Study Tips for Midterms

Good luck to those of you who have midterms coming up.  Here are some tips to do your best.

Organize and Plan Ahead.  One of the biggest stressors for studying for midterms is feeling like there is not enough time to study.  So one way to avoid that is to plan out how and when you will study at least 1-2 weeks in advance.  That way you can budget your time and if you need extra time for a given subject, you will allow yourself plenty of wiggle room

Determine your needs.  Determine in advance if you think you will need extra help in a given subject.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, your parents, or if possible a tutor in the subject.  Sometimes it helps reduce the stress by going over the material with someone else.

Create a “Distraction Free” Zone.  It’s very difficult to study with Facebook, SnapChat, Twitter, and text messages coming in from every direction.  Take at least one hour per day alone to give yourself a chance to focus and absorb your material.  That means, turning off cell phones, making yourself “invisible” on video chat and keeping Facebook off.  It may seem impossible, but you will find yourself able to be much more productive and better prepared.

Study to Teach.  Here is a great article about how pretending you are going to teach the material helps you learn it yourself.  It’s also a good idea to actually teach the material to a friend. Find a buddy and teach each other your weaker subjects. Study to Teach Article

Take an Exercise Break.  If you find yourself getting antsy, go for a run or walk, go to the gym, or just move around for 30 minutes.  Exercise will release endorphins and minimize stress and make you better able to stay on task.