Midterm Crisis: Time Managing for Stress-Free Exams

It's that time of year. No, not the one with the rotund man in the red suit and all the jolly carols. That's still a few months away. I'm talking midterms, here. The week you get assigned for papers and two exams, and none of it is fun even if you usually enjoy papers (if you're a nerd like me).

Also, the title is a total lie designed to catch your attention. There's no such thing as stress-free when it comes to heaps of exams that count for a too-large-for-comfort portion of your grade. You're gonna sweat, cry, get tension headaches or whatever it is that happens to you when you're feeling the weight of responsibility. I'm here to offer you ways to reduce the stress you feel as midterms approach.

In the stress of midterms, it's hard to take time for yourself. Between long days at school and work topped off with those mounds of studying and essay-writing, there's about as much time to unwind as it takes for Sonic the Hedgehog to run the 100-meter dash. Balancing the different elements of your life can feel a little like trying to fold a pile of laundry with one hand. But there is a way. The secret to surviving it all is Time Management.

Oh no! Before you roll your eyes and exit with the words "Yeah, right. Not this again." dancing behind your teeth, I urge you to consider this: you need to take care of yourself.

Taking care of yourself means getting enough sleep, not working past your limits, and accomplishing what is required of you. Finding a way to do all of these things seems like an impossible feat. Suddenly, you're Tantalus staring at the fruit dangling above your head, ever unable to reach it and quell your hunger. In this case, that food is relaxation.

A nice, clear work space.

Coming home from a long 12-hour day, all I want to do is sit at the table and drink a cup of tea, take a nice-long hour all to myself. And you know what? That's exactly what I do. Allowing myself this break is an act of kindness to myself before diving into the abyss of schoolwork. It is important to know when you deserve a rest so that you don't end up stressing your mind and body. During this period of relaxation, I take out a piece of paper and make a list of priorities. What do I have to study first? How am I going to do that? How much of it will I complete? You shouldn't have to sacrifice too much of your peace-of-mind for school or work.

Once, I'm finished with that soothing ritual, I come up with some kind of mantra like"I'm going to study." I repeat this a few times in my head, affirming it as I head to my room where my empty desk awaits.  This is important: you should have a work space cleared that permits you to focus on what is in front of you. Don't let clutter distract your study-ready mind. It's also important to cut yourself off. Close the door. Disable the internet on your computer (unless you need it for research). Toss your phone on the bed and put it on silent. It's time for serious studying. You need to be able to prevent the natural desire to procrastinate that will inevitably creep into your thoughts.

Then I construct my work space, placing only the material I need at that moment for that subject on my desk. This helps me focus, making sure I don't start to worry about history when I'm studying biology. Then, I get to it. Looking at my list, I start off with my first priority, work on at least most of it, and then move on. Having an organized order to your studying is an immense help. Know what you have to do and when you have to do it takes off the pressure of having too much to do. Once you've completed the chunk of work you've set aside for that day, you should have a little bit of free time to spare. Use it to catch up on you favorite show or something like that.

Also, make sure you get to bed at a reasonable time. You can't relax if you're being bogged down by that cloud of tired in your head. Another tip: go out with a friend at least once, even if it's only an hour-long coffee break. It will take your mind off the struggle and give you a moment to realign yourself. You'll feel more prepared to tackle a load of essays if you've given yourself a nice treat like seeing a friend.

All this sounds like it takes a lot of preparation, but to be honest it only takes a couple of minutes! Sure, it may take a while to find the perfect schedule or method that works for you, but it's out there.

Stay hydrated, everyone!