The Dewey Library Blog

Midterms can be one of the most stressful times of the year, you may be asking yourself “Am I going to make it?��? The answer to that question is of course yes, you will make it, and once again your library is here to help you through this rough patch. Below you will find an exhaustive list of things to help relieve your stress and carry you through mid terms and on to the end of another semester. So read on and find out how to keep yourself in the zone and out of the psych ward!

1. Start off Right! - Beginning with a positive attitude is the first step to having a stress free middle of the term. Instead of starting of your midterm worrying about all your assignments, begin by getting organized and process your assignments one by one. You will find yourself staying positive and believing that you can complete everything on time and to the best of your ability.

2. Make Use of Quiet Spaces!! - All of the University libraries have areas for you or your group to get together and enjoy a quiet study session. There are some rooms available for reservation in the Main and Science libraries, you will find all of the information here. In the Dewey Library the bottom floor is designated for group and quiet study. So make the most of these areas and get your assignments or group projects done in a quiet, and more importantly, stress free environment.

3. Attend a free Research Seminar at the Dewey Library - These seminars are free and you can sign up by stopping by the reference desk, giving us a call at 442-3691, sending us an email at dewclass@albany.edu, or for you high tech people, online registration is available. There are weekly classes (available classes) and they can help you to improve your research skills or get you more acquainted with the library. This will save you loads of time when you are ready to research because you will already know how to access everything. Check one out and see your research stress melt away!

4. Get Yourself Together - Organization is a key to reducing your stress level. Make sure you have all of your assignments in order and that you have all of the materials necessary to complete them. Keeping all of your notes, assignments, and other materials in one place can help to minimize the search for them later on. This does not mean putting all of these items in one bottomless pit of a folder with no order, but rather in a binder, or file that can be organized according to assignments, notes, etc. This will save you time, and will eliminate the 11th hour email to your professor for another copy of your midterm assignment!

6. Get in contact!- There are tons of ways to contact the reference desk at the Dewey Library to get help, and there will always be a person just a call or click away. There is the old fashion visit to the reference desk, but for you new age users here are a few of the other ways to contact us. Give us a call at 442-3691, send us an email through the Ask-A-Librarian service, instant message with a librarian, even text us a question at 265010 and make sure to start your message with ualibraries: (include the colon). So give us a call, an IM, a text, the possibilities are endless!

7. Time to Catch Some Z’s - Sleep is essential to proper brain function and in turn the reduction of stress on the body. You should get 8 hours of sleep a night and remember there is nothing wrong with a 20 minute power nap in the afternoon! When you do not get enough sleep your concentration is effected as well as information processing and short term memory. Also avoid the variety of caffeinated friends available to you to keep you wake. Caffeine can give you small boosts of energy but it also wears off and can wreak havoc on normal sleep if ingested after 3 PM. So don’t skimp on the sleep and you will find yourself alert and ready for anything school throws your way!

8. Use the “Buddy System��? - Many people find it beneficial to create study groups, especially around midterms and finals to relieve some of the work load. If your professor has not already created these groups it’s time to strike out on your own and buddy up! Try to find people with similar schedules, and ideally those who either live near you, or are able to commute to meet on a regular basis. Look for motivated individuals and not those who are looking for a “free ride��? to a good grade. So go forth, share ideas, and maybe make a friend or two in the process!

9. Let Us Do the Leg Work - The UA Document Delivery Service can save you a trip between the uptown and downtown campus! Sign up for the delivery service on the information page[http://library.albany.edu/services/uadelivery] then follow the simple directions to request an item. You can find articles as well as books that we can then transport between campuses for all of your research needs. So save yourself time and gas, make sure to plan ahead to get all of your items in time for your midterm paper or assignment.

10. Do Something for You! – Leisure activities or hobbies are proven stress relievers and in the process you have fun and do something you enjoy. Whatever you do as far as hobbies or activities, make sure to schedule time to continue to do these things in the midst of your midterm studies. Get out there and have a little fun, you will be amazed the effect that it can have on your stress level and overall performance.

Blog post created by Benjamin Knowles