By Cecilia Luna
It’s that time of the semester again here at UF — exam week. Midterms are another reminder that you still have half of a semester left and the worst is yet to come and probably thinking on how to survive midterms. Most midterms fall around the same two-week period or so, with room for breaks in between. However, if you are lucky enough to land all of your exams within the same week, studying can sound like a death sentence to your social life. Being in college also means that you are subject to the wonders of Netflix (should you be lucky enough to have it), and binge-watching TV series becomes second nature. This is where the great debate begins: To Netflix or not to Netflix? Studying vs. Netflix? Here are some midterm survival tips!
First, consider your options
You could:
1. Procrastinate for your two exams next week and catch up on every season of “Parks and Rec!”
OR
2. Save that binge for next week, put in a couple hours of studying, and get a good night’s sleep so you are sure to ace those exams.
Studying vs. Netflix: Now, before you defend your Netflix obsession and assume that your show-watching habits are completely normal, let me correct you. Watching “House of Cards” does not count as studying for your comparative politics class. However, if you absolutely must, it is OK to moderate these binges for the sake of final grades and your sanity. What I find most helpful is to create a middle ground. If you watch one hour of Netflix, balance that time with one hour of studying later. That way, you can be sure that each moment you spend delaying will be made up for with intense cramming!
Using Netflix for study breaks is OK, too
Midterm survival tip: Take a break. Sometimes, spacing out your studying makes material easier to learn and less strenuous on the brain. But, if you know that you won’t be able to control your “Breaking Bad” session once it begins, avoid it altogether.
Examine your study plan
How to survive midterms: examine your study plan. Is it worth it? In the long run, procrastinating only makes the studying process harder. Sometimes, it’s best to be proactive, or at the very least, somewhat prepared. Instead of your bedroom — where Netflix binges are more likely to occur — try a change of setting. You are less likely to want to watch movies on your laptop if you study in the library or with a group of friends. A change of scenery can certainly affect your motivation to study.
Or, try turning music on instead. Open up iTunes or Spotify, and play something that will get you excited and inspired to do well on your exams! Although I am still learning the balance, these are some tips on how to survive midterms that have worked for me. Have any other suggestions on how to survive midterms? Let me know. Good luck, and happy studying!
About the author
Cecilia is Unigo’s newest student blogger. She’ll give us an inside look at a day in the life of a college student, sharing her journey with us every step of the way. She’s a second-year public relations major at the University of Florida. Her hometown is in south Florida, in the small town of Clewiston, and she’s ready to make her mark. “Not only am I learning to adjust to a bigger city, but all of the adventures this big university brings along with it.” You can follow her adventures right here on Unigo! Interested in becoming our next “day in the life” student blogger?We’re looking for more writers! Reach out to us on social media or in the comment section below, and we’ll send you more info on how to get started.