The mid-semester slump is upon us as we struggle to maintain decent grades and pray our GPA makes it out alive. For many, this is the time where if we survive, we’ll probably make it through finals okay. I know that’s certainly the case for me. That said, here are ten things to help you remain calm and keep your head up as this stressful time approaches.
1. Relax, deep breaths
Before you become too overwhelmed, slow down, take everything one day at a time. The worst thing to do is create more stress for yourself when you’re trying to study for a dreaded test or write that twenty page paper. The best thing to do is to cut yourself some slack and take on whatever it is you are doing with a level head. At the end of it all, you’re going to be okay.
2. Get plenty of sleep
It’s true that the amount of sleep you get can either make or break your performance as a student. As difficult as it can be to find down time let alone sleep time during college, it’s a good life practice to get an appropriate amount of sleep. Thinking of pulling an all-nighter? I strongly advise against it unless you want to forget most of what you’ve spent the last four hours cramming for. Sleep improves memory immensely, so remember that for the next time you decide to forfeit those precious REM cycles. No pun intended.
3. Write everything down
If you’re not a “planner” person, it’s time to become a “planner” person. Personally, this is actually the first semester I’ve consistently written down my weekly homework schedule. I must say, it’s helped immensely and certainly improved my study habits. Holding myself to a schedule and physically writing down all of my “to-do’s” not only helps me to remember, it keeps me from procrastination.
4. Take a day off during the week
If you’ve been working hard in your studies and going strong all week, it’s time to take a night off. Go out with your friends, watch Netflix, enjoy that book you haven’t had time to read. Odds are, taking a day or night off won’t hurt you. Plus, you’ll feel recharged when you pick everything back up the next day.
5. Don’t bite off more than you can chew
There’s a reason Rome wasn’t built in a day and the same thing applies to you. If you look at your calendar and see that you have a million things to do in two weeks' time, don’t try to work on any of it then and there. I’ve done this and almost always regret it. Not only do I create more anxiety for myself, I risk not following the instructions of the professor, especially if they haven’t gone over the assignment in class yet. Pace yourself and don’t try to get too early of a start.
6. It’s okay to say “no"
This can be SO hard to remember, especially if you’re a people person. Personally, I love my friends and absolutely hate saying “no” to those weekend plans. But as a student, it’s important to remember that your grades come first. You came to college for you, so respect yourself by taking the time you need to get everything done. It’s tough but I promise your friends will still be there.
7. Take breaks
If you’ve been reading or writing for a while and things start to not look like English anymore, take a break. It’s actually better to take little breaks in between study sessions as it gives you time to process what you’ve been learning. For me, I find it helpful to stand up and walk around my room for a few minutes, allowing myself to clear my head.
8. Don’t panic
I am a type-A panic prone machine, so I get if this one is tough for you too. When responsibilities start to pile up and you feel like you’re not going to be able to get everything done, do your best not to be anxious. It’s inevitable sometimes, but if you take a step back, slow down, and pace yourself, things will feel a lot more bearable.
9. Confide in a friend
No one can handle life alone and that includes college life. Sometimes, we just need to vent to someone who’s willing to listen to our problems. The worst thing to do is bottle things up. You would also be doing your friend a favor if there’s something they want to confide in you too. Releasing all of those pent up frustrations from time to time really helps in keeping a clear head.
