5 On-Campus Ways to Wind Down After Midterms

Posted on February 23, 2022

If your midterms have been anything like mine… you have been looking for a way to let loose! These past few weeks have been crazy with multiple exams a week and nonstop studying, however, lucky for us, the University of Iowa has a ton of fun things to help you de-stress!

1. Get Active!

This one is a personal favorite of mine. After a tough week, there is nothing I love more than going to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC – rec center) and getting a workout in. My favorite thing to do at the CRWC is to go to the WORK group fitness classes. The instructors are so motivating it really helps relieve the tension that built up over the week!

2. Treat Yourself!

Whether’s its a coffee from your favorite local shop or a cupcake from Molly’s, rewarding yourself after working hard is a sure-fire way to feel better. After a hard week, I always treat myself to a Starbucks coffee from the library for when I study, or lunch from the IMU (they have the best sub sandwiches ever).

3. Do Something You Enjoy Doing!

This one was a game-changer for me last year. I joined a few clubs/organizations on campus that really helped me take my mind off exams when I got stressed (for example, this!).

4. Go to a Game!

I love attending allllll the different sporting events Iowa has to offer. Every time I leave a game/match/tournament, whether it be football, wrestling, swimming, or gymnastics, I always leave feeling so much better. The atmosphere of Iowa sporting events is unbeatable, and always leaves me feeling better than I left!

5. Reach Out For Help!

Of course, sometimes the simple hacks of going for a walk or doing something you enjoy is not enough. The University of Iowa has amazing resources to help if you believe you need a little extra assistance. The official counseling website of the university has so many resources and walks you through setting up an appointment!

Remember, an exam score doesn’t define you!

 

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Best Study Spots on Campus

Posted on December 7, 2021

My favorite way to study is to book a study room, bring a snack, and put some white noise in the background. However, with finals just around the corner, it is getting a little harder to book a study room. Since everyone needs a place to study, here are my favorite that never fail me.

1. The Main Library. A classic. The main library is one of the best study spots for many reasons, the first being all the private study rooms you can book in the learning commons! Being able to visualize and write different aspects of my classes on the whiteboards is a game-changer. If all the study rooms are booked, there are multiple floors you can go to find a nice, quiet place to study.

 

2. The Psychology building. This is a newer discovery for me, but one of my favorites. In the basement, there are private rooms you can book with whiteboards. The upper levels, however, have high-top tables, comfy chairs, and hugggeeee windows. The natural light in the building is insane and definitely one of my favorite parts.

 

3. Speaking of natural lighting… The Art Library. While the Art Library has shorter hours, when I am there I am guaranteed to get stuff done. The natural light and view of the water are so relaxing and motivating. Plus, it is hardly busy if you have a hard time studying with noise (like me).

 

4. Voxman Music Building. This is for the people who do like background noise while studying. Voxman is one of the newer buildings on campus and has so many great spots to study. Plus, there is always music playing in the background from people in class/practicing! It is also close to Starbucks if you need a quick pick me up before hitting the books again.

 

5. The Alder Journalism Building. This is one of my favorite buildings on campus because it is so peaceful. Once again, huggeeee windows. Natural lighting is a game-changer for me because artificial lighting makes me so sleepy.

 

I am someone who likes to switch up where they study, and these are my top 5 I rotate between, but the university has so many more great spots.

Remember, finals are only a week long! You got this!

 

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Preparing for Finals

Posted on November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

If you are anything like me…the last day of break has also come with a ton of stress. While the break was relaxing, a million papers, homework assignments, and of course finals coming up hasn’t left my mind. Finals are scary, and this year I am going to be taking my first in-person final–crazy right? Here are my top 5 helpful tips on how to make it to finals week:

1. Get. A. Planner. Staying organized is a game-changer. The last few weeks of school are hectic, and with studying it gets easy to let small assignments slip by. I use a planner for absolutely everything, and without it, I don’t know how I would function.
2. Going along with a planner – plan out your days! During finals season, the workload just increases. Along with the normal assignments you’ve had all year, you also have to start studying for the most important exams of the semester! Planing out the days helps stay organized and get everything done.  I am the type of person who will lose track of time while studying and forget to do my others tasks. Allotting myself time for each individual task helps me accomplish everything I need to do!
3. Start studying ASAP! Since most finals are comprehensive, you will want to start studying earlier than other exams. The content to learn is an insane amount–too much to cram!
4. Study with friends! Go to office hours! Ask questions! My favorite way to study is to review the material alone and figure out what I am unsure about, then study with friends and explain those topics to each other! If I still am unsure of something, I will go to office hours to ask. Chances are if you have a question, someone else has that same one. Also, a little pro tip, I love to go to office hours and just listen. Sometimes I don’t even know what I am unsure about and just listening to other students’ questions clarifies a ton.
5. The fifth and final tip is the most important in my book… don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a break, and reward yourself for all of the hard work you are putting in. The exams are designed to be difficult, it’s okay to struggle!

