At this point, midterm week is already upon us, so all of that advice about being prepared, studying early and writing papers ahead of time goes out the window. Last night, I painfully watched one of my roommates struggle to write a ten-page paper on Socrates just hours before it was due. This morning, my other roommate decided to skip class and hand in her midterm late. Spending more time on the exam would only knock her down a letter grade and handing in the assignment on time would surely result in failure.
Now while I do think my suite is suffering from early on-set senioritis, there has got to be a better way to deal with the midterm workload. Here are some tips on surviving midterms:
Get Away from Distractions.
If you’re in a time crunch, get out of your room and away from distractions. The library is a great place to get focused. Seeing everyone around you working provides some serious motivation. You may also run into someone who’s a lot worse off than you and in the middle of a breakdown. If you know this person, console them. If not, be happy it’s not you and remember your paper/project/test is not that bad. Find a quiet place to sit or rent a study room and get to work.
If the library is not for you, other distraction-free places to work are the study lounge behind the Max and the study room on the sixth floor of Walker. The lounge has big comfy chairs and large tables, while the sixth floor study room has individual desks. So whatever your study style, there’s something for you.
Take breaks. But NOT social media breaks.
A loss of inspiration can be extremely frustrating when trying to finish an assignment under pressure, but the best way to continue being productive is actually by taking a break. Go to Em Café. Watch a 30 minute TV show on Hulu. Take a walk around the Common. Eat ice cream out of the carton. Whatever you do, just avoid checking social media sites. I know it’s tempting, but a break should help clear your head, not over stimulate it and provide more distractions. A five-minute facebook stint is never just that. With links, and pictures, and articles at your fingertips, it’s bound to lead you further away from accomplishing your goals.
Leave your phone at home (or at least buried in your bag).
I don’t know about you, but every time the screen of my phone lights up with a reminder, notification, or text, I have to check it. And if I don’t, it’s lingering in my mind (Who liked the picture I just posted on Instagram!?!?). I know leaving your phone at home seems impossible, but I did it last week (on accident!) and found myself being very productive. It led me to leave my phone at home the next day too. Just make sure if you have plans for lunch you set them in advance.
Use your resources.
And not just those at the library. The research librarians can be extremely helpful when working on a big project that requires in-depth information. There are also tons of critical analysis anthologies on everything form poetry, British literature, Greek myths, and all of those other classics that are impossible to understand. But if those sources are still difficult to interpret, don’t forget about your peers, professors, and family. Don’t be afraid to go to your professor for help. A lot of professors love meeting with their students and will often provide helpful starting points. They can also clarify anything you went over in class, which means you’ll have a leg up on your classmates.
If you aren’t comfortable going to your professor, don’t forget about your family members. If your dad is knowledgeable in business, call and ask him if he can point you in the right direction. If you have an uncle who loves Socrates, ask him to highlight key themes. Their insights can help you move forward on a project that seemed impossible.
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans.
When all else fails, indulge in this yummy treat. Trader Joes sells Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans for $3.99 for a 12.5-ounce tub. They are a delicious alternative to coffee and are perfect to share with the rest of your study buddies.
Happy Studying! Midterms end next week!!
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