Midterm Season: How to Stay Locked In (Without Losing It)

It’s that time again. A million tabs open on your laptop, Stauffer is full, and everyone you know is suddenly “so behind.” Midterm season at Queen’s has a way of feeling like a competition — who’s the most stressed, who’s been in the library the longest, who’s running purely on caffeine and panic. But let’s be honest: sitting in Stauffer for ten hours doesn’t guarantee you’re learning anything.

There isn’t one “right” way to do midterm season. What works for your roommate or that person who swears by 12-hour study days might not work for you. And that’s okay. Sometimes doing exactly what everyone else is doing just leaves you more tired and less prepared. Midterms aren’t about grinding harder — they’re about figuring out how you study best and letting that be enough.

1. Study the Way That Works for You

One friend is rewatching every lecture recording, another has rewritten all their notes twice, and someone else has flashcards for days. It’s easy to start thinking you’re doing it wrong.

But the truth is, there’s no universal formula. Some people need to handwrite things to remember them; others learn best by testing themselves until the information sticks. If re-reading slides helps you memorize, do that. If you need to quiz yourself or talk it out loud to really understand, do that instead.

A Queen's student studying in a way that works for her

The key is noticing what actually works for you, not what looks productive from the outside. If you’re spending hours staring at your notes and nothing’s sinking in, that’s a sign to change how you’re studying, not that you’re lazy or behind.

Try different things: summarize concepts from memory, make practice questions, explain an idea like you’re teaching it to someone else. You’ll start to see what helps information stay instead of just pass through.

2. The Myth of “More Time = Better Results”

We tend to see academic success like a linear relationship: the more time we put into studying, the better the outcome will be. But that’s not how your brain works.

In reality, there's a point of diminishing returns where extra time stops helping and starts hurting. You hit that wall where you’re rereading the same sentence five times, highlighting things just to feel productive, and nothing’s actually going in. That’s your brain’s way of saying, enough for now.

I learned this the hard way in first year. I pulled an all nighter the night before an exam, focused on how much content I still didn't fully understand. I was convinced that this was the way to go, that more time would let me squeeze in a few more chapters and practice problems. It ended up being the worst exam of my academic career. I walked into Mitchell Hall foggy, anxious from my mixture of espresso and Redbull, and with a crazy headache. The cost of the all nighter was far worse than the benefit of a few extra hours of study. I messed up the simple concepts that I already knew, just because I wasn't thinking clearly or communicating my ideas effectively.

An engineering student taking a well deserved break

Sleep isn’t optional. It’s how your brain files away what you studied. Without it, even what you do know slips through the cracks. So plan your studying in a way that gives you space to rest. Working longer doesn’t always mean working better. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your grade is to close your laptop and go to bed.

3. Plan Intentionally (Not Perfectly)

Midterm season has a way of making time feel slippery — one minute it’s Monday, the next thing you know it’s 2 a.m. on Thursday and you’ve convinced yourself you “work best under pressure” (You don’t).

Planning your time isn’t about being rigid or having a colour-coded calendar that looks like a spreadsheet. It’s about giving yourself enough structure to actually breathe. When you start early, you take away the panic that builds when everything piles up at once.

Try setting up loose time blocks for studying instead of marathon sessions. Maybe two hours in the morning before class, or a focused evening block when you know your brain works best. Then, schedule in time for things that fill your cup: a gym session, a coffee run, or a FaceTime with a friend.

Those breaks aren’t time lost, they’re an investment. They help you learn more efficiently so you actually need less time overall.

A little coffee break to recharge

And if things don’t go perfectly (because they won’t), don’t throw out the whole plan. Adjust. Move things around. The goal isn’t to control every minute, it’s to be intentional about how you use the ones you have.

When you plan with care instead of panic, you stop just surviving midterms and actually give yourself a chance to do well and feel okay doing it.

4. Study With Friends… or Don’t

Some people need the social accountability. Others just need silence.

Studying with friends can be great if you’re on the same wavelength. If you motivate each other, keep each other on track, and can sit together without constant side conversations, that’s gold. But if you know you’ll spend more time catching up or spiralling about how behind you are, it’s okay to study alone.

If your friends are looking at you like this, you might be the problem

It just means you’re paying attention to what helps you focus. Some people need that quiet bubble to think clearly. Others need the hum of energy around them to stay accountable. Neither is better, it’s just about knowing yourself.

And if you do study with friends, find people whose work style matches yours and set the tone early. Maybe you start by reviewing material together and setting deadlines for when you'll be done reviewing each chapter by, then switch to quiet time for an hour. Maybe you work silently and reward yourselves with a coffee after. Whatever it is, make it intentional.

5. Where You Study Matters

For some people, that buzz of energy and quiet chaos helps them focus. For others, it’s just overwhelming. If you’re the type who gets distracted by every cough and keyboard click, it’s okay to study somewhere else.

Choose a place with ergonomic seating options

Try a quieter corner in Douglas, grab a table at CoGro, or set up shop at home if that’s where you think best. What matters most is that you feel comfortable enough to focus. You don’t need to prove your productivity by being seen in a crowded library.

And if you do prefer studying at home, a quick tip: a monitor is a total game-changer. It’s not essential, but it makes long hours so much easier on your eyes and your posture. (Your neck will thank you.)

Find the spot that actually helps you settle in, not the one that looks the most “academic.” Where you study doesn’t define how hard you’re working; how you focus once you’re there does.

6. Feed Your Brain, Not Just Your Anxiety

Midterm season has a way of throwing every basic routine out the window. You either forget to eat for hours because you’re “in the zone,” or you’re ordering UberEats like it’s a personality trait. Neither extreme really helps you think straight.

One of my favourite study snacks!

Your brain is doing heavy lifting right now — it needs fuel that lasts longer than caffeine and adrenaline. That doesn’t mean you need to start meal prepping or making Pinterest-worthy smoothie bowls. Just try to eat real food, somewhat regularly. Throw a vegetable on your plate sometimes. Keep snacks nearby that won’t make you crash mid-study session.

And don’t underestimate hydration. A lot of “brain fog” is just your body begging for water.

If you can, take a few minutes away from your screen when you eat. Let your mind rest. You’ll come back more focused and less frazzled.

You don’t have to eat perfectly to feel good — you just have to stop treating food like an afterthought. Midterms are tough enough; don’t make your brain work on an empty tank.

7. Little Logistics That Save You Later

📝 Exam Day Quick-Check

• Student card — if you do, you’ll get a mugshot and a $50 fine

• Pens, pencils, erasers

• Approved calculator or CASIO fx-991 (any version in that model line — typically the CASIO fx-991MS, fx-991ES, or fx-991EX)

• Resealable beverage container

• Check SOLUS + email for room/time

• Double check your exam time and location on Ventus if you have accommodations

• Arrive 10–15 mins early

• Eat something beforehand

Little details = big peace of mind.

8. End With a Reality Check

It’s easy to forget that this season — no matter how heavy it feels — ends. It always does.

But what doesn’t end are the habits you’re building right now: how you handle stress, how you take care of yourself, and how you talk to yourself when things get hard. Those stick around long after the Scantron is handed in.

You’re allowed to take care of yourself and still be serious about your goals. That balance — not the all-nighters or caffeine counts — is what will carry you through midterms and the rest of your time at Queen’s.