By Kerrigan Moore
MERYN / @MerynSimone on Pinterest
If you hear eerie moaning and groaning on campus this week, it’s not zombies, but something worse: exhausted Miami students.
It’s 40 degrees outside, the seventh week in the semester, and Fall Break was not long enough to motivate me to keep my eyes open. Professors are pushing us hard, midterms are piling up, and all I want to do is fling myself onto my twin XL.
We’re at an academic crossroads: the mid-semester slump. Most of us are feeling burnt-out, stressed, and willing to say “it is what it is” a little too often. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Are we trudging straight uphill for the next 8 weeks? Is there any point to trying anymore?
The answer to all of those questions is, honestly, up to you. The good news is that you’re not alone. We’ve all been working and playing hard for the past two months, and our exhaustion is finally catching up with us.
Here’s what I recommend when dealing with the mid-semester slump:
Rest.
This week, set aside the time you would be scrolling through Tiktok or stressing over your BIO exam and close your eyes. Rest and relaxation are the number one ways to charge up your battery. Power naps are, truly, powerful. Twenty minutes to about half an hour is considered the most rejuvenating amount of time for shut-eye.
Expression.
Talk it out, write it out, paint it out, scream it out… whatever floats your boat. Get on the phone with your mom, crack open that journal, go grab a coloring book from Walmart. Finding time to do something other than schoolwork, which simultaneously allows you to express yourself and your feelings, will allow you to drain yourself of frustration and anxiety.
Perspective.
At the risk of sounding cheesy and cliche, I’ll reiterate what was posted on your 3rd grade teacher’s wall: attitude is everything. Remember all of the things you do get to enjoy, and what an insane privilege it is to be in college. There are tons of fun ways to make everyday, mundane activities feel fun and gratifying. Grab a PSL and listen to your favorite song on the way to class, and consider yourself lucky you’re not a character in Sharknado.
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