The dreaded midterm exams, papers, and presentations are here and they’re terrifying. Syllabus week is long gone and sometimes it may feel overwhelming. Here are some helpful tips for relieving stress and getting prepared.
Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay
Outline a Schedule
Cramming is never the best option and just causes unnecessary stress as you stay up all night reading and rereading the same notes. Instead, try blocking out some time a couple of weeks in advance so you can study without the time pressure. This way, you also don’t have to miss out on any well-deserved sleep.
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Don’t Forfeit Your Social Life
In the whirlwind of assignments coming at you left and right, it may seem like a good idea to cancel plans with friends and family for the sake of a good grade. Although grades are important, so are your relationships. When you make a schedule and plan ahead, you can easily fit in some time for Fall apple picking! Maintaining your social life and taking a break from the books is also a great way to relieve some stress and have some fun in the midst of midterms.
Take Advantage of UMD Resources
If you’re having trouble in class, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Terps have tons of free resources for tutoring. You can also form a study group with friends, visit your professor during office hours, or visit the Writing Center for some help on your upcoming papers.
Wags for Wellness
As many of our seasoned Terps know, the Wags for Wellness program brings therapy dogs here to campus for some much-needed stress relief. Studies show that therapy dogs can help reduce stress and anxiety. Who wouldn’t want to pet some pups for their mental health? Check out their schedule here.
Self Care
We all have our own methods of relaxation. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a breather. Put on your favorite face mask and take a bubble bath, start a new book, or sweat it out in a Zumba class at Eppley. Do whatever you feel would help you become your most productive self. Most importantly, don’t skip out on sleep! Sleep helps to keep you focused and promotes memory, so don’t fall into the trap of pulling all-nighters for the sake of a grade.