What Is it?
Are you a college student who has been academically struggling and lacking motivation lately? You are not alone. This is often referred to as a sophomore slump, which is an academic decline in a student’s second year in college. Any college student can experience a slump; it is just more typically seen in second-year college students or first-year college students who are going through their second semester. According to Cabrini University, a sophomore slump is described as, “students who lack motivation, are indecisive about selecting a major, feel disconnected socially and academically, and engage in behavior like excessive drinking that interferes with their academic success.” Negative impacts such as bad grades and lazy habits result from this slump. A study done from the Second Year Student Assessment including 3,800 second-year college students enrolled in 28 different colleges and universities in 2012 stated that 23% of students could not stay motivated due to not feeling energized by the ideas they are learning in class. Another 25% of students were unable to affirm that they had made many friends at college and felt at home. Although this study was done ten years ago, these are a few of the same problems causing students to lack motivation in college today.
What Are the Causes?
Many unnoticed attributes can contribute to being in a sophomore slump. When an individual’s daily routine changes, it can cause a change of priorities. A common problem for college students is prioritizing social life over academic work. There are many distractions and social events that make it hard for students to balance their curriculum, which causes many students to put more time into their social life rather than school and studies.
Another issue that can add to a slump is being homesick. This issue is more commonly experienced by freshmen. Being homesick merely arises from suppressing change with the results of anxiety and depression. This often interferes with a student’s motivation level.
Having bad professors or not being passionate about your major can cause students to be in a slump as well. If a student does not feel energetic about what they are learning, it can often make them mentally check out or give up in their classes.
How To Get Out of It?
Get priorities straight
In college, it is easy to get distracted and put your time and focus into the wrong things. It is important to realize what priorities you have and if you are changing them due to distraction. This can be done by living more on a schedule and not procrastinating academic work. Dedicating certain days or times for homework is an easy solution to this problem. Using a calendar or planner is another solution to help students stay more organized and caught up on what matters.
Reach out to professors
Professors want their students to end with good grades for the sake of their jobs, therefore it is beneficial to reach out to them. Most professors are willing to help students when they are academically struggling and help them get their grades up. Communication is key; most professors will appreciate humility and honesty and will be more understanding as a result. There are plenty of academic resources on college campuses to help students who are struggling as well.
Rest & take time for yourself
Not getting enough rest is a major cause of being in a slump. It is important to go to bed at a reasonable time and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Taking time for yourself to recharge your social battery is also very important. Many students are always on the go and don’t take the time to rest and recharge which negatively builds up.
Clean your living space
Believe it or not, your living environment can have a major impact on how you mentally feel. If you are in a slump, make sure your dorm or apartment is clean and organized.
Look for inspiration
Finding things to motivate you while you are in a slump is the number one way to get out of it. This can be working out, changing your diet, journaling, being spiritually active, talking to friends or family members, or anything that is a positive change in your daily routine.