The middle of the semester can be stressful and exhausting, especially when you have midterm exams and papers due! Don’t let the madness get you down!
Here are 8 tips to help you survive the midterm craze.
1. Start Early!
Take a moment to look over your syllabi and schedules to see what assignments and projects are coming up in your courses. Read the assignment descriptions, and get started on your projects as soon as possible. If you have a research paper, start looking for your sources early. That way you have time to check out the book you need or request it from another campus. You can avoid some of the stress of midterms and finals by working on your assignments a little bit at a time, so get started early!
2. Organize and Prioritize!
When you have a number of assignments and tests all due at the same time, it can be overwhelming! You should plan out your study time to make the most of that time and to manage your stress. Start by organizing: Make a list of all of the assignments and tests that you have coming up. Then prioritize: Decide which assignment/project to work on first based on the due date and amount of work. Start on your top priority assignments and keep track of your progress as you go!
3. Form a Study Group!
Get together with your classmates to study for an upcoming test. You will find that it can be very helpful to review, share notes, and quiz one another. If you are struggling with a chapter or concept, ask your instructor or classmates to explain it to you. Schedule a study session or two to prepare for your next test!
4. Take a Nap & Eat an Apple!
I know that I’m not your mom, but her advice holds true! Lots of rest and good nutrition can help you stay healthy, energetic, and alert. This is especially important as the weather changes and cold and flu viruses are spreading around. There is nothing worse than feeling awful and having a lot of work to complete. Avoid consuming too much candy or energy drinks. Although you may get a temporary sugar rush and feel energized, afterwards you will crash. Instead of eating junk food which provides empty calories, select healthy snacks while you study. Get lots of rest and eat your fruits and vegetables to stay energized and ready for success!
5. Take a Break!
If you are constantly studying, researching, and writing, you will burn yourself out! Take a break to relax and let you mind recuperate. Read a book for fun. Watch a television show. Take a walk outside. Play a game. Give yourself a break from the high pressure of your school work, and your brain will thank you!
6. Expect the Unexpected!
It never fails… just when you have your paper typed perfectly, and you are ready to print it out and turn it in. The printer breaks!!! Make sure that you leave yourself time for those inevitable problems: printer failure, running out of ink, forgetting your paper at home, etc. Try to get things done early so that if a calamity occurs you have time to recover!
7. Back Yourself Up! 
Always make sure that you have a saved copy of your assignments, and it doesn’t hurt to save it in a couple of places. Get a flash drive to save your assignments to so that you can easily access them from your home or campus computer. If you use a campus computer, you can save your work to your student drive (not the desktop), and attach it to an email for easy access. Save your work as you type so that you won’t be left in a jam if there is a problem with the computer. Regardless of the way you choose to save your work, always double check to make sure that it is properly saved and that you can open the file again before you shut down your computer.
8. Don’t Worry… It will all be over soon!
As hard as it may seem, keep your eye on the prize. You have already made it halfway through the semester, and you can definitely make it through the rest. Keep up the hard work, and it will pay off!
Posted by Emily Bond
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