It is the middle of the semester and, of course, that means midterms. Whether that consists of exams, papers, or both, this is a very stressful time for every student. On top of all that, mother-nature seems to have her own plans for us by sending ice and snow storms, which make getting to class extremely difficult, not to mention dangerous! Of course everybody has their own way of getting through this rough time of the semester, but this week I thought I’d share with you some of the ways that I do (or rather try to).

1) Making a Schedule:

Taking classes, participating in clubs, maintaining a social life, and sleeping a healthy amount each night can be super tricky to balance, but making a weekly, or even daily, schedule has really helped me to use my free time wisely and set attainable goals for each week. I use Google Calendars and even schedule study and sleep times so that I can make sure not to over work myself while also not procrastinating my work until the last minute. Knowing what my day will look like before it starts really helps to take some of the stress away.

2) Calling my parents:

When I get stressed, I also get pretty homesick and calling my parents usually does the trick to make me feel much better. My mom always knows what to say in order to lower my stress level and my dad can always make me laugh even when I’m in the worst of moods.

3) COOKIES!!:

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE cookie fan, and by fan I mean that I can literally enjoy any and all types of cookies. By now I have memorized Erdman’s cookie menu rotation and let me tell you, those things have definitely lifted my spirits in the midst of dark midterm times. For example: on Monday there’s the oatmeal raisin. Although it’s not my favorite, it’s a great Monday cookie because it’s sort of healthy so you don’t feel too bad about eating it, but it’s still a cookie! On Tuesday’s they serve chocolate chip- it’s a classic and you can’t go wrong with a classic. On Wednesday there’s the sugar cookie to sweeten up the middle of the week and pull you through that long stretch. On Thursdays we get peanut butter cookies that are not too sweet and are perfectly nutty. Finally, on Fridays they serve chocolate chip again but let’s be honest-it doesn’t matter what kind of cookies there are because it’s FRIDAY!

4) Gym time:

Going to the gym may seem like it would take up valuable study time, but it’s a great way to lower your stress level and maintain a healthy balance between work and health. When I get super stressed and start to feel swamped with work, I make a point to work out, even if only for 45 minutes, to sweat out my extra worries. When I get back, I always feel less stressed and ready to tackle my studies. Plus, working out also helps me to get better sleep at night and feel more well-rested in the mornings.

5) Friends:

Even though it may sometimes feel like it, you are never alone in the midterm struggle. Everyone is going through taking exams, writing papers, and putting together projects, and it really helps to know that your friends are there with you. I know that I wouldn’t be able to pull through those late night study sessions without my friends at my side studying along with me!

All in all, although midterms can be a super stressful time of the semester, there are always ways to make it better. These are just a few of the things that I do, but hopefully they can be of help to you should you feel that this year you might not make it through. Remember, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!