It has officially reached mid-term. This means exams, papers, and presentations galore. While the work piles on top of you, your motivation is probably crumbling. It simultaneously feels like your days are eternally long and way too short. You might feel like you have no time for anything except work: not even eating or sleeping. Here are some tips to help you overcome the mid-semester grind.
Plan Ahead
If you know that you have a hectic academic week ahead of you, try to jumpstart the work when possible. This will free up time for other assignments, and you will definitely thank yourself later. The sooner you begin studying, the sooner you realize what you don’t understand or need more clarification on— visit your professor’s office hours and seek out help early.
Make a Study Schedule
Getting organized early is essential to a successful midterm week. Designate certain blocks of time for each class or assignment. Consider making yourself a checklist to cross assignments off when they are completed— this will be satisfying and rewarding. Making a study schedule will help you stay on top of your work and ease your anxiety.
Use On-Campus Resources
As Wake students, we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of (free) resources for studying, writing papers, research, and more. Use the peer tutors if you need more clarification on a class concept. Visit the Writing Center if you need another pair of eyes on your research paper. Or, stop in the Learning Assistance Center for help with organization and study techniques.
Follow @hercampuswfu on IG For Motivation
If you need a pick-me-up, scroll through the WFU Her Campus Instagram page. We post motivational and positive words of encouragement that are guaranteed to improve your day. If you still aren’t feeling inspired, remind yourself that midterms are temporary. Making a countdown to a future event or trip that you are looking forward to can help refocus your mindset so that you can keep your head up.
Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself!
I know this one is a lot easier said than done, but it truly is critical to maintain self-care. Many studies show that getting enough sleep is more beneficial to test performance than staying up later to cram. During the sleep cycle, the brain not only recovers and rejuvenates, but it also compiles and makes sense of the day’s events. Sleeping helps you better remember the material that you studied, so make sleep a priority! Also, if possible try to incorporate some sort of exercise regimen into your finals week. Even though it takes time away from work, physical activity is a crucial outlet to release stress and get your brain out of your books. Quick breaks to clear your mind are extremely productive!