As the excitement of a new school year begins to fade, it’s easy to slip into a cycle of fatigue and discouragement, whether with clubs, academics or friends. These feelings can be hard to deal with, but everyone goes through them. Here are a few tips for staying motivated and productive once the energy of a new semester has worn off.
- Sunday Resets
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As simple as it sounds, I’ve found that a good Sunday reset after a busy week makes all the difference.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with clubs, homework and exams during the week. It’s important to remember to breathe and know that everything is going to be okay.
Take the day to do things you’ve been putting off. Wash your bedding, throw out the four half-empty coffees sitting on your desk, vacuum or whatever else you’ve been procrastinating.
Then, once all the chores are done, take the rest of the day to relax and pamper yourself. My recent Sunday afternoons have started off with taking an everything shower, then doing a face mask, layering on my skincare, adding some under-eye patches and getting in bed for the rest of the evening with a good book or a movie.
I feel so much better starting a new week completely relaxed and caught up.
- Staying active
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The weather is getting colder, and we’re slowly losing daylight, making it easy to come up with excuses to not go for walks or runs outside.
It’s up to you to keep thinking about all the positives of getting your body moving. I’m not someone who typically enjoys weightlifting or the gym in general, so this one hits close to home. I love bed-rotting as much as the next person, but at the end of the day, balance is key.
My favorite activities here at Penn State have been group fitness classes like yoga and core. Get your friends to sign up with you, and if you’re still struggling to motivate yourself, just think about how working out justifies buying all the cute athletic sets you’ve been wanting.
- Reading a Good Book
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As simple as it seems, finding a book you really like will help you stay motivated. I’m going to sound like a parent with this, but reading is genuinely so much better than doomscrolling for hours on social media.
While I’m still guilty of spending way too much time on my phone, I’ve recently gotten back into reading, and already I’ve noticed how much more productive I feel after spending an hour in a book versus spending that time on Instagram.
When I come back from class and sit on my phone, I feel so tired and lose all interest in getting up and studying or doing homework. But when I come back from class and read a book instead, I feel less lethargic and have more energy to finish the work I need to get done. I’ve even noticed that putting my phone down and reading before bed helps me shut my brain off and fall asleep faster.
- Retail Therapy
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Of course I had to save the best for last; treating yourself to a shopping trip is always an instant mood booster. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I love to go for a walk downtown and pop into all my favorite stores on College Ave.
Get that game-day outfit you’ve been eyeing at Family Clothesline (because you can never have too much Penn State merch), or buy the cute going-out top from Urban Outfitters. Whatever it is you’ve been wanting, go treat yourself.
You can also use shopping as motivation to study. I always tell myself if I get a certain grade on an exam, I get to treat myself, which encourages me to want to excel academically!
Semesters are long, and a slump in the middle doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way; it means you’re human.