Midterm Study Tips: Avoiding Burnout

Midterms can be a stressful time. You start the semester feeling great, and everything feels manageable. Then, work starts building up, and it feels like you're drowning. You don’t know how you’re supposed to study everything while managing your own life and responsibilities. You don’t have to burn yourself out trying to manage midterms. Here are some tips and advice to help you take care of yourself while studying effectively.

Create a Schedule:

Make a schedule that works best for you. You can do this using a physical planner, an online planner, or any other method that may work for you. In your schedule, it is helpful to:   

  • Check your syllabus! See what content will be on your midterm. You don’t want to waste your time, and you don’t want to miss important content.
  • Write down everything you need to do. This includes any days you are working, any appointments you have, any studying you need to do, etc. This will help you build your schedule and will also help you organize your thoughts.   
  • Prioritize midterms you feel the least confident about, and carve out the most time for them. 
  • Build breaks into your schedule. Staring at your notes for hours does not help with active recall and memorization; it will only give you a headache. 
  • Mix up the courses and topics you are studying. This will help you avoid burnout and also ensure you are covering all content.

Study Effectively

Passively reading textbooks and slides will not help you retain information. Everybody studies differently; it is important that you know what works for you. 

  • Use active recall techniques. These include practice questions and tests, teaching out loud, and creating flashcards for important terms 
  • Put down your phone. Phones are major distractions for studying. Put your phone in a chosen focus mode, leave your phone in another room (if possible), or simply silence unimportant notifications. 
  • Study in short sessions. Set a timeline for yourself and stick to it. You don’t want to sit for hours cramming information. This won’t help you retain anything.

Knowing Signs of Burnout

Burnout occurs when stress and pressure build up. You don’t allow yourself to rest, and your body and mind reach a state beyond being tired. Know the signs of burnout:

  • Constant exhaustion 
  • Issues with memory and focus
  • Feeling irritable, sad, unmotivated, overwhelmed, etc.   
  • Getting sick often 
  • Being emotionally drained  

Use Resources Available

Knowing the resources available to you is important. On campus resources include: 

  • Student Success Center: offers academic advising, workshops, and services to maximize your success
  • Student Health and Wellness: provides a selection of mental health resources, including counselling, self-care events, and wellness initiatives
  • In-Person and Online Library: provides access to an array of sources, including textbooks, articles, and journals (don’t forget you can book study spaces!) 

You are not alone. Midterms do not have to burn you out. Remember that you are capable and can get through this!  

- Jordan Calleja, Peer Wellness Educator Lead