I know that finally being in college is freeing and amazing. You’re finally independent and can almost do whatever you want, whether that be sleeping in until 3pm or skipping meals to binge Netflix. However, to survive and flourish in college you have to have a balance of lazy and motivation. Here’re some tips I, or friends of mine, use to motivate yourself during college, whether it be to study or to get out of bed! Many of these deal with getting the motivation to study and go to the gym because those are the most significant aspects that I need motivation for. Finals are just around the corner, and if you are loosing motivation during the end-of-semester slump, this may just help you out.

1. Take Study Breaks

It has taken me forever to realize that cramming isn’t the way to study for an exam. While it may seem obvious, taking a five-minute break between studying can help memory comprehension and retention, and it will also give you a minute of relaxation. I try to be productive during my study breaks, sometimes by doing dished, others by sweeping the floor. If I really want to kick myself in gear I do a five-minute workout before going back to studying. You don’t have to do all that if it’s not your thing! Watch a Youtube video or send a few texts to a friend complaining about studying! As long as you take breaks every now and then, you will better yourself!

2. Keep Yourself Organized

If my room is disorganized, so is my brain. Organizing the things around me helps me feel productive, and when I feel productive, I am productive. I keep a planner and live by it! Without it I would lose my head! When I have something written down, I feel duty bound to do it. Somehow this is the motivation I need to email a professor or call a friend. Also, if it’s written down, you can’t forget it; the act of handwriting something commits it to memory faster!

3. You’re Already Paying For It!

Sometimes after a long night of Netflix and long roommate talks, the last thing I want to do is wake up at 7:30 for morning classes. But then I remember…. I’m up to my eyeballs in student loans for a reason! I’ve invested in my future, not in my ability to watch an entire season of Once Upon a Time in one day. I’m paying the price now so I can reap the benefits later in life. The same goes for my gym membership, so I may as well get my booty in there and do some squats. Investing is enough of a motivator for me to go ahead and get it into gear, and when you stop to think about how much you have put into your college life, monetary or just your dedication, motivation will come. Prove to yourself that it was all worth it!

4. Find a Friend

They say having a gym buddy helps get you motivated to eat clean and work out, and I can attest to this. When my gym buddy takes a day off, I usually end up with a half dozen donuts and a Netflix marathon instead of working out. The same goes towards school. A friend by your side can motivate you in so many ways. Have a buddy in your clubs, in your classes, and someone who will pull you out of bed and help you study.Having someone there is always a motivator. Whether they throw chants at you through a megaphone, or chastise you when you start instagraming lunch or latte art instead of studying!

5. Cover Your Walls, Notebooks, or Phone in Inspiration

Waking up to motivational quotes telling me to get my life together, albeit at my own pace, works like a charm. I have my own board on Pinterest dedicated just to inspirational and motivational quotes. I’ve linked some lists, thanks to BuzzFeed for making my job a tad bit easier, that have awesome inspirational and motivating quotes that get me in the mood to do something.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/you-need-this#.udoGXK8yEv

http://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/get-sh-t-done#.rjxwjnAXDk

Also, following inspirational or motivational instagramers will give you a kick in the pants that you need too. I’ll often get distracted by Instagram, and as I’m scrolling I’ll come across a motivational quote and get the inspiration to go ahead an get back to work. The same goes with the gym, lets face it I need all the motivational help I can get with that one. I’ll want a donut and scroll past some beautifully arranged fruit from a Raw Food or Vegan instagrammer, and boom, Fruit Salad not Krispy Kreme.

These are just some of the ways I know how to get motivated when the last thing I want to do is be productive. When it comes to exams and just general getting out of bed on the weekends, I know it can be hard. No one ever said adulting was easy.