As midterms approach, you’re feeling the pressure. That professor just assigned 200 pages of reading, this one wants a ten-page paper with at least five sources, and there’s at least two more exams that you’ve still got to battle. It’s all due next week. Instead of functioning like a normal human, you’re overwhelmed, and you do what the rest of us do: daydream about spring break, cry, watch a lot of Netflix, and finish everything in a deadline-induced panic.
I’m not saying that this method doesn’t work. However, it comes at the cost of a lot of wasted time and valuable sanity. If you want to get ahead of that midterm frenzy before it hits, here are five things that you can do right now, from your dorm room, to help combat the stress:
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1. Make Yourself a Good Meal
Don’t stress here. The idea is to put something with some sort of nutritional value in your stomach, not to waste three hours of your time while trying to prepare the perfect Pinterest recipe of your dreams. Try to combine at least two food groups. Go for some pasta and some leftover chicken, some yogurt and some cereal, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a scrambled egg and half an avocado.
Your brain works better once you’ve eaten, and the preparation is a small enough break that you’ll be able to return to work with a new sense of vigor and focus. Check out this list for a bunch of easy, college-friendly recipes, and this list for when you feel like you have no food in the house.
2. Make Your Bed
Making your bed is one of my favorite mental-health tricks. When I’m stressed out, I strip the covers, and put them back on again, taking extra care to fold down the comforter and fluff the pillows. Why?
For one, once my bed is made, I’m less temped to climb in it and take a nap that lasts four hours. Two, it’s the first step to a tidy, organized space, and it’s a lot easier to get work done in a space that isn’t a mess. It’ll make you feel like your life is together, and that feeling can launch you into more productivity.
3. Take 10 Minutes to Meditate
When I mention meditation, most people’s gut reaction is something along the lines of “But if I pause for ten minutes, I’ll explode!” Then they end up binging Netflix for the next three hours because they’re so frustrated with the amount of work they have to do.
Studies have shown that taking the time to slow down and focus on your breathing not only relaxes you, but may also boost your immune system. This means that not only will you be less stressed, but meditating for a few minutes a day may even keep the sniffles away while you study for those exams.
Find a quiet place to sit or lie down, pop in some headphones, and play some white noise or a guided meditation so you can focus on breath. In terms of guided meditation, two of my personal favorites can be found here and here.
4. Make a Plan
If you have a planner, get it out. If you don’t have a planner, print out one of those blank calendar sheets with the big, white boxes. Physically write down your due dates and your obligations from now until spring break. Google Calendar is great, but when you physically write things down, they feel more real. Your brain remembers them better. It’s a bit daunting, but once you see things spaced out, you can decide on which days you’ll have more time to tackle bigger projects, and on which days you’ll need to work on the smaller stuff.
Additionally, it may be helpful to divide your work into smaller chunks. Make a promise to yourself to write two pages each night towards that research paper, rather than trying to force the whole thing out the night before. Study for an hour a day for that exam, and start now, rather than lock yourself in the library the weekend before. Your mental health and your sleep schedule will thank you for it.
4. Get a Good Night’s Sleep Tonight
Finally, make the decision to get a good night’s sleep tonight. Anywhere from 6-10 hours of sleep is recommended for college students; the amount needed is different for everyone. Make a conscious effort to take a hot shower, make some tea, to do whatever it is you need to do to relax before you turn off the lights and tuck yourself in. It’s not giving up on the things you need to do.
Instead, it’s making the choice to approach tomorrow well-rested, full of energy, and ready to conquer your midterms like the warrior you are.
