Between classes, extracurriculars, social plans, and an endless stream of studying and assignments, college students have a lot on their plates (pun absolutely intended). So, what if you could make your daily routine a little more flexible? Enter: menus. In the wellness world, “menus” have quickly become a popular method to organize self-care activities and daily habits, from “oxytocin menus” filled with little mood-boosters to “evening menus” designed to help you wind down after a long day.
Certified holistic health coach Valerie Ribon, who popularized the idea of wellness menus, encourages her followers on social media to create personalized lists of activities they can choose from depending on what they need that day. Rather than following a rigid routine, you can mix and match activities that help you feel good, get things done, and take care of yourself all at the same time.
And with midterms season approaching on college campuses (seriously, how is this school year flying by so fast?), we could all use a little help navigating the chaos that comes with it. Between endless lecture slides, late-night study sessions, and trying to remember the last time you had a full night’s sleep, it can be easy to let self-care fall to the bottom of your to-do list. A midterms menu can help you balance productivity with breaks.
So, are you ready to build your own study season menu? Here are some ideas to create a midterms menu of your own, complete with appetizers, mains, and desserts, to help you survive exam week.
Appetizers
Every good meal starts with an appetizer, and your study session should be no different. These quick activities can help you get into the right headspace before diving into your notes.
- Clean your desk or study space
- Make your favorite beverage (tea, coffee, matcha — whatever gets you in the study spirit)
- Change into comfy clothes
- Put on a relaxing playlist
- Do the Wordle
- Light a candle or turn on some fairy lights
- Grab a snack to keep nearby while you study
- Put your phone on Do Not Disturb
- Make a quick to-do list of everything you need to study
- Stretch for a few minutes before sitting down
- Grab a fresh pack of gum or a mint
- Make your bed so you’re less tempted to crawl into it
- Find a study spot that makes you feel your most productive
Mains
Now for the main course. These are the more substantial items on your midterms menu, whether you’re catching up on notes or finally tackling that practice exam.
- Cross a main study task off your to-do list
- Review your lecture notes from the week
- Make flashcards for key terms and concepts
- Quiz yourself instead of just rereading your notes
- Work through a practice test
- Close your laptop and brain-dump everything you remember about a topic
- Explain a difficult concept out loud like you’re teaching it to someone else
- Break a big assignment into smaller, more manageable tasks
- Study with a friend and quiz each other
- Use the Pomodoro technique to switch between focused work and short breaks
- Attend your professor’s or TA’s office hours to ask questions and review
- Review the material you struggled with most in class
Desserts
You made it through the main course! Desserts are all about rewarding yourself and giving your brain a break. After all, you can’t spend every waking hour studying — and you shouldn’t have to.
- Take a walk outside to clear your head
- Have a short doomscroll session
- Read a couple chapters of a book (for fun!)
- FaceTime a friend
- Catch up on messages you missed while studying
- Watch an episode of your comfort show
- Grab your favorite sweet treat
- Take a walk while listening to your favorite playlist
- Do your skincare routine
- Play a game on your phone or computer
- Paint your nails
- Spend some time on a hobby you’ve been neglecting
- Have a little dance party or cardio session in your room
- Get dinner with a friend and talk about literally anything besides exams
- Put on your comfiest pajamas and get into bed early