As Week 10 comes to a close, you’ve almost made it through Fall Quarter (woohoo!), but exams are well on their way – and they just keep on coming. It’s easy to focus on getting that 4.0 (or as close to it as possible), blazing through classes and work, while completely forgetting to take breaks for eating, rest and clear your head.
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Here are a few ways to make sure you’re taking care of yourself…
- The Pomodoro Technique
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Developed by Francesco Cirillo, this productivity method forces you to remember to take breaks!
Simply set a timer for 25 minutes, and then reward yourself with a 5 minute break. Repeat this 25 minute/5 minute routine 4 more times, and then give yourself a 20 minute break. Use those breaks to walk around, get your blood flowing, send a text to a friend or grab a coffee refill!
- Pack snacks
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Our brains need glucose to function, so that study sesh may not be as effective if your stomach is empty. Grab a healthy snack from a vending machine or Wawa, or slip a granola bar or piece of fruit in your bag for when you get a great seat in the library and don’t want to lose it!
- Switch up your study location
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Changing up the space that you study in will energize your brain and help increase retention. Head outside, make plans to cram with a friend in their dorm, or stop by Starbucks to switch up the study routine. I promise that those vocab words will stick!
- Stay thirsty!
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It’s easy to forget to drink water. I know that I tend to forget! If you feel brain fog or a headache coming on, simply doing a quick check to see the last time you downed a glass is a good way to take care of yourself. Hydration heals your body from the inside out, so midterms are no excuse to be slacking on that.
A great way to keep reminding yourself to drink up is to carry a large water-bottle around. It may be heavy but that’ll incentivize you to drink up to lighten your backpack or purse! Getting a water-bottle with fluid ounce markings shows you exactly how much you’ve consumed so far, and how much you have left to go.
- Make dinner plans
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Try not to isolate yourself from your friends even if exam season is filling up your schedule. Text a friend or someone you haven’t seen in a while and make plans to grab dinner and catch up. Making sure that you surround yourself with good people who make you feel re-energized and check on you, is a great way to practice self-care during the busy midterm season.
- Dress up…or don’t!
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For some of us, putting on some cute earrings and your favorite sweater helps to give you that extra boost of confidence on the day of your exams. For others, it’s freeing to let yourself throw on a comfy hoodie and know that you’ll be cozy all throughout your 2-hour test. Know what works for you, and stick with it!
Exams are a familiar part of the college process — especially with Drexel’s quarter system — but that’s no excuse to not take good care of yourself along the way. And when you’re finally done, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back — you did it!