These are my 5 top tips to help you get through finals season. Remember, grades don’t define you!

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What My Average College Day Looks Like

Posted on October 18, 2021

Finding a routine is so important to being productive. I like to wake up around 7, have a calm morning then get to work around 8-9 am! For me, it is SO hard to focus in my room (wayyyy too tempting to jump back into bed!).  I love the find different study spots around campus and recently have been LOVING the psychology building. Some other spots I have been loving are the Tippie basement and main room in the IMU.

In this video, I take you all along with me as I go through a couple days of school!

Hope you all love it 🙂

https://youtu.be/r31dRtxMgJE

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What I keep in My Backpack *Sophomore Year of College*

Posted on September 7, 2021

Before being in college I LOVED watching what’s in my backpack videos…now that I am actually in college I realize how helpful they can actually be. There is a very fine line between what is important enough to lug around all day and what you can maybe keep at home. Flashback to freshman year when I would carry around five notebooks at all times… maybe I didn’t need that many!

So, today I show you guys what I keep in my backpack in hopes it will help you!

Hope you all love it 🙂

https://youtu.be/zhap4bA9ELE

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What You *Actually* Need in Your Residence Hall

Posted on July 17, 2021

Hey Everyone! Hope you are all having a blast this summer. In less than a month, we will all call Iowa City home again. Most new students are going to be living on their own for the first time and with that, the question arises: what do I actually need to bring to college? Here are my dorm essentials.

1. Organization! You will be living in a fairly small space, and on top of that sharing it with someone else! You will need a ton of different organization bins to fit everything in. I use a three-tier plastic drawer from Target to store extra clothes underneath my bed and loved it! Some other places I recommend bringing organization for are your desk, closet, underneath the bed, and kitchen area.
2. Vacuum. You may not think you will need a vacuum, but let me tell you that it is a must. If you are like my roommate and me, our hair sheds like crazy! Our rug was constantly covered in hair and we vacuumed every day. In the winter, the university salts and sands the sidewalks, and you will find sand everywhere. Having a vacuum in the winter is a must to keep your room clean. It doesn’t need to be an expensive vacuum, a small one that gets the job done is perfect!
3. Card holder! Having a card holder on the back of your phone, or a small one on your lanyard will save you so much time. Your Iowa One card is needed to get into almost every building, especially your dorm. It is so inconvenient to have to pull out your wallet every time you want to get back inside! Having it on your lanyard or phone saves so much time scanning in!
4. Command Hooks. Everyone says it, but it’s true. Command hooks will be your best friend while in your dorm room. You will want to decorate your room and put up cute lights, and of course, do it without damaging the walls (because we don’t want to get charged here!)
5. Power Strips! If you bring anything from this list, make it power strips! The dorms have very minimal outlets, and sometimes they are in the weirdest place. I lived in Stanley, and on my side of the room I only had one outlet, and it was right next to the ceiling! Talk about an inconvenient spot! I used power strips and extension cords for everything!
6. Medication. Believe me when I say it, you will get sick in the dorms. Having medicines such as ibuprofen, DayQuil, and Tums were so handy because you never knew when you may need it. After a long day of studying, you will probably be glad to have some ibuprofen with you!

Now that we have discussed some dorm room must-haves, let’s get into some things that I don’t think are necessary.

1. Futon/Chairs. While it could be different in a non-COVID year, I never found us using our futon. We occasionally had a guest who would sleep on it, but other than that it just took up space. I wouldn’t say this is a definite no-go, but if you are already cramped for space you can definitely go without it!
2. Don’t bring every clothing item you own! I made this mistake, and when it came to move out I was seriously struggling to fit in all in my car! I suggest bringing staple pieces you can wear again and again. This can include jeans, sweats, t-shirts, and more. Where I went wrong was t-shirts and sweatshirts. I hardly wear t-shirts, but for some reason brought almost all of them!
3. Printer. I know so many people who brought a printer and never used it! The university allows you to print for three cents a page! Also, I hardly ever printed so there is an off-chance you won’t even need to.

So, those are my must-have and maybe-nots for a dorm room. Take everything with a grain of salt because my experience may be different than yours. It’s important to remember to bring anything that will make your experience better! Good look everyone and see you all back on campus soon!

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