It’s that time of the semester where everything seems to speed up incredibly fast and we begin the frantic rush that is midterms week. Spring Break is so close, yet so far, and with professors throwing exams and papers at you at a million miles an hour, it seems further and further away. In order to stay sane and get through the exam week, here are a few study tips that will make the week a little bit less miserable.
1. Â Prioritize
Okay, so let’s say you have two papers and four exams this week. Taking into account when the most important items are due and prioritizing them will help the studying process immensely. Giving an allotted amount of time to each task may help keep you on track. Make a list of what is due either on paper or a homework app on your phone, and keep track of the time you are spending on each task. Breaking each assignment up into small steps will also help you keep your list in check.
2. Â Reward Yourself
Sometimes, we just need incentives to get anything productive done. Maybe if you study for a certain amount of time, then you can reward yourself with one episode of Gossip Girl/Walking Dead (whatever floats your boat). This one is tricky because you may not want to stop at just one, but just remind yourself that you’ll be able to have your reward again… after you accomplish another hour or so of work.
3. Â Drink Something Yummy
Sipping something warm and delicious makes studying a little less painful. Caffeinated drinks may also help you stay more alert and able to take in more information. Make sure not to overdo it with these drinks because it could conflict with your sleep schedule and cause nervous jitters. Starbucks and local coffee shops around D.C. and Arlington have cozy and quiet atmospheres that may help your studying mood, or here are some incredible hot chocolate recipes that will help you through the study blues.
4.  Don’t Let Yourself Become Overwhelmed
You want to know the one thing that guarantees you will not do well on an assignment? Stressing yourself out. Yes, I do realize that some people thrive under pressure, yet if you are trying to study for two exams and write a paper while juggling roommates, friendships and personal hygiene, something is going to get left behind… and it will most likely be your sanity. Remember to take breaks after a certain amount of sitting/studying and take care of yourself and your own well-being (yes this means taking time to shower).
5. Â Do Not Memorize
I’ll tell you something that I learned in my first semester of college: You will not succeed by memorization. When I actually sat down and read my textbook and reviewed my notes, setting out to learn– not memorize, I retained so much more information and actually was able to recall that information on my exam. It was such an epiphany for me: “Wow, I actually know this, it all makes sense”. It’s a liberating feeling. (Here is an article to save yourself from having to memorize what Fluroquinolones are useful for).
Bottom line: Relax and let yourself breathe. Spring Break is right around the corner, you got this, girl.Â