Midterm season has begun once again at YorkU. Scott Library has the late night study hours posted, lineups for Tim Horton’s coffee are longer, and everyone looks just a little more dead inside. It’s a scary time of year; test anxiety is real, and it’s hard walking into an exam worth a large portion of your overall grade, knowing just what is at stake. While, personally, I don’t have any exams right now, I’ve still felt the stress and pressure in previous years and have picked up a few tips on how to survive this crazy time of year from my own personal experience, as well as from friends and classmates. And remember, surviving midterms doesn’t necessarily mean getting A’s on everything, it means being able to walk in and out of your exams with your soul—and sanity—still intact.
Tip #1: Know how you study best
Do you study better with a partner/in a group, or by yourself? With or without music or snacks? At home, at school, or somewhere else like a coffee shop? Do you need to explain the course content to someone else before you can fully commit it to memory or can you simply read through your notes and be ready? Know these things so you can create the most productive environment for yourself when study time comes around. For me, I study best alone, with super quiet or no music (definitely no snacks), and at home. I actually hate reading my notes in front of other people, or if I am studying for something in public, I try to keep my voice as low as possible—for some unknown reason, I’m really embarrassed by my notes and studying habits and I have this weird, perpetual fear that someone who knows the content (or language) will be sitting nearby, silently judging my habits or notes. I need to be in my most natural environment so I can feel comfortable reading my notes out loud or walking around while summarizing the content to myself.
Tip #2: Find ways to relax or let off steam
Whether taking baths with super pretty and nice smelling bath bombs is how you relax before and after an exam, or if you’re a trampoline fan like myself, it’s important to find ways to relax and clear your head. Before a midterm, your head can be filled with all kinds of worries and things you may tell yourself that actually aren’t true; relaxing and taking time to do something enjoyable can really help you say goodbye to those thoughts. A few weeks ago I had a major test on the same week as multiple assignments, and another major quiz worth 15% of my overall grade (seriously, how is that even a quiz anymore?). I was absolutely freaking out and hardly had time to get all those things done. However, I was able to go into my test more confident because I had made time to sit down with a friend right before the test and we spent almost the entire time laughing about whatever. It was really nice, and almost a solid hour of straight laughter I felt a lot of the stress lift off my shoulders. Clearly, the rumors about laughter being good for you are true.
Tip #3: Treat yo’ self after your exam
Whether you feel like you did well or not, it’s important you reward yourself for simply getting through the exam and trying your best. So go get some froyo, buy a whole pizza and eat it yourself, go out with your friends, take a 24 hour nap, do whatever makes you feel good. At the end of the day, you made it, you completed that exam, and regardless of grade that’s an accomplishment on its own. Recognize your victories, even if they don’t seem like victories at first. You can do this!
Good luck to everyone in exams this period!
Image Source(s) – 1: http://elkstudies.tumblr.com/post/125394293845/academicmind-some-of-you-have-requested-that-i
Image Source(s) – 2: http://www.themakeupdummy.com/2015/12/21/diy-galaxy-bath-bombs/
Image Source(s) – 3: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/23/healthy-frozen-yogurt-toppings_n_1684906.html