Midterms are approaching and a lot of us are starting to feel like school has been going on forever. So many of us end up dragging by the time we make it to Thanksgiving break, and a lot of us may have lost a lot of motivation after finishing their last few midterms and papers. During the short break you may be thinking, "would it really be so bad if I didn't go back for the rest of this semester?" The answer is yes! It would be terrible to not go back! Remember to keep yourself motivated while you push through these tests and papers that you have. Here are a few tips that might help you keep your motivation up.
1. Go for a walk/run.
Get your body moving! Sitting around all day from studying and writing papers is automatically tiring. Don't forget to take some breaks and get your body moving! Go for a short run, head to the gym and play a few games of basketball, maybe even just stand up and do some jumping jacks. It'll give your brain a moment to remember you're a human who can't stay still too long without wanting to enter sleep mode.
2. Call someone who will motivate you
Having trouble getting motivated? Call a family member or a friend who you know will help get you in the zone to focus. Make sure to call someone who will help you get focused on your schoolwork, if you end up calling your best friend and plan the next time you're going to see each other, that may end up making you less productive because you've completely forgotten that you have schoolwork to get to.
3. Plan your time wisely!
Don't leave all your studying and paper-writing to the last minute! It's easier to retain information if you don't try to cram it all into your brain the night before your tests, and it's also easier to get the best version of your essay if you edit it at least once before turning in what you have.
4. Let yourself sleep!
I know some people say that they never need sleep, but we're still at an age where our brains still develop more while we sleep and if we mess up sleep schedules a lot it's difficult for our brains to have that time to develop. (I learned this in class by the way, because I'm actually reading the textbook and paying attention to what the professor says and I've aced all my exams and quizzes in that class so far too!) I know it seems like it would benefit you more to stay up studying all night, but you'll be so tired you may not remember the information you studied at the time anyway. Let yourself sleep if you need to! Plus, if you're planning your time wisely like I mentioned before, it shouldn't be too hard to have enough time to sleep!
5. Don't forget to eat, and eat healthy
What you eat really does affect how you feel. If all you eat is ramen three meals a day and chips and energy drinks as snacks, you're going to feel awful with all that junk in you. I don't mean you need to have a five-course meal every day, but it's never a bad idea to keep watch of what you're eating and occasionally choose to grab a banana or an orange from the dining hall instead of a cookie. I used to always grab an apple as I walked out of the dining hall and ate is as a snack later instead of a bag of chips. A little bit helps, so take care of yourself in any way you can!
I know it's not always easy to remember that you're still a human when there are five professors expecting work from you as if their class is the only class you take, but you still need to be your first priority. I'm not saying to blow all your work off, but if you plan your time wisely and ask for help when you need it, you will be able to push through midterms. If you're ever really struggling to get everything done, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are school counselors and other resources ready to help you. Let's get through midterms week and then stuff our faces at Thanksgiving, I know we can all do it!
