We’re reaching that point in the semester where it feels ~nearly~ impossible to keep going with school. Personally, my school work isn’t too heavy or difficult, but I struggle so much to find the will to do it. And don’t get me started on the urge to skip class …🤠 Wherever you’re at in your academic career, I’m sure you’re feeling a little burnt out and maybe unmotivated. I have the sophomore slump so bad – but I’ve found a few things that have really helped get me out of it. Besides long naps and Grubhub, here’s a few tips to help get you out of a rut and back on track.
My worst habit is staying in my room for way too long. My introverted self loooves to be alone. It’s comfortable and quiet, but there’s way too many distractions for me to actually get work done. I could be painting, sleeping, cleaning, etc. Staying out of my room the most that I can is a great way for me to study better. I actually haven’t been to the library yet (transfer student probs) but I love to stop by the Student Union after classes to get some work done. Being around other students that are also working motivates me and keeps me focused. I also like the study lounges in my dorm or even the lobbies of the buildings that my classes are in. I’ve found that no matter where I am, as long as I’m not in my room I tend to be pretty productive. I’m the type of person that can’t get anything done in study groups or pairs, so finding a good spot on campus where I can zone in is always helpful. However, if you are the type of person who works better in groups, I would suggest you reach out to your friends or classmates to form a study group. Everyone is different, so you really just have to find what works for you.
As cliché as it sounds, staying organized is crucial. Every Monday, I go through Blackboard and Canvas and write down every assignment that’s due during that week. As the week goes on, I cross out assignments as I turn them in. Any grade is better than a zero, so turning in work is the first step to any kind of success. I’ve found that when I don’t write anything down, it’s super easy to forget assignments which results in missing assignments. Of course we strive to get good grades on the work we turn in, but when worse comes to worst at least turning it in will save you in the long run. Creating a checklist of assignments is a super easy way to stay on top of your work and make sure you’re getting every point possible in your classes.
College is hard! Try to give yourself as much grace as you can and only strive to do your best. If your absolute best effort isn’t a 4.0 (mine is not), that’s still okay! As long as you’re trying, be proud of yourself for being courageous enough to pursue a degree. It might seem like no big deal since there’s about 30,000 of us here going for a bachelor’s, but college is a hard obstacle for any student. So, try to remind yourself that you’re doing great even if you don’t feel like it! Self-care is also super important. For me, self-care is taking one to two hours a day to just relax, watch Netflix, eat and usually sleep. Post-class naps really help me reset before I get started on doing work again.
We’re so close to the end of the semester! There’s only about a month and a half left, and we already got through midterms. Keep pushing, but remember to take care of yourself. One of my professors shared a quote with my class that says, “what good is a 4.0 GPA if you nearly killed yourself trying to get it?” SO true. School is important, and your grades matter, but at the end of the day your health matters most. Make sure you’re setting yourself up for success to the best of your ability. The better you take care of yourself, the better you’ll be able to do in school.