In the final stretch of the semester, you’re probably starting to feel like you’re in a rut. You walk through the same routines and stress about the same classes every day. You are so close to going home and seeing your family, but you are still so far. When the end of the semester starts to feel monotone and gloomy, there are lots of little, inexpensive ways to pick yourself back up.
Try out a new lipstick color
It’s hard not to feel fierce when you’re trying out a new bold lip color. Treat yourself to a different shade that will make you feel like a brand new woman. You’ll be surprised by your instant confidence boost, all thanks to a tiny tube of lipstick.
Arrange a gift exchange with your friends
Regardless of what holidays you do or don’t celebrate, arrange an anonymous gift exchange with some of your friends. Gag gifts are just as much fun if you’re on a budget. Throwing together a pot-luck dinner while opening gifts will be a great event to look forward to and motivate you through your final weeks of the semester.
Clean your apartment
Don’t you feel so much better when everything is clean? I don’t just mean shoving your dirty clothes inside your closet where nobody can see them (I’m guilty of that one), I mean cleaning the floors and dusting and REALLY cleaning your apartment. Cleaning can be fun if you crank up “Best Hits of the 2000’s” and incorporate dancing into your cleaning. After every surface is shining, you’ll feel more peaceful and it will be easier to relax when you come home after a long day.
Buy yourself flowers
You might as well go all out and buy the ones that come in a pretty vase. Flowers aren’t that expensive, and they will bring you a little extra joy every time you see them. When the flowers start to die, you can press them and save them, and you’re still left with a pretty vase!
Wake up early and exercise before class
I know it sounds bad, but hear me out. If you get up early and hit the gym before your daily tasks, you will have plenty of dopamine flowing through your system to make your rut a little less rutty. By the end of the day, you will feel productive and healthy, and you might even want to wake up early and do it again.
Follow a Pinterest recipe
Find something that looks tasty on Pinterest and break out the kitchen utensils you have, but never use. Even if the recipe doesn’t turn out well, cooking can be very relaxing, and you’ll be happy you tried something new.
Have a picnic on top of a parking garage
After everybody has left campus, convince your best friend to sit on top of the highest parking garage with you and have a picnic. I find this to be best paired with frozen yogurt and homemade sandwiches. There is an unappreciated serenity in a usually busy campus being completely empty.
Try a new class at your school’s gym
Most university gyms have all kinds of classes to take like yoga, pilates, spin, and many more. These classes are a great way to meet new people, and to regain your energy to make it through the week.
Make homemade decorations
Once again, Pinterest will come in handy for this one. There is an immensely wide variety of easy crafts you can make to decorate your apartment, and they look much more expensive than they are. Some examples to consider are rope shelves and shadow box decorations. If you’re somebody who loves the holidays, tis the season for holiday crafts!
Clean out your closet
Finally get rid of all the clothes you’ve been hoarding. As much as you want to hang on to the sweater you haven’t worn in two years or the pants you swore you would fit into one day, let them go. You’ll feel so good when you get rid of all the clothes you don’t need, and you can make money off them. With the money you make off your old clothes, you could be able to replace them.
Hopefully these little pick-me-ups will be the push you need to get through the rest of the semester. They might even inspire you to try more new things or give you helpful ideas for the semesters to come.