Midterms and Eating Disorders: Managing Stress
College life is a whirlwind of deadlines, exams, group projects, and social commitments. When midterms hit, everything ramps up—including the pressure, anxiety, and stress. Midterms and eating disorders can create a difficult combination. The need to pull all-nighters and spend endless hours studying can quickly disrupt routines and make it harder to prioritize meals, self-care, and overall well-being, especially without the support of a treatment team.
Midterms, Eating Disorders, and Self-Care Challenges
When entering or returning to college, students often settle into a familiar routine filled with classes, extracurriculars, internships, jobs, sports, and more. However, when midterm season arrives, the pressure to perform can take over. Many students become overwhelmed by the desire to excel and study for hours on end, often at the expense of their wellness. Midterms and eating disorders can intensify one another, as prioritizing academics over basic needs like meals and rest can lead to a decline in self-care, something especially concerning for those in eating disorder recovery.
To support your personal well-being, here are three helpful self-care tips for navigating the pressure and pace of midterm season:
Find Extra Support When You Need It
Stress is a normal part of college life, but when it becomes overwhelming—especially during high-pressure times like midterms—it can negatively impact your performance and well-being. Midterms and eating disorders can make this stress even more difficult to manage, especially when emotions and routines feel different than normal. Feelings of anxiety, fatigue, or lack of motivation are valid, and you don’t have to face them on your own. In addition to connecting with your treatment team, many campuses offer counseling services, drop-in hours, or support groups that can provide extra help during stressful times. These additional supports can offer a space to connect with other students navigating similar challenges and help you feel less alone.
Make Nourishment Part of Your Study Plan
When your schedule fills up and studying takes priority, finding time to eat can easily be overlooked, especially for those in eating disorder recovery. Midterms and eating disorders can create added pressure in recovery, but consistent nourishment is essential to help you focus, maintain energy, and do well on exams. Carrying snacks to study spaces can help you stay nourished without interrupting your workflow. It can also be helpful to pre-pack meals and talk with your treatment team ahead of time about when and how to incorporate meals into your study schedule. And while many students rely on coffee to power through the day, remember, it’s not a substitute for a meal!
Set Boundaries Around Studying For Midterms
While having structure is important—especially for students in eating disorder recovery—it’s equally essential to set boundaries around your study time. Midterms and eating disorders can make it feel tempting to study nonstop, but protecting your time and energy is key to maintaining recovery. Boundaries around studying might include stopping work at a certain hour, leaving time to wind down before bed, or scheduling relaxation between study sessions. If eating disorder thoughts come up during downtime, consider reaching out to a family member, roommate, friend, or other support person to help you navigate these struggles.
Midterms and Eating Disorders: Protecting Your Recovery
As midterm season ramps up, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by academic pressure, but your recovery and well-being are just as important. Midterms and eating disorders can amplify stress, making it even more crucial to care for both your body and mind. In addition to preparing and studying, planning meals, taking breaks, seeking support, and setting boundaries around studying are essential to your recovery.
If you’re looking for extra support as you navigate the demands of college while prioritizing your recovery, BALANCE’s 14-Day Winter Program can help. This structured, short-term program offers evidence-based care to support regular meals, strengthen coping tools, and help you feel more grounded during stressful times like during midterms. It’s designed to provide the foundation needed to stay committed to recovery through midterms and eating disorders, helping you or your loved one maintain progress throughout the semester and beyond.
BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, located in New York City, offers free consultation calls to help you explore next steps. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is a blog contributor for BALANCE, where she has written posts covering a wide range of eating disorder topics. She has received her Master’s degrees in Psychology and Healthcare Administration, and currently works at Mount Sinai Hospital. After attending Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development.
