Midterms are sometimes and can be the hardest peak in the semester, now freshmen students are trying to navigate through these rough spots. Here are a few of the hardest challenges students face after midterms while waiting for Thanksgiving Break relief.
Time management
Everybody struggles with time management; It’s tough. Prioritizing is the best way to conquer it. Having a planner or a whiteboard and sometimes even a to-do list are baby steps into managing your time better. Skipping a fun activity to get an assignment done can be crucial for your grade later on in the semester. Pick and chose between work and play, but make sure you prioritize your assignments first. Work hard, THEN play hard.
Netflix
IS DANGEROUS. Regulate how much you’re watching and minimalize how many seasons you watch in a week. I’m sorry but watching two full seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Orange Is the New Black” is not going to improve that History Renaissance grade of yours. Netflix is not an excuse your professors will accept after you turn in your assignment late, or after bombing an exam. If necessary, and this is for extreme Netflix addicts, don’t save your password. Let your roommate have it and change it regularly so you have to ask them for the password after you have all of your stuff done. Reward yourself with as many seasons as you want after your work is done!
Getting up at the crack of dawn
STOP GOING TO BED SO DANG LATE AND STOP DRINKING COFFEE AFTER 7PM. Your brain needs at least 45 minutes to create melatonin, (a chemical your brain releases to get you ready to sleep) so staring at your phone all night is not helping you sleep. Put your phone away, that way when your alarm goes off you have to actually get up to shut it off in the mornings, don’t roll over on top of it and muffle the sound, actually get up to shut it off.
Procrastination at its finest
Freshmen tend to have the hardest time with the beginning of a project or assignment versus the end. The best way to get yourself through this is to start with the second bullet point, skip the first part and jump to the second part. Once you’ve gotten through this part it will be easy to go back and finish the first part of the assignment or project. Delay your rewards: Netflix and friends. Start goals to get portions of what you need done, even small portions so you at lease have a head start.
Handling stress and sickness
Life happens. So do the flu, mono, bronchitis and sinus infections. Our immune systems can’t handle everything. The lack of sleeping, lack of exercise and poor choice in eating habits lower the immune system. Sounds like common sense, but sleeping and exercising regularly can improve your health tremendously. Stress happens. Being concerned about future assignments, exams and midterms to the point where it’s affecting your health is not healthy! It is healthy to have concerns but don’t let them overtake your everyday routines!
Living away from home
Skype and FaceTime are your BFF. Making a set time to talk to family and keep in touch despite your crazy schedule will help with the homesickness. Make your family (especially your younger siblings) get Snapchat, if you want to stay super close in contact. To get out of the homesick rut, get involved! Talk to your Center of Student Involvement, or talk to other student leaders to see what they suggest. Joining a club, or organization even halfway through the semester can give you another sense of family and support.
Changing your major
Students may have realized now, halfway through the semester that it’s time to make a big change. Continue to motivate yourself, even though some classes you are still currently in are no longer apart of your major. Keep in mind everything will work out and a major change is not the end of the world. Plenty of people need an extra year or realize a major change or two is necessary, don’t be upset with yourself if the change benefits you/your happiness in the end.
Nit-picky professor?
Professors are not here to be fair; they are here to keep you motivated. Many times they continue to be as nit-picky as they are because they care. They recognize talent and want to push you harder so you’re the best you can possible be. They talk among other coworkers and acknowledge your hard work; it does pay off in the end!
To all the freshmen suffering through post-midterm depression: Hang in there! Thanksgiving Break is right around the corner and after this semester it only gets easier.
Happy studying!