The leaves are continually falling in the oak grove, the weather is becoming unpredictable, and it’s reached the point in the semester where we’ve accomplished so much, but still have what feels like forever to go. While it may be easy to slack off and become irritable, there are some ways you can make these last weeks a positive experience and get out of the mid-semester slump!
1. Prioritize. While football games are happening and parties are going on every weekend, it becomes very easy to push your assigned reading off ‘just one more night’, till you end up 3 chapters behind the night before the exam. Cramming is not fun, and usually does not work well. Prioritize your academics by following the syllabus and making a realistic study calendar, it’s much easier to read 200 pages over the course of two weeks rather than in two days, even though it seems much more boring. Unless the zombie apocalypse happens, there will still be more social events and football games and weekends to spend with friends. Studying for a class once is much better than potentially having to retake it next semester!
2. Get outside. Yes the weather can be unpredictable sometimes, so take advantage of the nice days we have left! Why not grab a book and go study in the oak grove or in front of the library? There are also some great secluded spots outside to study on campus if you take the time to look around. Usually around ‘off-times’ most of the outdoor tables are completely empty, and definitely give you enough room to study with friends or solo. Get some of that studying out of the way so you’re sure to ace that big test you have coming up! Bring a friend and grab some food afterward or just hang out and enjoy the fall foliage and the various events happening on campus.
3. Use small rewards & take breaks. Staying on top of academics is key at this point in the semester, but it can also be difficult to find the motivation to study when Netflix will play the next episode for you without you so much as lifting a finger. This makes it very easy for that ‘one episode’ to easily turn into binge-watching a whole season over the weekend, or maybe even in one day. The key here is moderation. For every assignment you complete or certain amount of time spent studying, reward yourself with one episode of your to-die-for Netflix show. You’ll definitely want to finish your studies to enjoy whatever your specific ‘treat’ is, but make sure to pay attention to the work you’re doing, not just the plot of the show you’re going to be watching! Processing what you are reading in little pieces may actually help you understand it more, and makes large tasks seem much less daunting since you are only doing a small portion at a time.
4. Relax. College is a stressful time, and there is a lot of pressure placed on all aspects of our lives at this point. The most important thing is to make time to relax and make sure you are not stressing yourself out too much. Sometimes you do just have to let loose or be lazy, and that’s perfectly fine, as long as it isn’t hurting your grades too much. Take a walk outside to enjoy the crisp autumn air (and show off your fabulous fall outfit!) or attend a yoga class to relieve some of that built up stress. Work on what you can control, and let go of worrying about things that you have no control over, everything will work out in the end!
5. Have fun. While academics are one of the most important aspects of college, make sure you have time to spend with your friends making memories and having fun! Most of the memories you will have of college someday will not be about all the days you spent sitting in class! Some of the best memories I’ve made since being at school are the adventures I’ve been on to different cities just to get away from school and relax with friends. Plan a trip somewhere, be lazy for a night, or just set aside some time to have fun with your friends away from campus. One weekend of fun won’t destroy your GPA, as long as you’re smart about it, and can definitely help to improve your mood and reduce stress!
There are only a few more weeks of the semester, and finding the motivation to do anything at this point can be a real struggle, but I promise it will be worth it in the end! Finding the right balance of fun and academics will make opening up your grades at the end of the semester much less scary. We’re almost there collegiettes, just a few more weeks to go! Hang in there and good luck to all of you!