Maeve
Midterms/Finals week can feel incredibly overwhelming, and it’s easy to become flustered. After a few years of nursing school under my belt, I've developed some strategies to help me through these stressful weeks. I hope they help you as much as they've helped me!
1.) Schedule your time
I’ve found it helpful to break these busy weeks up into smaller, more digestible sections. I dedicate certain hours of each day in the weeks leading up to midterms/finals to studying for specific tests, based on the order in which they’re scheduled. Allotting my time beforehand allows me to simply follow a studying schedule, rather than spending precious time every day debating when I should study which subjects. I’ve found that google calendar is the best scheduling tool for me to use. It even allows you to color code different categories of events.
2.) Set bedtimes for yourself
I, along with many people I know, tend to work best at night. This can be very helpful, but very dangerous, and has led to entire nights spent panicking and cramming before a test. I can confirm through personal experience that depriving yourself of sleep the night before a big test is not an ideal strategy, and I have self diagnosed myself with “failure to thrive” on more than one occasion. By setting a bedtime in advance, I can hold myself accountable and ensure I’m well rested.
3.) Dedicate time to destress
I know many nursing students (myself included) are guilty of staying in the library or locking themselves in their room for days at a time when preparing for midterms/finals. While diligent studying is important, neglecting our physical and mental wellbeing in the process is detrimental. Dedicating time to destress helps to make me feel more balanced during hectic weeks, and allows me to study for longer stretches without burning out. I’ve even gone so far as to schedule relaxation time into my google calendar. Personally, I feel best if I leave the house during these breaks, whether that be in the form of running, walking with friends, or going out to eat. Exercise has proven to be an especially effective means of relieving stress, and has the added benefit of releasing endorphins!
4.) Meal prep
Meal prepping for tests may sound a bit silly, but I’ve found it to be extremely helpful. When you’re overwhelmed with school work, the last thing you want to worry about is spending an hour making dinner. In many cases, I’ve neglected meals during busy weeks and opted to live off of popcorn and chocolate for days at a time. As much as I love popcorn, eating nothing but junk food will almost certainly make you feel sick, in turn making studying even more difficult. I’ve found that making some extra food in preparation for midterms/finals week can be really beneficial for days when you feel like you don’t have time to do anything but study.
5.) Write yourself words of affirmation
If you find yourself struggling with self doubt, try writing yourself little reminders to leave on your desk (or wherever it is you’re studying). My desk is currently covered with post-it notes that read “believe in yourself!”, “grades don’t define you”, and things of that nature. These are accompanied by other encouraging notes written by friends, which leads me to my next suggestion: write your friends words of encouragement if you see they’re stressed out! Knowing someone believes in you can do wonders for your self esteem.
6.) Mental Health Resources
Lastly, if you'd like to talk to someone about your stress, I encourage you to reach out to one of the school's mental health resources:
- University Counseling Center: 607-777-2772, open 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
Students can speak with counselors, and be referred to more resources and services depending on the student's needs
- SEEK (Support, Empathy, Empowerment, Kindness): 607-777-4357, available 8:00pm-11:00pm every night Students can call to speak with (trained) fellow students about any struggles they may be going through.
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