It’s that time of the semester again where the assignments are piling up, the stress levels are getting high, and it feels like there is no break or end in sight. Welcome to midterms! I know things can feel overwhelming at the moment, but it is important not to freak out and learn some strategies that might help you through these tough few weeks. I’ve been doing midterms since freshman year of high school, and honestly, they never get easier, but I have gotten smarter with my planning around them.
The first thing you should do is make a to-do list. Organize all your assignments by class and deadline to visually see what projects are due first and are of the utmost importance. I always draw mine out in a notebook and color code it, but there are plenty of ways to be more tech-savvy and do this on an app too.
Next, make sure you have everything you need to succeed. Is your laptop charged? Do you have enough pens and pencils? Can you find a quiet space in your home to study? If not, make a plan on how to acquire these things. Maybe go to the 3rd floor of Fogler to study instead of your living room, where your roommate likes to hang out and watch TV with you. Try to eliminate as many distractions as possible and make sure you are set up for success in studying and completing your exams. Make a plan on how to succeed and stick to it. Also, don’t be afraid of office hours because talking to a professor can be a great way to clarify any confusion.
Lastly, make sure you are taking care of yourself. Get enough sleep every night and try to de-stress. Recognize when you might need to cut something extra off your schedule for the week and communicate with people about your stress levels. Do things that make you feel good about yourself, but remember that sometimes self-care is about confronting the problematic thing rather than avoiding it and relaxing.
No matter what, remember that we are going through an unprecedented college experience and that things are tough right now for everyone. You are more than any grade you receive. Although it is important, your progress in school does not define who you are 100%. Best of luck with studying, and please take care of yourself!