I hate midterms. They sneak up on me each semester when I finally start feeling comfortable with the content I’m studying and make me doubt how well I comprehend even my simplest courses’ material. I hate midterms as much as anyone can hate an inanimate piece of paper. My ridiculous animosity heightens the already-precarious amounts of stress I feel when exams roll around. That much stress is unhealthy, so I’ve found much needed ways to reduce it. When I first feel the creeping sensations of pressure, I grab a piece of paper and write a to-do list. As simple as it sounds, just mapping out what I need to do reduces stress. No matter how long the list is, it’s always shorter than what I built it up to be in my mind. Then I gauge how long I have to do all the things on my list and make a schedule. Seeing each chore separated by time gives me a bit of breathing room. But sometimes making a list isn’t enough. Stress can build up if a certain task is especially difficult – or if time is short. If this happens, I turn to a piece of paper taped on the wall next to my desk. The paper is a list of stress-relieving techniques I’ve compiled from personal experience, advice from friends and Google.com. At the top of the list is the simple act of breathing. If I’m working on a problem that seems unsolvable, I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. Breathing usually doesn’t get rid of stress by itself though. Next on the list is to move to another problem or subject and to come back with fresh eyes later. If stress turns to frustration and punching my computer gets hard to resist, it’s best to get moving. Physical activity takes more energy than counting to 10 and is much more satisfying. Sometimes stress is draining, and I need to recharge. A 30-minute nap gives me the boost to come back to studying refreshed. With these stress-slashing techniques by my side, I’ve survived midterms once. But this time I’ll have a few more miles on my tennis shoes – and I will be well-napped.
—-Contact Emily McArdle at [email protected]