Getting Prepared / Tips For Midterms

Can you believe it’s almost March already? Personally, we can’t! It feels like the semester just began, and yet here we are, approaching midterm madness. We know how stressful it can be to prep for midterms and sometimes, the desire to procrastinate can be powerful. That’s why we’re here to give you some helpful tips on how you can get ready for midterm exams without burning yourself out.

Sleep as much as you possibly can:

The temptation to pull all-nighters may be strong for some of you. However, we promise that it’s never worth it. Do you know what is worth it? A good night’s sleep. We know that sometimes, a last minute cram-session is unavoidable, but we highly encourage you to not make a habit of it. Without enough rest, your brain is simply unable to retain the information you want it to—no matter how hard you try to fill it. The more sleep you get, the better your recall will be. So, remember to slumber if you want to ace those midterms. If you find yourself struggling to get enough sleep at night, we recommend compensating for this by taking as many naps as you can during the day.

Stay nourished & hydrated:

Like a car without gas, try to think of your body as a machine that requires fuel. Without proper nourishment and hydration, you will not run smoothly / as a well-oiled machine. So, how can you optimize your performance? By staying adequately nourished and hydrated, of course! We know that as a college student, your budget may be tight. Do the best that you can with what you have at your disposal. If you have a school meal plan, now is the perfect time to take as much advantage of it as possible. We know how precious your time is, but do your best to avoid eating too much junk or fast food. Instead, try to add in some fruits, veggies, and lean protein for brain food. Sufficient hydration is incredibly important to your success. This means you need to drink plenty of water, guys. Not just red bull and coffee. 

Study smarter—not harder:

By planning in advance and setting aside time in your schedule specifically allotted for study sessions, you will be saving future you from an easily avoidable mad-dash to get everything done all at once. We recommend that you keep your study sessions frequent and short, and that you also remember to take enough breaks. By breaking your tasks down into smaller chunks and scheduling them in advance, you will find that you can get things accomplished in the end. Remember, it’s not a race to the finish line here. It’s more like one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. Set realistic goals so that you can study smarter—not harder. Don’t forget to celebrate each milestone and each win, no matter how small it may seem in the moment

Set aside time for yourself:

While your academic standing is undoubtedly critical, taking care of your wellbeing is equally (if not more) important. It’s crucial that you set aside time for yourself and practice infusing some semblance of self-care into your daily studying regimen. At the end of the day, you have to prioritize your physical and mental health above all else.

We know that it may feel like there are simply not enough hours in the day for you to go to class, study, feed yourself, have some me-time and to get some rest. We are also here to remind you that you are capable of anything that you set your mind to. No matter how you decide to prepare for midterms, don’t forget to take care of yourself while you do!