No matter how much work you need to do or how many responsibilities you have, there’s always that point every semester when you’re just not motivated anymore. Tasks that used to take you only an hour or so stretch into a few hours, and you end up napping the day away instead of buckling down to finish your work.
But you also know that the slump can hurt your grades as you become too tired, too stressed out and too overwhelmed to really focus on work! To beat the mid-semester slump, turn to these tips to make sure that you not only get through the rest of the semester, but that you also power through with flying colors.
Prioritize Your Work
Many collegiettes fall into the mid-semester slump because they’re burned out from multitasking and trying to stay on top of deadlines far into the future. While it’s great to plan way ahead in advance, tackling too many responsibilities while you’re burned out could actually cause you a lot of anxiety, leaving you even more unproductive than before.
When you’re caught in a slump, take on your deadlines and commitments one at a time so you can really focus on each and get them done to the best of your ability. One way is to create a to-do list that you can customize to include assignments, social events and more.
“When it's hard to manage everything mid-semester, I start my day by making a to-do list and rough schedule of the day,” explains Miami of Ohio junior Amanda Hancock. “This way, you can focus on one thing at a time and know that you have a section devoted to each task.”
You can also plan out a to-do list for the entire week rather than just for a day, but make sure that you’re not overwhelmed! Still plan in small chunks, and make sure that your focus stays with the deadlines you need to meet immediately or you’ll be pulled in too many directions.
“I personally make a to-do list for everything, but I keep it realistic,” says Meghan Gibbons, a senior at Boston College. “I only put on it what I really need to do instead of things that are not due until far off in the future. If those far off events were on my list I would begin to panic.”
Find Study Buddies
Sometimes your close friends can be your best motivators, which means that getting a study group together is another great way to stay on top of school. If you find yourself slacking, your friends can keep you on track and make sure that you’re being productive. Besides, study breaks are even more fun with friends since you can decompress in a social way!
“Although we are all completely different majors, [my roommates, friends, and I] will still go to the library together, or sit in our living room and do our work at the same time,” says Marissa Russo, a senior at Michigan State. “That way we can stay motivated through each other. And with that, we like to take breaks and relieve stress!”
Be sure to find friends who you know won't be a distraction. Some friends can distract you from getting all your studying done, meaning that if you do choose them to be part of your study group, you may want to set some work-time rules so that everyone can stay productive.
Watch and Listen to Motivational Speakers
It may sound cheesy, but watching videos of motivational speakers can also give you the drive you need to stay on track. When you’re near the semester’s halfway mark, it can be hard to find people who are positive and upbeat, making it even harder to find friends who have the attitude you need to feel motivated. If that’s the case, surf the Web for motivational speakers and find the appropriate pep talk for you!
“Whenever I feel burnt out or get into a slump, I watch Eric Thomas videos- Eric Thomas is an inspirational speaker and his YouTube channel is full of videos to bring back my motivation and get me through any challenge,” says Rachel Jerome, a senior at Connecticut College. “It's funny because he appeals to a lot of athletes and speaks at a lot of colleges' athletic departments, [plus] many of his lessons are intended for people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds. But I think his lessons can apply to anything.”
If traditional motivational speeches aren’t your thing, you might want to look into watching TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talks. TED talks may focus mostly on science and culture, but the ideas presented in the speeches are often so enlightening that they can motivate people with varied interests. What’s more, a lot of famous politicians, celebrities and other well-known people have their own TED talks, so you can tap into the heads of your biggest role models to find out how they overcome challenges.
Re-Evaluate Your Commitments
To avoid burning out completely, you may also want to re-evaluate your academic, extracurricular and social commitments and decide how much time you can realistically put into each. Depending on how much you think you can handle, you may want to make some changes like taking a smaller role in upcoming events or see if you can negotiate your work hours to better fit your schedule.
“I try to evaluate my commitments and figure out what I can and cannot handle,” says Shira Kipnees, a junior at Franklin & Marshall College. “If I can't do something, I make sure that I tell people [but emphasize] that I want to do it another time so that I have the motivation to work hard for the next semester.”
But of course, don’t cut down so much that you can’t enjoy everything you love! Try to find your own personal balance by first evaluating which activities are your favorites, since you’ll want to spend more time on those. Afterwards, go through each of your other commitments and determine which specific tasks you feel that you can take on. That way, you’ll be able to sail through the rest of the semester.
Reward Yourself for Getting Things Done
For extra motivation, plan out little rewards for yourself after you finish each task! Whether it’s letting yourself do a bit of online shopping or going out with your friends, giving yourself something to look forward to can boost your productivity and encourage you to complete things on time.
“I also stay motivated by getting some fun new snacks for the second half of the semester so that I can reward myself during studying,” Shira says. “I also reward myself by making sure I have some me time, especially during the second half of the semester, such as buying a fun book to read before bed.”
The key to this, however, is self-control. As tempting as it is to drop what you’re doing immediately to watch TV, resist! Giving in prematurely to your planned rewards will train you to ignore the schedule you set, especially if you give in again and again. So if you still want that little extra kick to keep you motivated, convince yourself to avoid taking an early snack break.
Try Meditating
If you’re fatigued and looking for a low-key study break to recharge, why not try meditating? The more stressed out and anxious you get, the more you can forget to breathe and relax. Meditating helps you control your breathing, slows down your mind and lets you feel much calmer.
“It's a technique where you try to fill your lungs up with air like a balloon, but you do it softly, along with a heartbeat pace. Breathing in and out of your nose is the best way to achieve long-lasting results from meditation,” explains Florida International University junior Laura Hernandez. “If you're in a stressed environment, it's best to breathe in through your nose and breathe out through your mouth since it'll help you achieve faster but short-term results. The effect is similar to that of when you're at the beach and you just let the feel of the waves overcome you. It's soothing.”
To make it even more soothing, Lauren says you can light some incense if you like the smell. While you may think that meditating won’t work for you, it might be worth a try even just to catch your breath before diving back into your books.
Get Enough Sleep
No, we’re not talking about the series of naps you’d love to take throughout the day; we’re talking about a good night’s sleep that will keep you energized from when you wake up in the morning until you can hit the hay again at night. A common sign you’ve hit the mid-semester slump is feeling tired all the time, which only makes you less productive since you’re bleary-eyed as you try to get work done.
To avoid falling asleep and risking even more of a slump, make sure that you’re not staying up late for no reason. You’ll be more attentive and productive when you can get to bed at a reasonable time, letting you power through any slump!
The mid-semester slump may seem too difficult to power through, but you can do so by changing small aspects of your life. From finding the right study buddies to making sure you’re organized, you can navigate the slump just fine and get through your semester with flying colors!