Spring break is a time to relax and not stress about the past few months and mentally prepare yourself for the rest of the semester. However, jumping back into the swing of things can be hard, especially if you went all break without even thinking about the four assignments and two tests you have next week.

1. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started” –Mark Twain

This quote is really the push you need to start thinking about how and what you can do to get yourself ready and start doing the things that matter. It may not even be about getting ahead, but just the idea of getting started requires the most effort.

2. “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows” –Ralph Marston

You may not think so, but by doing simple things every day you could be making the future you much happier. This could include eating better, getting more sleep, or even doing an assignment the day it was assigned simply because you have the time.

3. “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.” –Benjamin Franklin

This could go for a lot of situations, whether you fail to prepare for a test and get a not-so-amazing grade, or you just continually procrastinate and set yourself up for a less than perfect interview, it’s important to recognize the necessity of preparation.

4. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” –Wayne Dyer

Now is the time to reach our goals and do whatever it takes to reach them. So why not take the chances that come your way? If there’s even the slightest possibility of a positive outcome you might as well take the chance.

5. “Big results require big ambitions.” –Heraclitus

The only way to reach for the dreams you have is to be ambitious and want what’s best for you and your future. To be successful and find the results you want, it all starts with your mindset.

6. “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” –Aristotle

This is one of my favorites because it requires you to constantly think about how your actions affect the work you produce. A strong work ethic is more important than any other product you can make.

7. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” –Thomas Paine

You hear this one a lot, the harder you work and the more difficult the circumstances, the better the payoff will feel. This is true on most levels, but most importantly it is you who is the conflict and getting it through your mind that you are the only obstacle from every victory is the true triumph.

Hopefully, these will bring you some motivation to get through the rest of midterms and push through the second half of the semester. I find that every now and then finding a good quote to stick with can really change your outlook on how to tackle problems, whether they’re with classes or another mental block.