Midterm season is here and many students face countless sleepless nights, staying up to study. However, it is great to take some time to focus on your mental and physical well-being. Stress is something that many people have to deal with, especially when major tests or events are coming up, so I would like to share my top five ways to de-stress during the midterm season.
1) Break up your study sessions.
Many times students will study for long periods of time without breaks because it feels like you will get more information in, however it may just be the opposite. Continuous studying without any breaks will make you feel more overwhelmed, and you’ll probably find it harder to concentrate. By taking a break, you will feel more motivated and have a bit of time to relax between your study sessions. Try taking a few minutes to break for every thirty minutes that you study and do something that you enjoy as a mini-reward to yourself.
2) Watch a funny movie/video.
Laughter is definitely great stress reliever, so watching something that you find funny will allow you to feel a little less overwhelmed. You can watch a short, funny video during one of your study breaks to put you in a more positive mood, or you can reward yourself once you’re done studying by watching a funny movie. Taking this time to watch something that makes you laugh will leave you feeling more positive and motivated.
3) Get some rest.
During midterms, many students tend to lose a lot of sleep because we stay up late studying, and this usually affects our productivity in a negative way. It is better to get some hours of sleep rather than pulling all-nighters because you’ll be more likely to remember important information for you test. Even taking a 10-15 minute power nap if you’re feeling tired while studying will make it easier for you to take in the information because you’ll wake up feeling a bit more refreshed.
4) Be active.
When stressed out, people tend to do things that have negative effects on their health. Examples off the top of my head include staying up really late, not eating as well or not being as active because we feel these things are a waste of time, considering all of the midterms we have to study for. A good way to refresh though or take a break from studying that will have a positive impact on your health is being active. You can take a walk, do some yoga, or go to the gym – even if it’s just for a couple of minutes in the day. Take some time to do something that makes you feel good.
5) Study with a friend.
Although many students find it easier to study alone, sometimes a good way to de-stress is simply by studying with friends. It’s a great way to stay connected, even if you’re only taking a couple hours to study with them. Not only can this make studying a bit more fun, but you’ll be able to help each other if you have any questions that someone else knows the answer to. You’ll be able to keep each other motivated and make sure that you’re staying on task.
Stay motivated, collegiettes!