As midterm season approaches, classes are getting harder, and as a freshman myself, I recognize
that student burnout is much more common than people think. Coming straight out of high
school, nobody really warns you how fast week four sneaks up on you, or how quickly three
exams and two papers can completely drain your battery. It can affect all groups in college, but
how do we avoid it?
1. Expand your study spots
Studying in your bed is a trap, distractions are everywhere and you’re less likely to get anything done. I’d read two pages of my textbook and immediately end up taking a two-hour nap or scrolling TikTok. Switching your scenery and going to the top floor of the library or a cute coffee shop off campus completely changed my focus. When you separate where you chill from where you grind, your brain actually registers that it’s time to work.
2. Master the “pomodoro” trick
Learning how to study is genuinely life changing, but not everyone learns how to do so. One of my professors showed me something called the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of solid, locked-in studying, followed by a 5-minute break to stretch or grab a snack. But the best part about this is, you can customize it! You can do 10 minutes of studying, or even 5. Knowing I get a break super soon makes starting a daunting chapter way less intimidating.
3. Put “Do Nothing” Time in your planner
If I don’t block out my downtime, I just won’t take it. I literally started scheduling 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM every night as “me time” in my Google Calendar. Whether I’m watching Love Is Blind or calling my mom, treat your break time with the exact same respect as your study blocks, no open textbooks allowed. Sometimes just a friendly reminder to put yourself first is what you need.
4. Dump everything out of your brain onto paper
Having ten different test dates and assignment rubrics floating around in your head will send your anxiety straight through the roof. Every Sunday, I sit down and write a massive “brain dump” list of literally everything due that
week. Once it’s mapped out in front of you, it stops feeling like an unbeatable monster and turns into a manageable step-by-step checklist.
5. Pulling All-nighters is a trap
When people started bragging about staying up later and getting less sleep, I assumed it was a direct correlation to better grades and more dedication. I learned the hard way that cramming until 4:00 AM on energy drinks does way more harm than good. You wake up with a foggy brain and end up blanking on questions you actually knew.
Prioritizing 7–8 hours of sleep before an exam leaves your mind sharp enough to actually recall what you studied.
6. move your body (even just a 10-minute walk)
When I’m stressed, my default setting is laying down. Forcing myself to put on shoes, leave the floor, and just take a quick walk around the quad works wonders for resetting my mood. Getting fresh air and getting your heart rate up
for a few minutes completely clears out that heavy, burnt-out feeling.
7. Stop studying with people who stress you out
Group study sessions can easily turn into collective panic parties if you aren’t careful. If sitting with your friends just devolves into everyone talking about how much they’re failing and how hard the professor is, leave! Surround yourself with people who actually want to quietly work, or just study solo so you don’t absorb everyone else’s chaotic energy.
8. Feed yourself actual food
Living off dining hall cookies and iced coffee sounds fun during week one, but by midterms, your body will absolutely crash. Fueling your brain with actual meals, protein, water, and some real fruit, keeps your energy levels stable so you aren’t fighting a massive sugar crash right in the middle of a lecture.
9. reach out before you’re drowning
Professor office hours used to terrify me, but going before I completely failed a test saved my grade. Professors and TAs actually want to help you, and going to them with specific questions shows you’re trying. Julia N Visor Center and writing labs are free resources you’re already paying for with tuition, so use them!
10. Remember that one exam doesn’t define you
It is so easy as a freshman to feel like one bad midterm grade is going to ruin your entire life and future career. Take a deep breath: it’s just a test, and you are so much more than a letter on a screen. Do your best, give yourself some grace and remember that there is an entire life waiting for you after midterm week ends. You got this!