How to Finish the Semester Strong

Finishing the Semester Strong

It’s hard to believe that the fall semester is already nearing a close. It feels like just yesterday that I was picking classes and stressing out about the first day of the semester. It’s easy to lose sight of your goals when you’re stressing out about a million and one different things. But it’s important to keep your head on straight when you’re flying forward towards the end of a long semester. Here are some tips for finishing out strong!

Don’t skip class.

I know it’s probably tempting to start to skip class now that midterms are just about over and there’s a lull in assignments and responsibilities but it’s SUPER important to keep attending class and not let yourself slip behind.

Prepare in advance.

This is something I struggle with semester after semester but it will really help you if you make sure you are staying on top of everything and preparing for exams, assignments, etc. well in advance. I write out all of my due dates in my planner and at the beginning of each week I take a look at what’s due soon. And not just in the current week, but two to three weeks in advance. It helps me to see what sorts of assignments and exams are coming up so I can begin to prepare.

Get enough sleep and don’t skip meals.

I know how hard it is. Trust me. But you have to make sure you are both getting enough sleep AND eating right! It’s so tempting to skip meals when you’re on a roll but you have to make sure you find the time to grab something to eat. I promise your paper can wait!

Get help.

If you feel like you’re struggling and your grades aren’t reflecting your best work, make sure you hit up those office hours. Professors have them for a reason and if you take advantage of them, it really looks good on you and it will start to reflect in your grades! A lot of people really underestimate how much going to office hours can really help you in the long run. The key is to catch it early and make it a point to talk to your professor about ways to improve. Most of the time (if you’ve been struggling for a while), going to see a professor in the final few weeks of the semester isn’t usually beneficial but you should still take advantage of it!

Take time to do something fun.

The best way to combat burnout is to make sure you are still spending some time doing fun things! School can get stressful really quickly, but the best way to make sure you don’t want to crawl in a hole until winter break is to break up your study sessions with something fun like going to dinner with friends, or even heading to a party!

Hopefully these tips were helpful for you, and you can finish the semester strong and stress-free! What sorts of things do you do to make sure you stay on track as the semester draws to a close?

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19 Comments

  1. Cristina on Campus
    October 28, 2015 / 12:22 pm

    Totally agree with going to talk to your professor when you’re having trouble; that has really worked for me!

  2. October 28, 2015 / 12:31 pm

    Not skipping class and speaking with professors are some of the most important tips I’ve given to friends – mid-semester is not too late to turn the class around!

  3. October 28, 2015 / 1:23 pm

    I love this post, Kayla! It’s so important to push through the mid-semester burnout. My favorite of your suggestions is “take time to do something fun”! haha 🙂 I hope the rest of the semester goes well for you.

  4. Jia Han Tong
    October 28, 2015 / 1:56 pm

    your tips are simple yet so important’ thanks for this! i really need to get out of my slump and finish this semester with a bang.

    http://www.chloecake.blogspot.com

  5. October 28, 2015 / 2:27 pm

    I definitely tend to lack in the area of sleep! Great tips! I definitely need to use these tips as my midterms are coming up.

    Mikayla | A Seersucker State of Mind.

  6. Sidney Aldaine
    October 28, 2015 / 3:46 pm

    I always start my semester with first 3 principles, but actually never made it till the end

  7. October 28, 2015 / 4:40 pm

    Not skipping class is SO important. I always made it a priority to be in class (even if the lectures were online and attendance wasn’t taken)…it seriously made ALL the difference.

  8. October 28, 2015 / 8:17 pm

    This semester has really been rough and I can’t believe how stressful and hard my classes are. I have been trying my best to get in all my assignments on time and ask my professor for an extra help and advice that she can give me.

  9. Lauren Ashley
    October 28, 2015 / 9:38 pm

    This semester has been so tough for me too. We are almost there! I struggle with preparing, too. I’m a huge procrastinator and it only brings on more stress. We’ve got this!!!!

    Lauren

    http://www.thefashionistasdiary.com

  10. Ashley
    October 28, 2015 / 9:39 pm

    These are really great tips! I think it’s so important to make sure you are taking time for fun! Non-stop focus on all academics can cause quick burnout. Make sure you take time for yourself!

    xo Ashley

  11. Allison Ellzey
    October 29, 2015 / 1:05 am

    I was the worst about skipping classes! That’s so important–stay in class!

  12. Tiffani Grosser
    October 29, 2015 / 8:56 am

    I know I’m setting myself up to fail if I skip meals or don’t get enough sleep. I make myself sick anytime I get less than 7 hours of sleep! These are all the definite musts for the end of the semester!

  13. October 29, 2015 / 12:10 pm

    SUCH amazing tips! It’s so important to take care of yourself. And I did sooo much better in classes that I refused to miss. Hang in there, love!

    XO, SS || Seersucker Sass

  14. October 29, 2015 / 10:13 pm

    Yes! I think taking time to enjoy yourself is so helpful. I love the images you make for your blog p.s.!

  15. October 31, 2015 / 4:17 pm

    With a midterm and 2 essays this week, it was so helpful to read this post! I love the reminder you had about remembering to have fun. I’m planning on powering through one of my essays and rewarding myself with a movie night with friends. It will be a great way to destress!
    -Kim
    http://www.simplybeingkim.wordpress.com

  16. November 2, 2015 / 10:09 pm

    Great tips. I am so excited that this semester is almost over. Being a freshman this year I have learned a ton and grown a lot and cannot wait until the Spring Semester to have a fresh start and a brand new (and more do-able) schedule.

    What I find that helps me stay on track of my work is to always work two days ahead of schedule. This allows me to be able to be flexible down the road if something were to happen in my life or in school.

    Thanks for these great tips & good luck!

    – Juliet from http://www.thelittlejewelsoflife.com

  17. October 28, 2016 / 10:47 pm

    I definitely need this, been struggling a lot lately because of the huge workload. But you are right, prepare in advance really helps a lot! x
    – Sabrina | StudentsToolbox.com

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