How to Catch Up Before Midterms
Believe it or not, we’re almost halfway through the school year — which means that midterms are just around the corner. You’re probably looking at the pile of homework that’s standing between you and fall break, and having a mini panic attack over its sheer size. And if you’re anything like me, that pile probably includes work that should’ve been done earlier in the semester, but was unintentionally neglected (like those five textbook chapters that were all due in one class). Unfortunately, that pile can’t be ignored any longer, and to survive midterms, you and I both need to conquer it — and sooner rather than later. To avoid multiple all-nighters, here are some tips to catch yourself up before midterms begin.
Get organized. I know you’re probably thinking that you don’t have time to sit down and organize yourself, but if you don’t make a to-do list, you’re going to find yourself forgetting assignments — which won’t help you at all. Take 20 minutes. Look at all of your syllabi and write down the assignments that are due between now and fall break. If you have an agenda book, write when each assignment is due on the corresponding days (and if you don’t have one, I highly recommend investing in one). And don’t forget to write down any tests. Doing this will help you see which days will be busier than others so you can prepare yourself accordingly.
Prioritize. Depending on how far behind you are, you probably won’t be able to catch up on everything. Throw out things like old readings that you know won’t be on any tests, and anything that isn’t graded. The time you spend on those could be better spent putting your best effort into the readings and assignments you know need to be done. Also, take into account which projects will take the most time, or have a heavier weight on your grade. It’s better to spend more time on a project that’s worth 30 percent of your grade, than on one that’s only worth 15. If you have a project that you know will take you more time than another, make that a priority so that you’ll be sure to have enough time to complete it.
Skip the party. I know that all you probably want to do right now is go out and forget about your towering pile of assignments. But unfortunately, you should probably skip going out at least one night, and instead dedicate it to your homework. Trust me, you’ll find that 10-page paper is a lot easier to crank out when you’re not working on it hungover.
Plan your time. If you’re feeling really swamped, plan out the times that you’re going to do your homework, and stick to that plan. Try for gaps in between classes so that you can secure a spot in the library when it’s not busy. Planning out your day will make you more efficient, and help you to avoid that all-nighter.
Shut off social media. Turn your phone off and leave it in a drawer of your desk. I know it’s hard to unplug, but it’ll be really beneficial to your concentration. To stop yourself from becoming distracted on your laptop, download a program like Self Control; it’s available to download as an app on Mac, or a Chrome extension on PC. Programs like this allow you to block certain sites for a period of time, keeping you from watching 12 YouTube videos instead of doing that PowerPoint for class.
Only stay up late if you have to. Sleep is important, so don’t put everything off until the last minute. Try to spend your days being productive and getting things done ahead of time. You’ll be able to get a decent amount of sleep so that you’re not dozing off during your test.
