Finding Balance with UTM Moves During Midterm Season
As the academic pressure mounts at UTM, students are faced with balancing stress with the help of UTM Moves
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October is here and with it, midterm season has arrived for students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). With looming assignments, lectures, part-time jobs, and exams, finding time for rest may seem impossible.
Midterms are a natural part of the university experience. However, the stress associated with them may spill into students’ lives in a variety of ways: through long hours of studying, irregular sleep and fears of falling behind.
Pressure of the Midterm Season
University students typically have many responsibilities. During midterms, however, it becomes harder to juggle them because of upcoming deadlines and exams.
Maram Qarmount, a former UTM-student majoring in Digital Enterprise Management, explains that during her first two years at university, she experienced increased pressure as she adapted to the university environment after the end of Covid-19 pandemic.
“In first and second year, because everything was still so new and the “Covid” situation had just ended, there was greater pressure to perform well, therefore I was experiencing higher levels of stress,” Qarmount shared with us.
Since her program included more essays and group projects than midterms, Qarmount had to manage high expectations and pressures from classmates. Furthermore, after switching her program, she had taken summer courses in order to graduate within four years. Over time, however, she started to focus less on her grades and more on herself, putting effort into the things she does.
Joining in on Moving Around at UTM
One of the initiatives that encourages students to prioritize their well-being is UTM Moves, a peer-led program offered by the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Center (RAWC) at UTM.
This program supports students with different levels of fitness to create healthy habits through various activities whilst socializing with like-minded individuals.
UTM Walks, for instance, offer guided walks along UTM campus trails. In the fall of 2026, walks will take place on Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., starting at the RAWC lobby.
UTM Moves Mobile offers activities, such as table tennis, arcade basketball, and giant Jenga, at various spots around the UTM campus. The games provide an opportunity to take a small break without having to set aside a whole afternoon.
UTM Moves also includes classroom movement breaks, recreational events, and Move Mentors in order to help students establish a physical activity routine.
Although Qarmount had never joined any wellness programs at the campus, she believes that the availability of these programs may motivate students to reach out in case of need.
Why Do You Need Breaks?
Being physically active does not necessarily mean spending four hours a day in the gym. A walk or a few minutes off from studying are enough to provide students with a chance to recharge.
The UTM Athletics’ webpage published a blog post in January, 2026, titled Tiny Habits, Big Moves: How to Adopt Habits that Stay All Semester. In the blog, the author Debbie Wong explains how hard it may become to keep healthy habits as the workload increases.
Qarmount stressed out the importance of breaks to her study schedule. A mere five minutes helped clear her mind and studying continuously prevented her from retaining information. Also, completing the individual assignments one week earlier provided Qarmount with a lot of time for relaxing and concentrating on challenging classes.
Midterm season stress may be inevitable, but neglecting your personal health does not have to be a part of it. “Even though it may be tough for many UTM students because they strive for perfectionism and excellence, try your best to look after yourself,” Qarmount advised.
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