Like your classes but struggle with staying motivated? Feel worn out from all the projects, papers and problems? We all have those initial aspirations and ideas, but unfortunately, life happens. No matter how distant they may feel, inspiration and motivation are two things that never leave us. Stress, work, relationships and homework all pile up on top of your muse, leaving you busy and forgetful of what really matters. While it’s completely normal to go through a rut, here are some different ideas to try to keep you motivated and ambitious when the semester hits like a freight train.
1. Reevaluate yourself. We are constantly changing and growing into who we are meant to be, and most of the time we never see this growth until we reflect upon it. Reassess what you genuinely enjoy about your major or your classes. What project was actually fun, or what topic do you wish your professor had talked about more? Find those interests and run with them. Integrate and apply what was enjoyable, whether it was a study method or a different mindset approach, to the rest of your school work.
2. Write down short and long-term goals. Yes, I know it sounds so cliché, but it really can help put ideas into action. Seeing your thoughts and inspirations on paper helps keep you accountable and is the first step in taking action. Journaling hasn’t become such a fad for no reason. Get the creative juices to flow and you just might surprise yourself with some new aspirations.
3. Find what takes up your free time. I don’t mean for you to think about which Netflix show you’re on or how many Fortnite victories you’ve won. But rather, do you find yourself reading up on politics often or watching a lot of crafting tutorials? Take your interests and expand upon them. Find a way to mix them into your classes or projects and take a nontraditional textbook approach. Once again, this can get the creative juices flowing and expose you to a new level of merging inspirations and passions.
4. Take advantage of being on a college campus. College campuses are one of the most diverse communities to come across. Numerous groups, organizations and clubs exist to meet the interests of others. Being around a group of like-minded people allows you to contribute, collaborate and create. Even if it’s just a study group, you can still get outside perspectives and new ideas to act upon.
Don’t let life stresses cloud your direction. Stay striving to be more, do more and act more. Don’t let your motivation coast from day-to-day; challenge it daily. Higher education is a privilege, so don’t try to take it for granted. Be thankful for the opportunities you have and you’ll quickly begin to see how much inspiration is within you.