Dear College Students,
It’s almost the end of February. I am aware that we are all in the midst of the semester. Assignments are due even though the motivation is dwindling. Attendance is taken in class even though we have all been slacking on actually going to class. Every day feels longer and every week feels like it takes forever. I’m with all of you. It’s so hard to keep up motivation during spring semester when breaks and summer are closer than ever.
With all of that being said, I think we could all use some motivation. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keep going.
- Take breaks and time for yourself
When I wrote my other article, “Amidst the Midterms, Don’t Forget About Self-Care”, I found this unique study that said that people who take breaks are likely to have increased energy levels. Therefore, taking breaks actually helps you have more motivation and achieve your goals faster. These breaks could be anything from going to a coffee shop (read this for some good local spots), going for a walk, or taking a drive. I find that clearing your mind helps you come back better than ever.
- Make (achievable) to-do lists
I love a good to-do list. It puts everything in one place and makes me feel more organized. Although, they can be overwhelming when you keep adding stuff to it or expecting more from yourself. This is why it is important to make them achievable, so you don’t feel like you failed when you couldn’t complete all or most of it. For me, keeping it under 10 things helps it to feel more manageable. I tend to always make them on the “notes” app on my phone so it’s with me everywhere I go!
- Check in with your vision board
I gave in and made a vision board for 2023. It isn’t overwhelming. The list consists of many things including the beach, vacation spots, cute outfits, and reading/writing. Along with my vision board, I have a rough outline in my mind of my future goals and my roles in certain clubs. Going back to both of these things is important to me because it reminds me why I do what I do and the goals I want to achieve for myself. Seeing and thinking of your goals for the year or your future dreams helps you to stay motivated because you actually have something you know you want to work towards.
- Limit social media
This tip is kind of ironic because you most likely found this article off of a social media post, and that’s exactly how social media can be a good thing. Although, you and I both know how distracting it can be (especially TikTok). I feel as though TikTok can kill your attention span, making it even easier for you to get distracted. It is so easy to waste hours of time scrolling mindlessly through the different apps. Those wasted hours could be spent doing something productive. Something helpful for me is to put my phone on “do not disturb” or power it off while I’m doing homework. If you need more help with this one, you can even set time limits on apps or take them off of your home screen.
- Therapy/mental health checks
I will always vouch for therapy. It has done wonders in my life and the life of those around me. If you find yourself with an unusual amount of low motivation or just needing someone to talk to, therapy is an amazing place to start. It is something that is completely normal. Just like we need check-ups from the doctor’s office, we also need check-ups for our mind. If you are a CCU student, you have access to free counseling services. For more information, click here.
With all of that being said, let’s finish out the semester strong. If no one has told you yet, you are capable and can accomplish whatever you put your mind to!