Dartmouth quarters are short, which means that we never go too long without a vacation. However, the Midterm Hump always seems to sneak up on us, just when we’ve fine-tuned our overcommitted schedule of hanging out and extracurricular activities. We feel reclusive, snappy, and, worst of all, we realize that unlike finals period, there is no hope of rest and relaxation at its end.

On campus, Wednesdays are typically celebrated as “hump days,” halfway points of every week. But the Midterm Hump, the “Wednesday” of the term provides no excuse to wear your sexiest underwear or coincide your blackout with the Alma Mater on the bell-tower. Clues that the dreaded midterm hump is fast approaching include people barricading themselves in Novack to for days on end, the first peak in the term of campus-wide coffee and (nose) candy intake, a common bond of misery, and two popular topics of conversation: stress and how to deal with it.

There are, however, a few simple maneuvers that can help you huff and puff your way over the midterm hump. Naturally, you are going to want to station yourself in a quiet location in close proximity to free food, so that you can reward yourself periodically—I, for one, pretend I’m waiting for an important meeting in Citizens Bank and take advantage of the giant vat of Hershey’s kisses while studying.

Binge on sucrose, but ration your Blitz! Tempting as email is, e-commiserating can be a real time drain. Wouldn’t you rather actually set aside an hour to see your friends then just bitch with/at them through glorified text messaging that inevitably breaks your concentration?

Speaking of seeing and being seen: Dress the part. After all midterms, like all life’s important pursuits, are all about image to some extent. Looking intellectual will make you feel more intellectual and reinforce your motivation to study. Slovenly dress never adds to your overall organization during this critical crunch of time management (a chronic problem of mine). And accessorize: Invest in a Yerba Mate gourd and make your own Argentinean drink because a) it will keep you wired b) it’s cheaper than Red Bull c) coffee and tea are so played out.

Cooking dinner with your friends can break up the monotony of dining-hall food and provide a social setting that doesn’t entail you getting wasted and having to get your exam delivered to Dick’s House. Preferably, make a dish none of you have ever tried before, because novelty adds to the excitement and no one will really know if what it’s really suppose to taste like.

Then work it off—exercise is proven to reduce stress. Pumped up from a test but not ready to start studying quite yet? Go for a run, play Frisbee on the Green, or go apple picking. Enjoy the fall weather before you can hardly step outside without wearing your nine layers. Then return to your work with renewed fervor.

I have already touched on the importance of organization during the Midterm Hump. Lists are a terrific way to stay organized. If all else fails, make a list of all the things that you can put off until later. I have found these lists far more encouraging than the lists of things I can’t.

Despite these various ways to cope, sometimes we might just feel like a break. My advice? Take one. Usually a “mental health” day after a midterm can help motivate you for the next cramming session. Going to class regularly is a pretty good habit, but ultimately your sanity and happiness are crucial.