How to Make Your Hardest Days Your Best
We all have those days, you know, the ones where your schedule reads something like that of an important political figure: morning to night busyness. Which is confusing, right, because you’re just a college student? And why is this class two hours? Well, those days are rough, draining, and can take a toll on both physical and mental health, however, due to the fact that we can’t just lay in bed and forget responsibilities (at least not all the time) we must find a way to combat those days!
First, and somewhat most important, you must find a way to get yourself out of bed. It’s okay I smirked at that sentence too. But, no, really, getting up bright and early for a busy day of class, work, extracurriculars, and studying is horrifying. This is where motivational tactics are helpful. Plan out a nice breakfast, something that you would enjoy but also that will also energize you. Have a solid morning routine that gets you out the door fast but also involves things you enjoy such as coffee, makeup, or a run. The goal is to bring incentives into your morning routine to get you out of bed and excited for the day rather than stressed.
Next comes the preplanning aspect. It’s a cliché generalization, however, planning can really assist in minimizing stress. Imagine a day where you have planned out exactly where you’re supposed to be when and what you’re supposed to be doing. Sounds a lot less stressful than aimlessly going through your day, drifting from class to class with no solid plan of what you’re gonna accomplish, right? It doesn’t necessarily need to be hectic planning. Just guidelines, or even a list, stating what you need to get done. Setting yourself tasks such as “study Wednesday afternoon before class” can help clarify your personal goals and minimize the anxiety of having so much to do. This also lessens feelings of not being able to fit everything in and of course curves procrastination. It’s a lot harder to procrastinate when you have a specific agenda for that day.
Motivational tactics can be helpful for a multitude of times throughout your day. A general way could be to allot relaxation time for yourself at the end of the day. So, something such as a bath, some Netflix time, or a baking session. There are a number of ways people like to unwind, and gifting yourself time to do this at the end of the day will give you something to look forward to and will incentivize you to get through your day positively and productively.