We’ve all been there. Midterms are coming up or already here, chasing us down like the T-Rex behind Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park. The weather is finally getting colder and the goals you made at the beginning of the semester are in your rear-view mirror. The mid-semester slump is officially here.
Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to combat the slump and finish the second half of your semester on a positive note.
1. Use Your Calendar
As someone who loves but struggles to use their calendar sometimes, this is something I definitely recommend! Personally, I’m the kind of person that gets overwhelmed when my calendar has too much on it, but planning out what’s coming up and what needs to be taken care of immediately can help in prioritizing where you need to start.
2. Take Lots of Naps
Power naps should be your best friend right now. The weather is getting colder and your effort is seemingly non-existent. Naps are a great way to have a mini-reset part way through your day. This point in the semester can be hard and if it means taking a quick nap in order for you to do your work, I say go for it.
3. Clean Everything
One of the easiest ways to get instant gratification is to clean your room. For me cleaning my room and putting clean sheets on my bed feels like I’ve hit the reset button. Cleaning everything from my desk, to my bed, to my laundry brings a peacefulness into my life.
My life may feel chaotic with all my clubs and classes but I know when I come home that everything is alright.
4. Self-Care
Whatever self-care means to you is what you should be doing. For some people (like me) it means taking naps, but for you it might be listening to music or just spending a day with your friends relaxing.
This isn’t to say that you should be doing this constantly because you do want to get work done, but it can be helpful in getting you in the right state of mind to accomplish your goals.
5. Reward Yourself
Whether your goal is to write that six paged paper you have due next week or to actually make it to your 8 a.m. class tomorrow morning, you should reward yourself for your accomplishments. It can be as simple as adding an extra twenty minutes to your power nap or as great as going out with your friends.
No matter what, your reward should still be prioritized behind your other work. It’s counterintuitive to reward yourself for accomplishing a goal only to set yourself back farther by making bad choices.