Staying motivated can be tough, especially this late in the semester. Stress, lack of sleep, and other factors can cause you to become less driven. However, these five tips can help you stay more motivated as you begin to reach the end of this semester.

1. Have a realistic short-term goal.

Be realistic when it comes to short-term goal setting. Remember, there are only 24 hours in a day, so don’t tell yourself you are going to accomplish more than you know is a reasonable amount of work for your time frame.

2. Work on only one thing at a time.

Thinking about the ton of assignments you have to accomplish or the amount of studying you still have yet to do can be highly stressful. Instead of propelling you to work harder it can cause you to be less productive and in turn less motivated to reach your true potential.

3. Stay fed and hydrated.

Being hungry and dehydrated can put you in a bad mood and/or cause you to be tired. Eating and drinking water can help your body stay healthy and maximize your efficiency. When you feel better motivation will come more easily.

4. Take mental breaks.

Being tired can cause you to be less driven. A 30-minute power nap or listening to one of your favorite songs can be great ways to give your brain a break so you can stay motivated.

5. Remind yourself of the bigger picture.

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of what you are working toward. Focusing on the bigger picture can help you stay motivated to continue working hard on your end goal.