Pumpkin Spice and Midterms’ Bite
It’s that time of year again: the leaves are changing, the temperature dropping, the sweater industry booming. I for one, really do enjoy this time of year. (Although experiencing it in Chicago is a new wonder, I didn’t think it would have been so rainy. I’ll make sure to start a ‘what to actually bring to school in Chicago list to post so you don’t ruin your favorite Birkenstocks like I did.) I like that pumpkin is suddenly an option in almost every single food group when I go out to eat, I appreciate the crisp morning breeze, I even understand the overambitious Halloween decorations that inhibit the dorm rooms of Loyola students.
So, yes, autumn is wonderful. It brings wonderful delights and unexpected treasures (I never knew so many people could rock beanies) and I would not trade it for anything. That being said, every good has its bad. And in this case, that bad comes in the form of scantron sheets and little blue books filled with notebook paper. That’s right, folks. Midterms are upon us.
It’s not everyday that you see coffee shops, cafés, and study areas packed with students around the clock. Everyone feels the pressure to do well, and how couldn’t they when one test determines 20% of their grade?
Here’s some things that I’ve personally found helpful in avoiding stress during midterms:
1. Plan Them Out
Yes, I run the risk of sounding like a nagging parent as I say this, but waiting until 11:59 pm the night before and then realizing you have a huge test the next day is not a great idea. Buy a planner, or if that’s not appealing you can look at the calendar app on your smart phone or computer, find your syllabi and write down the midterm dates. If you’re not sure, email your professor. They’re extremely willing to answer your questions. Then you have a visual of when to expect them and when you should start studying.
2. Avoid Cram Sessions
As aforementioned, don’t wait until the last minute to realize you have a midterm. In turn, you’ll spend unreasonable amounts of time trying to cram an entire 8 weeks of information into your head and won’t get a good night’s rest. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than falling asleep during the middle of a test. (AP Stats my senior year of high school was a rough time.)
3. What’s Done is Done
You can’t change what’s already happened. After you’ve taken your midterm or written your paper, handed it in, and it is not any longer possible for you to change or improve, forget about it and start to focus on the next test or paper you have to complete. There’s no use worrying about something that you can’t change.
4. Take Study Breaks
Ah, I can feel the ‘riiiiiiiiight, that’s gonna help them learn’ vibes already. Yes, it is important that you study the material enough so that you know it, but be careful not to overwork yourself. Take a break and get some coffee, nap, go to the gym, whatever it is that will provide you with a short bit of free time where you can de-stress yourself. Make sure you’re still taking care of yourself and not over immersing yourself into the studying. Your body still needs rest and nourishment, and your mind probably would like to engage in something other than memorizing the lecture notes you took three weeks ago.
So at the end of the day, you do need to spend time studying. But every once in a while, do yourself a favor and go take a walk by the lake (make sure you bring a scarf) or enjoy a made-from-scratch bowl of soup from Engrained Café.
Best of luck on Midterms, and Happy Fall!