Tips to Keep You Going
It’s finally Spring! Which means that those of us in the Midwest can finally ease out of our winter hibernation and enjoy the warmer weather and the bliss that comes with it. As a student, it feels like the end of the tunnel (the tunnel being summer and therefore happiness) is so close yet so far. Seeing the lake melt and people outside in shorts makes me want it to just be summer already and to be free of midterms, papers, assignments and work. The daily grind of school is simply getting old and I’m honestly finding myself on autopilot when it comes to my academics. Not that I’m failing, but my grades could probably be better because I’m just feeling burnt out and have no excitement for my current classes, so I’m not putting 100% effort into them. There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s a completely normal thing that I’m sure so many others are experiencing, but I do know I have to manage this burnout if I want to feel like I finished my semester strong. So, here are a few things I’ve been doing to get through the rest of the school year!
1. Plan fun things when you can, for the weekend or even for a weeknight
Having something fun planned for the weekend, like going out to dinner at a new place with my friends, for example, has truly been a game changer for me. I used to be a more go-with-the-flow kind of person when it came to hanging out with people, and would often make plans the day of, but having an activity to do with friends on my radar has been so helpful in keeping my motivation going. When my exam feels like the end of the world or I have to work for eight hours straight, thinking about the exciting plans I have keeps me going and honestly, keeps me sane. It doesn’t even have to be something crazy or expensive, even just planning a night to watch Love is Blind with my friends gets me excited!
2. Finish your classes strong, but don’t overwork yourself
I notice a lot of my friends really pushing themselves schoolwise; buckling down in the library for the entire weekend and having barely any social interaction for the days before an exam. I used to be like this too, but I’ve realized this is not a healthy pattern for me. I end up getting burnt out and have no motivation to do anything– schoolwise or even anything fun– for the week after that exam. What I’ve found is that having a healthy balance between getting my schoolwork done and also having fun is so necessary. At least for me, I don’t really care if I don’t have a 4.0 GPA anymore, as long as I worked as hard as I could without straining myself. Doing this has definitely kept my motivation going this semester.
3. Plan out your weeks beforehand
This has definitely helped me– I used to be so frazzled trying to remember what I had to do each day. Now, I like to use the app Notion every Sunday night to write out what assignments I have due each day and what activities I have planned. It has definitely kept me motivated and on top of my schoolwork.
4. Daydream about summer
I know living in the moment is important, but sometimes when I simply cannot find any joy in sitting in the library studying, it is nice to go on Pinterest and look at my summer board and think about the boat rides and camping trips I’ll be experiencing this summer. Texting friends from home and making a list of fun stuff to do during summer break is great too. Knowing that I’ll soon be tan and with my friends from home really keeps me going.
5. Lastly, treat yourself!
After that tough midterm, allow yourself to get yummy takeout, order that new top, or go out with your friends– you deserve it. Rather than just moving right on to the next assignment or test, allow yourself to chill, even if it’s just for a little bit and be proud of yourself for getting this far. The end of the school year is almost over, and as cliche as it sounds, we’ve accomplished so much and deserve a little treat.
Getting through the last leg of the semester is an uphill battle. Finishing strong is definitely easier said than done. When the burnout hits the last thing we want to do is continue studying for upcoming exams and trekking on. Especially when it’s starting to get nice out, it is so tempting to cut class and lay out and tan instead– I may or may not have done this… But, I know I’ll feel so much better by putting effort into my academics, so with these things in mind, hopefully getting through the end of the school year can be a bit more manageable!