It’s midterm week here at the University of Kentucky and unless you’re one of the select (and very lucky) few who don’t have a single exam this week, you’re probably extremely stressed out at the moment. I’m definitely no pro when it comes to surviving this week, I don’t think anybody actually is. However, I have some tips that might seem like common sense on paper but the majority of college students don’t follow them.
Make a study schedule and stick to it
Sit down and figure out how much time you need to spend studying for each of your midterms and make a plan. I’ve found that studying in thirty-minute intervals with small breaks in between has been the most effective for me. I sit down at my desk and work for thirty minutes straight, whether it be reading a textbook, taking a quiz or working on a study guide. When the thirty minutes is up, I’ll watch a quick YouTube video or scroll through social media for ten to fifteen minutes and then repeat this until I’m finished.
Study at night before bed
Reviewing materials as you’re getting ready to fall asleep has been proven to help you better retain the information you’re trying to learn. However, this does not mean you should cram the night before a big exam until 2 AM. You should do the bulk of your studying during the day and simply review your study guide a couple of times before you fall asleep.
Avoid all-nighters
I know that pulling an all-nighter to cram for an exam seems to be the norm for college students but you should really try to avoid them at all costs. All-nighters are probably the worst thing you can do for yourself the night before an exam because your brain actually loses efficiency for every hour of sleep deprivation.
Take care of yourself
It’s really easy to forget about yourself when you get super busy with school. Chances are you’re not drinking enough water or even skipping meals. Don’t get me wrong, school is extremely important but nothing is ever more important than taking care of yourself. Taking care of yourself will also help you perform better on your exams as well so there’s really no reason to not do so.
Hopefully, these tips help you make it through the week but if all else fails, remember we have fall break to look forward to once they’re over.