It’s been one week after fall break has ended and we’re all mourning the loss of a blissful four-day weekend. Fall break is the perfect time to do all those fun things you never have time for—going to see downtown NYC, going home to see your family, or finally watching the last season of Breaking Bad. But, the fun must come to an end and fall break is sadly over. Since it can be tough to get back into the daily grind after a few relaxing days, here’s some tips to get you motivated for the weeks ahead.
1. Listen to your favorite pump up music.
Sometimes all you need is a little push of motivation. Whether you’re blasting opera or dubstep, pop in your headphones and let the music get you going. Here are a few of my top picks: “The Distance” by Cake, “Here It Goes Again” by OK Go, “Let’s Go” by Matt & Kim, and “Moral of the Story” by Watsky. These never fail to get me out of a lazy mood!
2. Put the junk food away.
Halloween is always filled with lots of delicious goodies—chocolate, caramel apples, pumpkin bread, and, my personal favorite, candy corn. As good as these treats taste, they make you feel sluggish once the sugar high wears off. Now that we’re back to school, get back to eating healthier. Fruits and veggies will make you feel alert and nourished, perfect for getting down to work.
3. Clean up your workspace.
Spending twenty minutes searching for that essay you know you have (…somewhere) can be pretty frustrating. Take the time to go through the stuff piling up on your desk and put it away. It might be boring and tedious, but once you’ve tackled that, you’ll feel like you can take on the world. Plus, a clean and organized space will help you feel motivated to churn out some work.
4. Go outside.
Pull on a jacket and head outside. Take a nice walk around campus, appreciate the color of New York in autumn and get some fresh air. Just getting up and out of your room for a little while can help you stop stressing about all the work ahead of you, so you can get down to business. Just make sure to not turn the walk into procrastination! 10-20 minutes is plenty of time to clear your head.
5. Remember that Thanksgiving break isn’t that far away!
If all else fails, remember that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away! It won’t be long before you’re enjoying a turkey dinner and a few days off. Let the thought of Thanksgiving around the corner motivate you to get cracking now! Hang in there, Columbia!