Midterm Blues
November 3rd, 2025
Writer: Nicolette Peremen
Editor: Sophia Wohl
Welcome back! Or more like: welcome back? It’s that time of year again; midterms. As the halfway mark of the semester starts to creep around the corner, there is a sense of impending doom that sits above us. Everything seems heavier… maybe too heavy. Suddenly, the adrenaline we all felt at the start of the semester has died out and we’re all simply trying to get by with the bare minimum, and even that seems impossible.
This slump is not solely exam based; we are all caught in a perfect, self-depricating storm of academic pressure, mental and physical fatigue, and emotional turmoil. The novelty of new classes has worn off, but finals are still far away. We’re stuck in this unusual in-between, and it is easy to feel like you’re treading water, except the water is mud and you’re wearing a backpack…full of books - no, bricks. Even the most organized students can feel off-balance, questioning their routines, their goals, and sometimes their capabilities.
But here’s the thing: midterm blues are normal. They’re a signal, not a sign of failure, however a sign that your brain and body need a reset. So instead of powering through on fumes, try this:
Break the cycle: Swap marathon study sessions for short, focused bursts. Your brain is a muscle; muscles only grow during your rest, not during the workout.
Reclaim joy: Reconnect with something that makes you feel alive—music, movement, time with friends, whatever works.
Talk it out: Vent to a friend, join a study group, or just say out loud: “This is hard.” Because it is and that’s ok!
Rest like it’s your job: Instead of keeping yourself up until 2am studying, call it an early night and start fresh in the morning. Sleep is not optional, it is the foundation of function.
Treat yourself: Think of a reward that you can look forward to after you’re done. Maybe, after a hard study session, you can grab lunch with a friend at your favorite restaurant. Another option is to have a movie marathon after your exams. The possibilities are limitless and should be true to you.
Zoom out: Remind yourself why you’re here. Midterms are a checkpoint, not a final judgment. Just because it’s hard does not mean you are incapable of current and future success.
While it may feel like it, midterms do not have to be a crisis. Instead, they can be a turning point—a chance to pause, recalibrate, and remind yourself why you started. The blues may linger, but they certainly do not define you. At the end of the day, you didn’t get this far just to get this far.