October here at UP can only mean two things: the start of fall (finally) and the arrival of midterms. With only one week left of tests and group project deadlines before a well-deserved Fall Break, here are some tips and tricks to help you survive midterm season.
- Tackle One Thing at A Time. As busy college students, we are trained to master the art of multitasking. However, studies show that the brain can really only process two separate tasks at once. Taking on more tasks than you can actually handle at once only increases your risk of making errors. Do your over-worked brain a favor and commit to spending a certain amount of time on one project before moving to another.
- Avoid Death By Email. I’ll be the first to admit that I often check my email just to distract myself from studying and chances are, you’ve done that too. Ditch the time you spend obsessively checking your email. It limits your productivity and makes it more difficult for you to return to your assignments. Need a study reprieve? Get up and stretch your legs or limit yourself to a 5-10 minute Pinterest or Facebook break.
- Pick Your Study Space Wisely. It seems like picking a study space is half the battle when it comes to carving out time to seriously study for an exam. Try to leave your room – it is much too distracting to be surrounded by the comforts of “home.” Instead, scope out a nice, quiet spot with lots of natural light and a comfortable chair. The library has plenty of space, but Shiley and the third floor of Franz Hall are great alternatives.
- Nibble on Good-For-You Food. As great as that waffle from the Commons might taste before a long Sunday of studying, consider feeding your brain (and your body) with good-for-you food like oatmeal and berries or multigrain toast with peanut butter. Fuel up with fruit or veggie sticks to keep your energy up all day long.
Just remember, you are only a week away from Fall Break. Now, go ace those midterms!