take it from me
BLOG ONE
"How do I not crash out during midterms?"
Midterms are a stressful time - and trust us big sisters when we say we’ve been there!
Even if you’re behind on studying for a class, we’ve learnt that your mental and physical health still need to come first! It’s hard to focus when you’re not feeling good.
People often say not to cram, but we understand that it sometimes happens. When you’re stressed about getting everything done, it’s easy to skip meals, lose sleep and forget to take care of yourself - which can usually lead to burnout.
So, if your midterms have you feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to share a few things that help us both take care of our mental, and physical health during these busy weeks.
We haven’t figured everything out just yet, but here’s what we’d tell our little sisters.
Whatever you may like doing to stay active, we encourage you to do it!
The thing students often say is that they don’t have the time, but even if its just a 30-minute walk out of your day, staying active is so important for your physical and mental wellbeing!
We know you have probably heard this, and it is easier said than done to stay on top of it, especially during such a busy time - but its a good way to clear your mind.
You can’t always be studying for 24 hours every day, think of it like you’re replacing the time you’d spend scrolling on your phone with doing something productive!
Try to do something active that you enjoy, so you can have fun while doing it. Whether that’s lifting weights, playing an intramural sport, going on a walk with your friends or while listening to your music, going on a run, anything!!! You won’t feel motivated to make it a part of your routine if you don’t enjoy it.
Pro tip: If you’re feeling really overwhelmed and out of time, take a 30 to 45 minute walk while reviewing flashcards/notes. This is completely optional, but it is a good way to get your studying in while doing something good for your physical health!
We get it, grocery shopping, cleaning, and making meals can be a lot of work and take up a lot of time, especially during busy periods.
But... eating fuels your brain! (FOOD IS FUEL). We find that when we don’t eat meals that give us nutrients and protein, we can’t concentrate properly and may get hangry!
Eating healthy is important, but that doesn’t mean you need to be eating greens all day. We have found that eating 3 meals a day with protein, nutrients, and a variety of foods will fuel you up and give you the energy and strength to work productively and efficiently.
If you’re in dorms and eating cafeteria food...we get that can be not very enjoyable. To motivate yourself to go, make your cafeteria visit a little date! This doesn’t mean you have to bring a partner; you can bring yourself for a study date or make it a hang out with your friends. During these stressful times it's important to find ways to romanticize your life, even if its small.
Pro Tip: Buy yourself your favourite snack/dessert to reward yourself while studying. This may seem like a simple tip, but it's something small to look forward to after working hard and staring at your screen all day. As we like to say, there’s nothing wrong with a little sweet treat ;)
This is probably our most important tip.
We get sometimes you can feel like your whole life revolves around one grade. But no matter the outcome, it's important to remember your worth outside of it.
Karli’s Story:
In my first year, I struggled a lot with keeping on top of my school work. It was a big jump from high school to university that I wasn’t prepared for.
I ended up failing 2 of my 4 midterms... At the time, it felt like the end of the world. I couldn’t stop comparing myself to the people in my program and couldn’t help but keep telling myself that I was just stupid.
Now, I see this experience as a lesson. I learnt how to study properly and prioritize my time as an outcome, and I ended up passing both of my classes. I’m still figuring things out, and it’s easier said than done not to be hard on yourself. But university is a learning experience, and your grades don’t define you.
The point: Keep working on yourself and stop comparing yourself to everyone around you! We promise you that you’re doing great, and everyone is struggling with something.
Pro Tip: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, use your campus resources and go see a student wellness counsellor or peer support centers. You are never alone!!!
