We’re at that point in the college semester where what’s left of our motivation starts to seriously dwindle. Assignments and group projects are picking up speed, but somehow all the students are slowing down and burning out. We’re all just counting down the days until finals are over and we can cozy up in our homes and celebrate the holiday season.
Whatever the reason for the lapse in motivation, it can have significant impacts on one’s GPA. All of the minutes taken away from studying and researching can quickly add up, and the point deductions will hurt when the end of the semester rolls around.
This is why it’s so important to fight the urge to slack off at this point of the semester. With midterm season out of the way, it’s time to focus on studying and finish the semester strong. Of course, this is much easier said than done.
Remember Where You Are
When the going gets tough, just take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. College is hard, and you’ve worked hard to get here. Anywhere between 10% to 30% of high school students drop out, not even earning their high school diploma, let alone getting accepted to a university.
By being a student in college, you’re already ahead of the game. So take a moment to applaud yourself before you freak out about that ‘C’ you just got, because, despite a minuscule grade, you’ve earned your place here.
Incentivize Yourself
If procrastination is killing your studying efforts, make up a system to incentivize progress. Studies show that people are inherently more productive when they know they will be rewarded by something. Think of your favorite meal, place to shop, or Netflix show, and set a personal goal for yourself. Once you achieve your goal, reward yourself, then keep going.
Set tiers of rewards so you don’t tap out after you read a few pages or master a set of flashcards. Keep yourself rewarded all the way through December and you’re sure to ace your exams during finals season!
Keep Your Eye On the Prize
Whatever you’re studying, you came to college for a reason – to achieve higher education. Remember your life aspirations and let them guide your schooling. Hours of staring at a textbook can feel much less trivial when you think about it in the context of your dream job.
Every little thing you do in your time at college will get you one step closer to achieving that dream job and earning the life you’ve always dreamed of. Studying some hyper-specific topics that you think you’ll never use in the real world will lead to a big payoff in the long run.
At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy your winter break much more if it feels well deserved. The final few weeks of the semester are no joke, so it’s incredibly important to prioritize your school and give all your classes your best effort. Before you know it, you’ll be snuggling up with a mug of hot chocolate watching your favorite Christmas movies from your bed!
