I think all of us can agree that the semester is officially getting too real… Whether you are a first-year who feels like they just moved in, met their future bridesmaids, went to their first house party and mapped out their new classes, or an upperclassman who got to reconnect with their college town friends and visited their favorite study spot again, the new is wearing off fast. The weather is getting colder, your friends are staying in more to study and suddenly everyone is getting a mystery sickness- now what??
It is so easy to already feel like you are counting down the days to Thanksgiving break to the point you stop living in the moment. It is normal that the schedule you created during syllabus week might just not match your mid-semester workload anymore. It is important that during this time you take dedicated study blocks and take scheduled breaks for yourself to avoid falling into a slump. Feeling burnt out and getting hit with a campus-wide mystery illness at this time is completely normal and sometimes out of your control. It’s all about your attitude toward how you deal with the situation.
Soon, midterms and big projects are approaching, and it dawns on you that maybe you still don’t know what studying tactic works best for you, or you still haven’t clicked with anyone in your classes. Tackling issues like this is easier when you break them down into smaller, daily checklist items and don’t wait until the last minute. Don’t be afraid to utilize campus resources such as writing studios, tutoring or office hours before deadlines start piling up. However, we all know that this mid-semester slump isn’t just because of academics; it’s also your social life slowing down.
You may be noticing your friends are hanging out less and less, and group chat plans are being made for the weekend. It’s important to meet everyone, including yourself, where they are at. Since most everyone is studying and staying in more, start planning low-key social outings. Some fun ideas to still get your social fill are doing things like having study dates at a cute coffee shop, having wine and movie nights and group dinners. These are some easy ways to stay connected without messing up everyone’s busy schedules. Another important tip is to set your boundaries to have everyone on the same page. Emphasize the importance of getting rest and maybe taking social media breaks so you don’t run on fumes until Thanksgiving break, which feels years away.