If you’re one of those lucky college students who is already back home eating real food on your couch, I envy you. For the rest of us, the hardest part of the semester has hit and those daunting finals are too close for comfort. In my experience, one of the hardest parts of finals week is keeping myself motivated. Below are ten ways to keep yourself motivated when you’re starting to feel the burnout. Good luck!
1. Think about how your short term goals will help you reach your long-term goals.
Sure, your your grade on the Arabic final might not directly influence whether or not you get a job writing for your dream publication, but it will have an ever-so-slight impact on your GPA when you graduate, which could help you achieve certain long term goals ,such as getting into Grad school. On the opposite hand, if an exam or paper or project does not go as well as you had hoped, do not beat yourself up over it — one grade won’t kill your GPA.
2. Make studying fun.
This may sometimes be impossible, but I guarantee most of the time it isn’t. Make a song about Napoleon or a game chemistry game with your friends… or play Gravity on Quizlet (this is my default). When you make studying fun, it feels like less of a chore, even if the topic’s a bore (appreciate my rhyme, please)!
3. Study with a friend who is a legit power house.
You know, that friend who has an endless amount of self-discipline and an infinite attention-span? Study with that friend. As much as you might love your goofball friends, studying with them can be too distracting for the finals week crunch. Studying with a friends who take their work seriously — even if that’s just one person — will inspire you to work harder and help you stay on track, without having to put yourself into solitary confinement.
4. Set up small rewards for yourself.
Eat a gummy bear every time you finish a page. Spend a few minutes on Pinterest after studying for 30. Go for a quick walk after mastering a few topics. If you have something little to look forward to while you’re studying (besides going to bed at the end of the day) will keep you sane.
5. Start planning what you’ll do when you get home.
Last week, I told my mom what I want to eat when I get home. I also found the soonest yoga class I can go to, and made myself an appointment to get my eyebrows waxed. Having things set up to look forward to when you get home (besides your couch) is a great way to keep yourself chugging, even when the end feels like it’s years away.
6. Make your screen saver and your lock screen something inspiring.
Search Tumblr or a free wallpaper app for inspiring quotes, gourmet popsicles, or pictures of puppies — whatever will keep you going (or remind you to put your phone down, if it’s a distraction). You could also take a cue from #6 and set your screens to something you’re looking forward to when you get home, whether it’s your dog or your favorite pizza place.
7. Call your parents or best friend from home.
First, if you’re struggling to motivate yourself, your parents will probably tell you to hit the books. Although this is not a groundbreaking statement, you might need to hear it from your parents. Second, if you’re feeling discouraged, talking to your #1 fans can be pretty uplifting — they can remind you how far you’ve come and how proud they are, which is something that is difficult to do for ourselves.
8. Watch a quick The Powerpuff Girls episode (or a TED Talk).
I know, mom. You’re reading this and asking yourself, “Why the hell is my daughter watching The Powerpuff Girls when she has an exam in two days?” Don’t worry, mom. Your concern is valid. However, watching a show that inspired you to be a boss-ass bitch as a child (before you knew half of those words) can be pretty darn motivating. If you can’t rationalize watching The Powerpuff Girls (disappointing, but fair), try watching a TED Talk or a quick informational-but-entertaining YouTube video. Listening to an inspiring lecture or an informational talk about your favorite historical topic is a great way to keep yourself motivated — commencement speeches definitely work well for college students!
9. Make lists.
One of the worst parts of finals season is the countless things you have to do. Thinking about it all in your head can be pretty daunting, but nothing is more refreshing than crossing things off of your to-do list! I love making to-do lists. My Aunt (the same SUPER COOL AUNT who got me the heated blanket and the tool box — thanks, Aunt Joan) got me a giant “To-Do” notepad that sits on my desk, and it’s my best friend during this busy time. Seriously, I write down things I’ve already done just for the satisfaction of checking them off. There’s nothing more motivating during a study slump than looking at all the things you’ve done (even if you still have a million things to do).
10. Search #girlboss.
Pinterest or Instagram, Twitter or Google, something inspiring is bound to pop up. If your goal is to be successful in any type of career, #girlboss is at least a little bit relevant to you. Thinking about how your hard work will pay off in the future is a great way to keep yourself motivated in the present.
You’ve got this!!
XOXO,
Lover of college, hater of finals.
Image Credit: LifeHack.org