10 Ways To Survive Exams In The Winter

You can hear the sounds of your alarm, blaring and echoing throughout the walls. You wake up, pull open the curtains. The trees outside are full of snow, and the sky somewhat resembles a navy-blue, midnight shadow. The last thing on your mind is figuring out how to survive exams in the winter.

You look at your alarm – 6:00 am. You wish to sleep in more, but you realize that you have to get dressed. Then, you remember: The professor announced a midterm, at 8:00 am in the morning. No skipping class today!

You rush to make yourself breakfast, and get ready for school. Luckily for you, your college is near your home. No more long commutes in the snow, and no more delays on transit. 

As you rush to school, you soon realize that studying and completing assignments during the winter is more work than you expected. On top of balancing four to five courses, you’re probably working and attending to other personal means. And the short days and long nights just somehow make it worse – no more sunlight and sunshine. 

If you’re feeling like this, you’re not alone. Researchers say that darker and colder days often have a negative effect on a person’s mood. But however, as the old adage goes, whenever there’s a will, there’s a way. Figuring out that way means you will be able to survive exams in the winter, and more.

Managing College Classes and Exams This Winter

So if you’re looking to ace your next midterm or final, here are 10 tips which can help you study for and survive exams in the winter: 

1. Aim to wake up an hour earlier than usual

I know, as students, we often hate waking up earlier. We’re already tired from the assignments we’re bombarded with. 

However, you may not realize that starting the day an hour early may just be what you need. 

You can fill up the morning hour with any missing tasks or assignments. And if you have a midterm coming up, you can perhaps allocate that hour to studying and memorizing some concepts. According to research, waking up early helps you concentrate. By concentrating, you may memorize and recall concepts much more easily. 

Moreover, if you’re commuting to class, you won’t feel the need to rush to get ready. What’s more, you can avoid rush hour and arrive at class earlier than expected. 

2. Dress comfortably 

Whenever I attend my lectures in the winter, I often show up in sweatpants and hoodies. Sure, I may not look as professional, but I find comfort to be more of a priority. 

I noticed that the more comfortable I feel in what I’m wearing, I focus better on class and schoolwork. Especially in the winter, when the weather is super cold and dry. 

3. Feel free to treat yourself

You probably have heard from multiple people that college is very expensive. This is true in some cases: tuition and living costs are rising. However, if you have budgeted enough money, you can save some money and time to treat yourself with a hot chocolate, tea or coffee whenever you finish a difficult study session. 

Throughout the winter, I realize that warm drinks help me concentrate on the material and get through the day. This is especially the case when I have back-to-back classes, or classes late at night. So, don’t feel bad indulging whenever you have the time to do so. 

4. Remember to rest in order to survive winter exams

As students, we often forget the importance of rest. We’re often rushing to classes, finishing up work for our extracurriculars, and going to our part-time jobs on a weekly basis. But in the winter, rest is important for the mind. 

I remember how difficult it was for me to rest at first. I would often run from class to work, and after work, I would often study for my midterms or exams. Before the end of the semester, I already felt exhausted and tired. I remember feeling so fatigued whenever I went to school. 

However, when I decided to take two weeks off of work, I felt more refreshed: My mind was able to focus and I was able to retain the information from the lecture and complete my assignments. 

So, remember to not overburden yourself. If you’re feeling sick or tired, prioritize your own health. You can always submit another assignment to boost your course average. And you’ll have plenty other opportunities to boost your GPA.  

5. Set aside time to review for all classes weekly 

Throughout university, I noticed a good habit for me was to set aside a few hours each week to review material from my lectures. 

By reviewing constantly, I am ensuring that I am keeping on top of my coursework and my readings. This helps to avoid last minute crams or hiccups. 

Because once midterm season arrives, you – as a student, will be prepared and be familiar with all of the material covered in lecture. 

6. Take breaks during the day 

We all know how important taking a walk in the sun can be, especially in the winter. 

After your lectures, try to scroll around campus for a couple of minutes. Having access to some sunlight in a day can lighten up your mood, which will help you to study and concentrate better on your tasks. 

7. Set a study routine to survive exams in the winter

Everyone’s schedule works differently. But in order to achieve your desired GPA, you can also set up a study routine which works for your schedule. 

For me, most of my classes are from Monday to Tuesday, and Thursday to Friday. Some of them finish well in the evening. And some of them finish in the afternoon. On top of this, I know that I work for most of my day, and most of the morning on the weekend. 

Therefore, I noticed that for this semester, studying early in the morning and in the evening works best for me. As a result, I have decided to set a schedule of reviewing my material one hour in the morning, and one hour in the evening after class or work. 

Having this schedule allowed me to establish myself in a routine. 

You can possibly also set a similar schedule as well with times that suit your needs. 

8. Learn for the material, not for the result 

Although achieving a high GPA is important (especially for grad school or further education), learning to comprehend the material is more effective in the long-term. 

So when you’re studying, try to stay actively engaged in the course material. Ask questions, clarify concepts, and ensure that you understand each concept. If you don’t know what a specific concept entails, do a quick Google search. 

Instead of focusing on the result, focus on the process. The process in itself can go a long way. 

9. Focus on positive affirmations 

The days end earlier, and oftentimes when the sky turns darker, we often all think of the negatives. 

But instead, think of the positives. Sure, thinking positive can be more difficult on some days than others. However, when you learn to be grateful for the smaller things in life, you’ll be more motivated to tackle other challenges throughout the day. 

10. As the semester progresses, know that Spring is right around the corner 

One of my professors used to say that her favorite semester is the winter semester. That’s because the session starts with short and cold days, and ends with long and warm days. 

Though trudging through the semester can feel like trudging through slush, you can remind yourself that warmer days are coming. 

During exam season, the Spring season may be in full bloom. The snow will melt, the days will turn longer, and the weather will be warmer. 

So, hang in there – the weather won’t be too cold and dark for long. 

In Summary: Surviving School and Exams in the Winter

We all know the winter season to be one of the most challenging times of the year, especially in terms of school. 

The huge amounts of the snow and the early sunsets just somehow make it more difficult to get by during exam season. However, just like all four seasons, winter will eventually change into spring. 

But in the meantime, as a student, continue to prioritize your own self-care. Your health and your mindset matters more than your GPA. So if you feel too overwhelmed, remember to slow down and remember that eventually, you will have more time to study. 

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