Welcome back queens! I hope everyone is getting excited about Halloween and the cold weather. Now that (my first!) midterm season has come and gone, I must say that these exams sucked and also made me learn a lotttt about myself and my studying habits. Considering that I have many more midterm seasons to withstand, I took note of the things that worked really well for me while preparing for these exams and the things that really didn’t. And what kind of person would I be if I didn’t share that knowledge?

So – here are things that saved my life during the last couple weeks and will definitely save your grades next midterm season, or anytime you have truckloads of work to do.

1. Finding a good study spot

Now, I’ve already made a post about this before, but finding your ideal study spot is CRUCIAL to a good midterm season. Because you will be doing lots of studying, and you need a place where you are comfortable and you can focus. Most of all, that place should NOT be in your dorm or apartment. While I do know many people who can manage to be productive in their homes, I also know that the majority of us cannot adequately be productive for long periods of time that way. So finding a place away from your room where you can still be comfortable and not get distracted is vital. Plus, studying elsewhere is a nice change of scenery and forces you to actually go outside – I know that I sometimes have a tendency to rot away the days in my dorm which is very much not healthy. So get up, grab your backpack, and leave. your. room!!

If you need some suggestions on where exactly you might be able to go study, you can access my previous post about this here.

2. Knowing how & what to study

This may seem obvious, but knowing what to study and how you can study most efficiently is extremely important. Once I got to college, I realized that I actually didn’t really know how to study and I needed to figure it out – fast.

Two things that personally helped me learn how to study was the fact that I know I will not remember something if I don’t write it down with a physical pen and paper, and I am a visual learner. So while figuring out what works best for me during this time period, I tried lots of things.

If applicable, I looked up and rewatched videos we’d seen in class. I hand wrote all my notes, looked over them the next day and highlighted important parts. I made flashcards on Quizlet (highly recommend, though unfortunately I am broke and still can only use the free version) and utilized the games and practice tests available there.

This was all wildly helpful, but the most useful thing I ended up doing was the spaced repetition method – a scientifically proven method to help improve active recall and assist with memorization. Studies have shown that the spaced repetition method can improve learning and reduce the time spent studying, which is the ultimate goal! Spaced repetition involves reviewing the information you need to learn in intervals the slowly become closer and closer together as you get closer to when you need to actually apply the information (like on an exam). Personally I liked the 2357 method – I first started studying the material for my exams seven days before the exam, then studied again 5 days before, then 3 days, then 2 days, then the day before. I haven’t gotten my midterm grades back yet, but I felt pretty confident, so I would say it worked! In addition,  Quizlet actually uses the spaced repetition method in the way they present the flashcards to you and generate the practice games. So if you discover that this is something that works for you, I highly recommend.

Now, keep in mind that everyone’s brain is wired differently. So these things that worked for me may not work for you. It’s a big trial and error process! To each their own 🙂

3. Knowing when to stop

It often seems like there are never enough hours in the day to do all that we need to do – but even though the stress and chaos of midterms may make it seem like you have to be locked in nonstop, that is unsustainable and unhealthy. While I’m sure you’ve been told this many times before, taking breaks and making sure you’re keeping your brain and body healthy will help you do better on your exams. I know that personally I tend to hyperfocus on my schoolwork for hours and hours at a time without eating or taking a break, and whenever I finish an hours-long study session like that, I always feel so bad – mind numb, migraine starting, back hurting, throat dry, etc. etc.

So to make sure I stayed healthy and balanced during the midterm season (and also in general, not just during exams) I blocked out my time in my planner so that I would never be studying for ridiculous amounts of time. I would study for a calm two or three hours and then take a break to eat, doom scroll, take a walk, etc, and then come back for another two-three hours whenever I next had free time. I noticed that I was able to be more productive during these shorter study sessions when I did other things to care of myself in between – and I always tried to go to bed before midnight on the weekdays so I could stay well rested for the next day. I know it’s not easy to stay up on taking care of yourself – I have struggled with it for a long time. But you can do it, and you will feel so, so much better!

4. Making it as painless as possible

Studying itself is not the most fun activity in the world – we all know this. But one thing that helped me get through the long hours was making it as painless as I could – I always had snacks to eat while studying, or a coffee, or both! I’d reward myself after a long day with a sweet treat (usually soft serve from the dining hall). Some days I would listen to my favorite music (though sometimes when I really needed to focus I’d study in silence). I’d pick somewhere comfortable to sit. Studying itself will never be the most enjoyable, but there are definitely ways to make it better, and it definitely helps.

So there you go! Next time exam season rolls around, I hope you’ll feel prepared and ready to ace every test. You can do it!

XOXO, Haven