Ughhh midterms. Just another thing to add on to all the stress of college. For the majority of people, midterms are more stressful than finals, because on top of midterms you still have other school work including projects, quizzes, readings, etc. But, of course, this is the week that we have to get through to get to the end of the semester, so here are five tips to do just that.
1. Be confident
Sometimes, it is really hard to have confidence in yourself. Believe me….been there, done that. During the midterm week, the goal is to have confidence; confidence in yourself and confidence in the exams. You have to believe that you are trying your best and your best is enough. By having confidence in the exams, you have to think that you will know everything on each test. Most likely, if you go in with a positive attitude, you will come out with a positive outcome.
2. Manage your time
Write down everything you have to do during the midterm week in a planner. Manage your time with each subject. Don’t spend too much time on one subject and forget about the others. Of course, take study breaks, but don’t make these study breaks too long. Your priority for this week is your studies and your studies only. Don’t let other things get in the way. You may have to stay up long nights to actually get all of your studying in!
3. Drink water and eat balanced meals
Drinking water and eating balanced meals can help you be energized to study to the best of your ability. It may seem weird, but drinking water actually helps you remain calm. Make sure not to forget to eat and drink even if you are stressed. Don’t miss a meal just because you have other things on your mind. If you feel that you are in a rush during this week or any week, eat small portions of food including fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks.
4. Study hard
If you study all the notes you have and google the things you don’t understand, this will help you understand the material for your exams. Sometimes, rewriting your notes can help too. Make sure not to get distracted while studying. Don’t forget that it is not possible to memorize everything in one night, so start studying a couple days in advance!
5. Breathe
It may seem simple or difficult, but breathing is quite relaxing. If you take a few deep breaths when you get stressed, chances are you will relieve some of that anxiety. When taking an exam, if you don’t know the answer, just breathe and give it your best guess. It will be over before you know it. (But then again, you will have midterm week every semester until you graduate!)
Good luck on all of your midterms this semester. You got this!! Remember, once midterms are over, the semester is more than halfway done!!!
