I don’t know about you but, for me, second semester is a tough one. I seem to find myself a little down, a little overwhelmed, and seriously lacking motivation. Once you are in this position, it is hard to get out of it. It feels “better” to watch movies alone in your room than it does to study with friends; easier to down a bag of chips than go to the gym. For me this mood is tough to fight, and it takes a little time. But—with some practice—I’ve learned how to combat the “second semester scaries.”
1.Make a schedule.
Set a schedule for yourself, and do your best to stick to it. Wake up (relatively) early and hit the gym before class, devote three hours after classes to just studying, and save time at night for yourself. A routine gives you something to look forward to, and helps ensure you don’t fall back into your negative patterns.
2.Get off campus.
Make a point to get off of campus. Go on a walk at Salem Lake, go get brunch downtown with friends, drive to Charlotte for a concert, etc. Getting away from Wake can serve as a bit of a reboot, forget about what you have to do at school and just have fun.
3.Reach out to your friends.
This mood that you’re in can make it difficult to reach out to your friends, but try to do it anyway. If you’re feeling alone, ask your friends to do something. If they are busy, take that opportunity to make and spend time with new friends. Hang out with people that make you happy, it WILL help.
These three things, in tandem, are the ones that help me. But as important as it is to establish these habits, don’t beat yourself up if you fall off of your schedule, or just need a few days to yourself. See what works for you, and work from there.