Midterms are coming up quickly for all students at Elizabethtown College, a time where stress levels are high and motivation is low. The High Library is sure to see an increase in student visitors searching for a quiet study spot, the perfect reference book or simply a hot coffee. Other students might confine themselves to their rooms, armed with to-do lists and midterm review sheets. Still others can be found around campus or in town, taking a break (or maybe even procrastinating) from studying in between classes. Every student approaches midterms in a different way, but they do not have to totally resign themselves to weeks of stress in order to succeed.
Preparation is one of the key ways to minimize stress during midterms. By taking time to study beforehand, students can walk into exams feeling more confident and prepared for their exam. Studying in itself can be stressful when there’s so much going on at once, but cutting up study time into manageable chunks or incorporating small personal rewards into study sessions helps break up the monotony. One way to keep studying casually is to find natural stopping points for a quick break: go on a quick walk, stretch or have a cup of tea. If you feel like you need to be productive even during break time, try an activity that isn’t studying: washing dishes, tidying up or taking out the trash are all quick tasks to do during a break period.
While studying is important, making time to relax and recuperate is just as essential. This can look different for every student: some need to decompress with their friends, find a fun fall activity or a quiet indoor one to forget about looming exams. Others relax better alone, taking time for self-care by watching their favorite shows, drinking hot chocolate or simply taking a nap! Whatever the relaxation methods are, don’t forget about them during midterms! These are great tools students can use to combat stress or anxiety associated with exams. Taking time for yourself is important, no exceptions.
The campus community is another resource students can use during midterms. Sometimes stress can make students feel isolated, but this is not at all the case. Throughout the week, different activities will be held for students to find support and relief from midterm stress. Yoga classes, meditation, movies and more will be available for students. Remember to look on the bright side: midterms may be upon us, but that means we’ve made it halfway through the semester! Don’t forget to be proud of the progress thus far, and remember the accomplishments and conquered challenges from the start of the semester up until now. Midterms may be another one of these challenges, but they can be overcome with a balance of self-care and hard work.
