As midterms near, manage time to get everything done

Make midterms more manageable

• Make lists, set your priorities
• Eliminate distractions
• Get enough sleep
• Eat right
• Stay flexible for the unexpected

Midterm exams are fast approaching and it can seem like there are not enough hours in the day. Assignments slip the mind, sleep is a luxury and eating is done out of vending machines.
It is not a question of having enough time, but using the time you have most effectively. Cynthia Garhart of the Student Success Center offered tips for students to better manage their time.
According to Garhart, the first thing you need to do is spend time getting organized because, as Garhart said, “It is really time well spent.” She said the best way to do this is to make a list. Sit down and write down all the things that need to be done. Include classes, work, study time and anything else you need to do. Make sure to add in time for recreation. When you’re done with your list, prioritize it so you are doing the most important things first.
Garhart suggested as a second tip to eliminate the things that you can really let go of. If you have to choose between studying for a final or going out with your friends the choice should be simple — study. According to Garhart, eliminating these little distractions can make all the difference.
She emphasized getting sufficient sleep as her third tip. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), you need eight hours of sleep a day but a 2002 study showed the average American only gets 6.9 hours of sleep a day. If you’re thinking you can make it up on the weekends, don’t, because the NSF says it won’t work. If you find yourself not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep try, blocking out time in the afternoon for a short nap.
Fourthly, Garhart recommended healthy eating. “Fueling your body with food, eating the right kind of food. Making sure you have enough protein to wake up your brain in the morning and enough carbohydrates for the energy your brain needs to work is really important,” said Garhart.
Finally, Garhart encouraged students to stay flexible and allow time for the unexpected. “You have to build in time for all kinds of things.” Garhart added. “If it (the unexpected) happens you need to compensate in another spot.”
Everyone gets overwhelmed at times, but with proper time management that feeling can be minimized.

If things do seem to be getting out of hand, Garhart invites anyone to stop by and talk to her or one of the other counselors in the Success Center in the basement of Colter Hall.