Congratulations, you survived midterms. Now there's just the entire rest of the semester to go. Don't worry, I have six great motivation tips to keep you going!
1. Use post-it note pick-me-ups in your reading.
Before you start the 40-page reading assignment, grab some colorful post-it notes and your favorite pen and write yourself some encouragement and put them every few pages. They could be as simple as "You Got This!" or as long as a favorite quote about work ethic. (Because that's definitely a thing everybody has, right? No? Just me?) Better yet, take your textbooks home and have your family write you some encouraging messages. Or, swap with a friend. Having a nice sort-of-surprise from people who believe in you and want you to succeed is one of the best ways to keep your motivation up. Be sure to pass it on and encourage those around you to keep working hard to achieve their goals.
2. Pace yourself.
Procrastinating, especially in the second half of the semester, can really kill your grade, and your motivation. But getting everything done in one day never works either. Trust me, it will only leave you exhausted and burned out, and the work you do will be anything but quality. Instead, set aside an hour every day to work and stick to it. Will you get everything you need to get done in that hour? Probably not. But creating a steady habit will keep you from both procrastination and burnout and the quality of your work will drastically improve. Plus, studying every day is the best way to really learn and remember the information.
3. Embrace the power nap.
Napping is everything. Not only does a power nap improve cognitive function, helping our brains solidify memories and make the vital connections needed for deeply understanding the material, they also improve your mood. What can't naps do? But be careful, napping is tricky business. Power naps are naps that last 20 minutes or less. This will give your brain the boost it needs to get through the rest of that essay. Set an alarm to make sure you don't oversleep, because naps lasting 30-60 minutes will leave you feeling groggy when you wake. If you're feeling really lethargic and a 20-minute nap is not going to cut it, try a 90-minute nap instead. That gives you a full sleep cycle so that you wake up more refreshed than ever.
4. Snack wisely.
After five classes in a row, trying to get an hour of homework done before I have to go to work, all I can think about is a snickers bar and a cold, Starbucks s'mores flavored cappuccino from the vending machine. But it's about the worst possible thing I could have. Refined sugar and processed food drastically impacts cognitive function and energy levels, and not in a good way. Although you may get a small burst of energy, vending machine food will leave you crashing hard and fast, and often still hungry. Instead, try bringing an apple from home or some granola or trail mix. And try drinking water instead of sugary, caffeinated beverages. You'll feel better and have more energy in the long run. Plus, it's cheaper.
5. Plan a post-finals reward.
Having something to look forward to when the semester is over makes the work much easier to do. The key is to make it contingent on your success. Then place reminders everywhere. Get distracted on your phone? Make your phone background a picture of the beach you're going to when finals are over. Itching to re-watch Game Of Thrones for the 800th time? Put your Amazon Fire Stick remote in the $20 Target purse you're going to replace with a designer one if you make straight As this semester. Or just tape a picture to your desk. Whatever works.
6. When in doubt, do one small thing.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and run down, it's okay. We've all been there. I know you probably just want to watch TV and forget about school. And if that's what you need to do, then do it. Your mental health is more important than your grades. But try doing one small thing before you take the day off. Pick the smallest thing on your to-do list and do it until it's done. The satisfaction of completing a task might make you realize that you have a bit more energy than you thought. Or, it might not. But then, at least, you can take your day off knowing that you made an effort, and that's what matters most anyways. If you don't know what that one small thing should be, make your bed. It makes a world of difference.
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