Is there anything remotely romantic about a half empty Celsius, five missing assignments, and a never ending migraine?
I’d like to argue, there certainly is, and maybe the best way to work through the stress of studying and school work, is to find the beauty in the brain rotted feeling of wrestling with the never ending pile of work.
Having school work to do is a privilege!
I think the first step to romanticizing a good study sesh, or how stressful your courseload may seem, is to find the beauty and gratitude with the amount of work you have. I think college students, including me, often take for granted how important and valuable our education truly is. I think by focusing on our gratitude instead of the annoyance, is something special we all have the power and ability to do.
It’s all about reframing. Instead of “I have to do my homework” we can think of it as “I get to do my homework!” We get to have access to an education, and space where we can access new information. Education, wrestling with ideas, confronting issues, using our writing and critical thinking skills is a gift not a grievance. Let’s challenge ourselves to find the fun in it, and think about how important it will all be in the end. In our future careers for instance, these study sessions will make great stories. When we are faced with something difficult, we can look back and reminisce on the 100 missing assignments on Canvas that we locked in for and finished before 11:59pm. If we can get through insanely stressful coursework like this, while also enjoying and living through the constant motion of college life, we can do anything.
Any work done — is work done.
Why does it feel like I can spend hours on one assignment, but when I close my laptop, it feels like nothing got done? The truth is, any work done, is work done. Even if you just start your paper with a small brainstorming doc, or only knock off a few vocab study terms, slow steps are better than no steps at all! Be kind to yourself, and celebrate the small wins, and use it as motivation to keep you going. I always love to list out all my work I got done, to have a visual list of everything I was able to complete that day. It makes me feel better.
When in doubt… Caffeine!
Sometimes there’s no better cure than cracking open an energy drink of choice, ripping out your planner, and making a list of assignments you need to do to make you feel unstoppable. Nothing else makes me feel more locked in than an ice cold Celsius, preferably a galaxy vibe or a cosmic vibe, my cozy go to spot in the library, and blasting a playlist that helps me feel the most locked in. (The “Harry Potter” soundtrack is always helpful for pretending I’m at Hogwarts). Even if you’re not someone who likes caffeine, any fun drink like soda, or a yummy smoothie is a great way to romanticize studying. Even if you gaslight yourself into thinking your decaf coffee is working, that might be helpful too! Treat yourself with a fun drink or snack of choice! You deserve it.
Studying with friends.
My friends and I make a date out of study sessions in the library. On a rainy Sunday, when there’s nothing else I’d rather do than stay inside, my friends and I plan to make it fun. I bring us a canned coffee, the Colombe canned cold brews are our favorite, and my friends will bring a study snack or candy! Even if your friends are not in the same major as you, it doesn’t matter. The company and presence of other people reminds us that we’re all in this together. Having people you know around you can make all the difference when studying or trying to lock in.
No matter how hard it gets, or how far behind you think you are, it can always be helpful to take a deep breath and consider the bigger picture. Even the smallest steps are steps taken, and that’s something we should always congratulate ourselves for. Studying and accessing education is beautiful and a privilege we often take for granted, so let’s use that as motivation to propel our next study session.