
Studying non-stop will drive you crazy. So take little breaks. Reward yourself every so often with a 10-30 minute break. Go to the gym. Its brand new and awesome and after working out for a bit you will feel good about yourself and be energized to work. Don't want to walk that far? Watch a TV show. You are letting your brain take a break, so watch something stupid. Teen Mom, Real World, anyone? Or just hang out with someone who makes you laugh. Laughing instantly de-stresses you. After this break you will be ready to study again!

4.Drink Caffine in Moderation
Although it may help you to write that 10 page paper in one night, too much caffine is actaully bad for you. Before you down that Rock Star or Venti Mocha with 3 shots of expresso, remember caffine can make you moody. It also hurts sleep. Caffine will keep you awake longer and therefore cutting back the hours you sleep. The less you time you sleep the less restorative sleep you get.

5. Breathe
Do breathing exercises when you are stressed. Your heart is pumping faster when you are stress and slow breathing will help calm it down. You will feel better right away!

6. Know when/where your finals are.
The schedule is on your SPIRE account. Go look! If there is a building you don't know look it up on the map. A friend of mine during finals week walked to Totman Gym from Southwest for a final only to find out that it was in Boyden Gym. That sucks. I don't want this happening to you!