“Why did I wait until last minute?” you’re probably asking yourself as midterms are rapidly approaching. We’ve all fallen victim to the dreaded anxiety and stress of midterm week. Instead of pulling an all-nighter at the tech center, there are ways handle the stress. Let’s be real: we’re all prone to procrastination, but avoiding it will save you from the 3 am coffee trips to the TECH Starbucks and seemingly endless tears of frustration.
Here’s how to avoid procrastination:
Go to your professor’s office hours. Professors are here to help you. While they might be intimidating, your professors will definitely appreciate your effort. Office hours can not only give you clarity regarding topics that are difficult to understand, but attending them will also show your professor that you are a diligent student and care about their class.
Make study guides ahead of time. I know, we all say that we’re going to do this and it rarely ever happens. I used to wait until a day or two before a major exam to start making my study guide. I kicked this habit to the curb, however, and realized that making a study guide the week before can make a big difference. Not only are you slowly familiarizing yourself with the information, but also you’re ultimately saving time and will be less likely to stress.
Highlighters are your best friend. Seriously! Highlighting your notes in different colors can help improve your memory and accelerate your recall time. Utilize this method and organize your information efficiently. (Plus it’ll make your boring notes look pretty).
Read your notes aloud. Ok, you might not want to this at the TECH center or the library. In an area where you have privacy, pull up your Powerpoints and read the slides out loud. I was dubious at first, but this tactic actually works! There are many benefits to reading text aloud, such as sharper focus, better comprehension skills, and improvement of reading/writing skills to name a few.
Study with a friend. This sounds like a no-brainer. If you feel like you’re alone and inadequately prepared for an exam, you’re likely to feel more panicky and stressed. Having a study partner can improve your grades by reminding you of important deadlines, studying with you, and understanding that the stress is so real. If you don’t have any close friends in the class, send out an email on Blackboard and reach out to fellow classmates. Maybe you can even suggest a breakout room in the TECH center. It’s a lot less scary than it seems!
Take care of your body. This is last, but certainly not least. It’s easy to neglect your body while you’re worrying about midterms and papers and other obligations. Remember: your body is your friend and you need to treat it well. Stay hydrated, make sure to still eat meals, and try to go to the gym a couple of times a week. It’s hard to make time for physical exercise, but working out is a natural stress reliever and will leave you feeling energized