Winter turns students into a different species. Suddenly, waking up feels like climbing Mount Everest, and attending class feels like an Olympic sport no one trained you for. But listen, you don’t need discipline, grit, or a motivational podcast to survive winter. You just need a few clever and lazy (and slightly chaotic) hacks to stay warm, stay sane, and still pass your classes with minimal effort. Here are the five best ones.
- The Art of Getting Out of Bed
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In winter, getting out of bed isn’t a simple action; it’s a full emotional journey. So, I like to trick myself. I place my phone far enough away from my bed that I have to stand up to turn off my alarm. Once I’m up, I immediately go and wash my face with cold water; do it before your brain realizes what’s happening. Then I like to sit down wrapped in a blanket or a hoodie, in the living room, knowing I will have to interact with my roommate. Give yourself something to look forward to: a cute breakfast, a spicy playlist, or the promise that you can come back to bed after class victorious.
Lazy? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
- One-Trip-Only: The Ultimate Lazy Efficiency Hack
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Winter laziness isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing everything in the most efficient way possible. If you’re getting up to grab water, congratulations: you are now also retrieving your charger, laptop, notebooks, lip balm, emotional support snack, and anything else you might need for the next four hours. I like to leave the house in one go, let’s say I have a 10 a.m. class, so I will leave accordingly and then eat out or take a boxed lunch with me and finish my errands and assignments all outside of my house. Since I know once I return, the only thing I’m doing is putting on a movie, snacking on chips, and getting no work done.
- Bribe Yourself with a reward
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Here’s the truth: self-control is seasonal, and winter is not the season. At least for me! So I like to bribe myself like a toddler in a grocery store. Went to class? Latte. Made it through a boring lecture without crying? Muffin. Did literally anything productive? Extra large pizza, immediately.
Rewards trick your winter brain into thinking life is good and motivates you to keep going.
- Dress Good, Feel Good (Even If It’s All a Scam)
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Here’s the sneaky truth: if you put an actual outfit on, you can trick your brain into thinking you have your life together.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my days showing up in class looking like a total fashion disaster. I can assure you, Miranda Priestly would send me to jail for my fashion crimes.
But just throwing on a cute sweater, a matching set, or a long coat that makes you feel like the main character through winter, and suddenly you’re motivated. When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you might actually show up to class instead of becoming one with your duvet.
- Indoor Migration: The Lazy Person’s “Fresh Start”
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If my room stops giving me productivity vibes, I don’t push it. I simply migrate like a very slow, indoor bird. I move to the couch or the kitchen. If that still doesn’t inspire me, I go to my friend’s place to get the assignment done in solidarity with them. But there are also times when being in the same room as them makes me lose focus, because how can we not discuss the new Wicked movie or someone we saw at Fashion Art Toronto?
In that case, I prefer to go to any cafe with just my headphones to keep me company while I work.
A small change of location feels like you made a big effort, without actually making one. And sometimes, that’s all the motivation you need!
Winter is long, cold, and rude, but these hacks will get you through it with your grades (mostly) intact. Remember: you’re not lazy. You’re energy-efficient. And honestly? That’s just a good winter strategy.
So stay warm, stay cozy, stay slightly chaotic, and most importantly, start getting your stuff done.