These past few weeks have been some of my busiest at university because the Midterms have finally decided to pay a visit. While everyone has different exam, essay, project schedules and due dates, one things for certain is that everyone around me is going to stay busy until the end of October.

I have learned during my freshman year that if midterm stress is not tackled properly, it can overwhelm you. That’s why for my Sophomore year, I’ve decided to find ways to tackle the Midterm stress. These tips I am about to share work for me and I hope they work just as well with you.

1. Meditate

I have come to realize that meditation is effective because it allows you to collect your thoughts, reevaluate your priorities, and remind yourself of the task at hand. What I personally like to do is do a plank every morning and evening (consistency is the key!) and just empty my mind out for 2-3 minutes. Personally, this is how I do my meditation (and its definitely not the proper way) but it’s been working for me these past two weeks and I plan to continue this even after midterms are over.

2. Exercise

I understand: It’s difficult to find time during midterms week to consistently get a work out. But, trust me when I say that your mind and body will thank you you did. After exercising, your body produces chemicals called endorphins which trigger happy feelings and therefore put you in a much calmer and better state of mind.

When I am unable to go to the gym or get a proper workout, I try to stay as active as I can. I climb the stairs rather than use the elevators whenever I can and try to clock in as many steps as I can each day (10,000 being the ultimate goal). I also do planks every single day (as mentioned above) and some ab exercises I can easily do in my room.

3. Plan

Growing up, I always kept a to-do list of the assignments and activities I had for the day. Even if I did not adhere to the schedule 98% of the time, I got a sense of what stuff I needed to accomplished and found ways to get them done on time. I also used my to-do list as a means of motivation. I would reward myself a 30 minute break, for instance, if I finished writing an essay or studying for a test.

4. Unwind

Aside from meditation, doing relaxing activities that do not involve any studying or physical work helps. These include watching TV shows or YouTube videos, having a Spa night, or reading a favorite book! Personally, I spend my free time watching YouTube videos and my favorite show Madam Secretary (a topic I intend to discuss later on). I also think spending time with friends even if it just for a quick lunch or dinner before going back to the study table is a great way to ease stress (even if its just the slightest) and remember that there's more to life than just school.

5. Stay composed

One quote I try to remember each day is that "there's more to life than just the books". We should not be defined solely by a number on our transcript. Instead, we should aim to work hard and do our best in all the tasks we do, be it our education, work, internships. Though I know that for most of us education is the number one priority whilst at college (and it is my number one priority!), it is important to try to keep a balanced life and learn to have fun or do things you are passionate about besides schoolwork. But if you feel you are unable to do so, it is perfectly fine to focus on academics but try to add in more and more activities (especially one's you love) as you progress in college.

And most importantly, get adequate amount of sleep! Sleep is vital to helping you recharge, start the day right, and strengthen your immune system (especially with weather changes, people are bound to get sick). I personally cannot go a day without some sleep as I find it hard to function properly especially right before an exam or a lecture.

I hope that these tips will help you all not just with midterms but also with balancing school work and having a fun and meaningful time (and not just a stress-filled one).

Good luck with midterms everyone and may the coming days be filled with magic and positivity!