Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving is inching near. Slowly. But with midterms over and class still in session, how do you stay focused? Here are some fun (and some serious) suggestions for staying motivated until turkey day!
Give yourself some credit
Congratulate yourself on what you’ve already gotten done. Sure, there’s still a lot to do, but you’ve made it through half a semester and you should be proud of yourself. Recognizing your successes will give you the confidence and motivation to stay invested in your work.
Work together
Studying and doing homework in small groups will make it feel like less of a chore. Try to study with acquaintances or classmates rather than your best friends because you are less likely to get too side-tracked. Study buddies can also help keep you accountable for your work, so if you aren’t being productive for yourself, if someone else knows what you are supposed to get done, he or she will give you a little push to focus.
Set goals
Write down the things you hope to get done. They should be simple and attainable. Try to focus on one task at a time and check your progress.
Reduce distractions
It’s difficult, but try to escape situations that will break your focus. Study in spaces outside of your room. Create an environment that is comfortable, have plenty of snacks and water, and try to wait until you complete a task to take a break. Some methods for keeping distractions away are listening to a rain or ocean soundtrack, putting your phone away, and downloading a website blocker, such as SelfControl, which you can download at http://selfcontrolapp.com/.
Reward yourself
Take breaks to talk to your friends, catch up on your favorite TV show, or eat your favorite candy after achieving your goals.
Exercise
Working out will release endorphins which will pull you out of the mid-semester blues and will calm your mind so that you can focus later, instead of feeling restless. It is also a great time for your brain to process information and plan your next tasks. If you are having trouble with an assignment, working out can also give you an opportunity for an “aha!” moment. You never know when inspiration will strike!
Get excited
Thanksgiving is coming up and fall is beautiful and exciting! Remember that there are only a few more weeks until you will be enjoying a break, and you will be proud of yourself after staying motivated for so long. So, hang up some turkey decorations, look up some pie recipes, appreciate the fall foliage, and then finish your work!