We’ve reached the half point in the fall semester only a few shy weeks ago, (yay!) but now that means we’re in the home stretch! We’ve entered the hardest part of the term. Halloween has come and gone, Starbucks red cups are back, and dreaming about the holiday break is what many of us collegiates are thinking of. Thoughts similar to: “Who has time for tutorials or Monday morning lectures anymore?” start to manifest in our minds. Answer: We all do. It’s important we don’t get too overwhelmed and let our ambition tank.
We have you covered, here are some tips on how to beat the semester blues, and spark sustainable motivation till that’ll take you through until the last final you have to write!
Write Down Some Goals
Set some goals you’d like to accomplish for the rest of the semester and physically write them out. The act of physically writing out information helps you process and ingrain them into your consciousness. You may realize that in order to get the grade you want, you’ll have to make some changes and you can create a game plan on how to get there. Goal setting also can help you realize that maybe some goals aren’t the highest priority on your list. While taking photos for a good Instagram aesthetic, Christmas shopping, or expanding your social life are great and festive goals, they may not me the ones you should be pouring all your time into at this very moment.
Give Yourself Some Incentive
Christmas is just around the corner so maybe it’s shopping, planning a ski trip, or organizing a night out with your friends that will give you enough of an incentive to power through your final papers and projects. Incentives don’t have to be large either; try rewarding yourself with a T.V show, candy, a nice meal or even a treat to help you stick to your to-do list. A reward system can be extremely motivating, but it’s only effective if you limit it to times when you seriously need that extra push, otherwise it just becomes the norm.
Reinvent Your Study Space
Studying in the library can be extremely productive. Situating yourself in an area with others who are also studying or being productive can really influence you to keep your nose in the books. Even though the library is nice, if you’ve been frequenting it all semester, it may be causing you to feel isolated or just seem repetitive. It may make working more tiring and exhausting. Coffee shops can serve as great creative spaces since they offer light background noise. Alternatively, empty classrooms, or quiet hallways are also good spots to switch up your normal routine. The point is, challenge yourself to branch out from your usual go-to spots, and you may find that you are actually more productive and motivated in a new space. A change in routine may just spark a change in attitude.
Make a Schedule
Whether you’ve been sticking to a schedule since day one of the term, or you’re still struggling with how to construct a routine, now is the time to figure it out. Scheduling can take some time to get used to, however, it’s what has helped me develop habits, so that even when I don’t feel like blocking off two hours for reading or going to the gym, it’s already in my routine and in my brain. Scheduling also gives you the power to know exactly what needs to get done, and writing it down helps you visualize how much time there is (or isn’t) to complete everything. It gives you the power to avoid being surprised by deadlines and due dates. Scheduling can balance your social life – when planning out your days, you have power (and physical data) to assess and eventually say yes or no to last minute invites for watching Netflix or grabbing dinner.
Support Each Other (this is so important!)
We’re all students here so it’s important that we can inspire each other. Find people who you can vent to but also encourages you. I know when I see someone sleeping in the library, napping in MBC, or sprawling all their notes out across a table with multiple coffee cups, they’re in for a tough night ahead. I try to remember that I’m not the only one stressed over meeting deadlines, struggling to understand material, or facing the consequences of procrastination. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who feels unmotivated or bogged down. Remember, as collegiates we’re in this together and it’s important to empathize with one another and push each other along. Find a few friends to be your support system, and then find some peers you can help support too. You may find that the person that you’ve helped get to class or do their readings will be the one to help you get to lecture on days when you’re stuck in a rut.
Take Care of Yourself
I just spent the past week having late nights, early mornings, and endless amounts of coffee in my system. I know it’s hard to allow yourself to just relax after a rough week, but make sure you plan time to cool off.
Sleep
I’ve chosen to sacrifice sleep one too many times in order to stay up cramming or even just to watch movies with friends. Fatigue, assignments, motivation and the ramp up of everything to do nearing the end of thesemester do not mix well. Sleep is valuable and makes for a refreshed brain and it should be a priority. As much as I would love to run on endless amounts of coffee, it would have adverse effects on my health and yours too. A solid eight hours of sleep seems like a dream for many students, but it’s important to try and get as close as you can to that number as often as you can. Nobody wants to be studying calculus or political philosophy when they can barely keep their eyes open.
Get Up and Get Moving!
This can be interpreted in a few ways. First, some of you may feel like you need a little push to stay on top of things. Maybe you’ve conquered all your midterms and are taking a mental vacation and waiting for a sign to get going again. Take this as your sign that it’s time!
Additionally, staying active is important. Working out should be a part of your routine, since it gets your blood flowing and elevates both mood and energy. Working out also allows for you to relieve stress. For those who can’t hit the gym, no sweat; even taking a break to walk around relaxes your mind. When studying in the AQ, I have made it a habit to walk around the quadrangle a few times to take a break. After having your eyes glued to equations, readings, or your laptop screen, its good to get up and stroll around. I’m sure no one will even notice you walked laps around each floor of the library!
Get Pampered
Face masks, a manicure, or a peaceful soak in the tub are only a few way that you can treat yourself a little better. Who knew that unclogging your pores helps clear out your mind and mood as well? It also makes for a good girls night in.
Check Out Destressing Events on Campus
Puppy playtime is becoming popular among many universities and SFU is partaking in the wide spread phenomena across all three campuses! In fact, spending some time with our furry friends actually helps alleviate stress and releases feel good endorphins.
In partner with the Lorne Davies Complex, SFU is also hosting FREE yoga classes. Yoga, is not only good for the mind and overall well-being is a great way to refocus yourself for the next month ahead. Don’t hesitate to check out the SFU Health Services, for info on all the destressing activates you are available to partake in.
Remember that you’re working towards a bigger picture. The semester will end, and you will get through it. Although it’s tough to seek inspiration when you’re stuck in a rut, every assignment, paper, exam, and reading is all a part of a grander scheme, whether it be gaining your degree of profession or learning much more.
There you have it collegiates. Hopefully you can sustain energy and have been inspired to get through the last few weeks of class!