If my (very few) college student readers are anything like me, stretch between midterm break and Thanksgiving seems as endless as a 3-hour math class.
No. Motivation. For. Anything. Period.
Unfortunately, professors don’t understand the concept of the “end-of-semester-blues” and keep piling on projects on projects on 10-page papers. And after listening to my professors drone on and on for what seems like literal weeks, I have to constantly resist the urge to throw my pencil at their heads and remind myself “you can’t buy eyes at Walmart.”
I’m not always this violent, I promise. My anger tendencies can be chalked up to my lack of focus and motivation on the last leg of the semester.
It’s at this point in the semester when you realize “C’s get degrees” and you probably won’t be making the Dean’s List. Again.
Luckily, I have compiled a list of 6 ways to stay focused on the homeward stretch of the semester that have proven to be true in recent weeks:
1. Classical Music
This suggestion makes me seem like a total grandma or nerd or something to that effect, but I promise it works. I tend to focus a whole lot better on my school work when I am not jamming out to OneRepublic’s newest album (which is gold, btw). Pandora has some fabulous playlists (Classical for Studying & Classical for Relaxing), or if you’re more of a Spotify junky, they have an eternal array of playlists in the classical genre as well as specifically for studying.
2. Get Sweaty
I know when finals week is looming it is hard to think about getting your sweat on, but it truly helps keep your mind clear and makes you feel like a warrior. (Or that’s how it makes me feel.) You don’t even have to go crazy at the gym, just get a bit of exercise. If you really feel like you don’t have enough time to do a full-on work out, just take your notes and walk a couple of miles on the treadmill. Sometimes, if I really need a break from everything, I’ll pick up a magazine and read that instead of concentrating on school stuff. Once you get home from the working your body, your brain will be ready to work!
3. Catch Enough Zzz's
I am probably the guiltiest person on the planet of not getting enough sleep, so trust me, I know the importance of catching enough zzz’s. It’s no secret that sleeping more helps you focus, but it can also help prevent set-backs that will divert your focus—like getting sick or having to binge nap for 5 hours before you can work on anything. According to the National Sleep Foundation 18-24 year-olds should get 7-9 hours of sleep at night. This is quite possibly the most important thing to keep focused for the rest of the semester.
4. Make a List/Prioritize
It’s easy to get severely overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done before the semester is over, but make sure you are prioritizing your responsibilities. Sometimes I find myself decided to reorganize my closet when I have a 5-page paper due the next day, or deciding to do my laundry when I have a quiz in an hour. (This is probably just a way to procrastinate your more important responsibilities; I know it is for me! When I have been extremely overwhelmed to the point of tears, I make a list and start with what is most important at the time. This will help you avoid asking for an extended deadline and cleaning your bathroom for absolutely no reason.
5. Set (realistic) Goals
I said earlier that it is at this point in the semester when you start telling yourself “C’s get degrees”, but what if it doesn’t have to be like that? Set academic goals that are challenging, but attainable. It will help you keep your focus when you have your heart set on reaching a goal. (Even if it is a C, the point is to set a goal, and reach it. It also might help to keep your eyes on your ultimate goal: getting in to grad school, finding your dream job, graduating with honors, etc. In addition, setting personal goals like eating healthier, saving cash, or just keeping your home cleaner might help you keep yourself focused on what is important: finishing the semester alive.
6. Digital Detox
It is a proven fact: if you spend your entire day watching Netflix you won’t get anything else done. I’m not trying to say taking a break from your studies isn’t a good idea, but spending your entire day glued to a screen won’t help you focus whatsoever. I am ultimately guilty of wasting my day with my eyes attached to a screen, but on the days when I have avoided all things technological have been days when I have felt the most focused. Even putting down your phone and the constant need to be connected for a couple of hours will help you focus on finals and getting through the next couple of weeks before Winter Break. Technology is wonderful and so is watching the 4th season of OITNB or re-watching Sex and the City for the 3rd time, but they will still be there after the final grades are in.
I’m not saying these 6 things will make your last few weeks a breeze, but they will certainly help keep your focus until it’s time to worry about how you are going to pay for your books next semester…
