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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter.

As the end of the semester is approaching, are you dealing with low motivation? Is it a struggle to finish an assignment? Are you skipping your morning alarms? This is all very normal and odds are, you are probably burned out.

I know I’ve personally gone through phases where I could bring myself to do anything, including necessities like going on walks or getting groceries. It is such a tough place to be in because deep down you want to be productive, but there is a mind block stopping you from surpassing this funk.

Even though I still periodically go through these phases still, I do have remedies that shorten these funks. Here’s a list of things you should try to get back on track.

Use a planner 

Investing in a good planner motivates you to schedule your days in advance. Getting into a groove takes time, though. It took me about a month for it to finally be a staple in my routine and now, I cannot go without it. Before using a planner, I would always miss or put off deadlines. I am also not a very organized person by any means, but my planner makes me a step closer to having my life together. There also is something so aesthetically pleasing about having a neat agenda. 

Go to the gym

Before my fitness kick really took off, I was in a months-long depression. I would sleep all day and barely leave my bed. Working out was not necessarily a cure for ALL those problems, but it has made me a lot more active in all aspects of life. Now, I look forward to things I never did before joining a gym. I am not saying you have to go ham as I do, but going on jogs on the treadmill or implementing resistance training definitely boosts your serotonin levels. 

Keep up with your friendships

When losing motivation in aspects of life, sometimes friends drift. Keep yourself surrounded by the people in your life because they are there to listen to you when you are not in your best headspace. They only want the best for you.

Pick up a hobby

Picking up a hobby is a great way to find inspiration to keep active. For me, cooking is something that I picked up and enjoyed every second of doing. Preparing a meal keeps your mind moving and you always feel accomplished with the end result. Find an activity that does this for you.

Talk to a therapist

If this lack of motivation has gone on for too long, it might be in your best interest to reach out to a professional. While family and friends are great listeners, therapists have the schooling and training to pinpoint the root of the problem. Plus, prolonged avolition is a sign of depression and not something that naturally goes away.

I hope these suggestions were helpful for you and I hope you get in the groove again soon. Just know that you are not alone.

Sierra Cucciardi is a junior at Penn state majoring in Journalism.