Unfortunately, midterm season is approaching. It is a force that simply cannot be stopped, no matter how badly we want it to or how burnt out we may feel. However, it doesn’t have to be as painful and scary as it may seem… as long as you know how to study properly. So, here are some easy tips to help you survive this exam season.

Tip 1: Motivation. Now I know getting motivated to actually start studying can seem like an impossible task, but there are ways to kickstart this process. You can start by getting together all the supplies that you will need to study. Grab your books, laptop, headphones, study guide, etc. and set them all out. Then, organize your notes and get everything ready for you to study. This process will help you organize your thoughts and hopefully kickstart some motivation.

Tip 2: Location. Whatever you do, do NOT study in bed. This is an easy mistake to make. Your bed seems so comfortable and welcoming. You think it would be the perfect place to study, but you are wrong. You will immediately feel sleepy and lose all the motivation that you may have had. Instead, try heading to a cute coffee shop like Buddy Brew, or head to your local Barnes and Noble. If you are surrounded by other productive people, sometimes their productivity can inspire motivation in you.

Tip 3: Organization. This is more of a general tip to keep in mind throughout the school year. I cannot stress enough how important it is to stay organized. It is imperative that you keep your notes and assignments in order for when the semester comes to an end. If you do this successfully, studying will be a whole lot easier. You will be able to easily read through your notes and glance back at specific areas that you know need improvement.

Tip 4: Music. Create a nice, calming playlist to keep you entertained while studying without distracting you from the task at hand. Maybe this means picking songs that don’t have lyrics, so you aren’t tempted to sing along, or maybe it means picking more relaxing, chill songs. For example, I wouldn’t recommend adding any heavy metal to your study playlist.

School is already stressful enough before throwing exams into the mix. I hope these suggestions help to lighten the load and make studying a little easier this exam season.