The period of time between fall break and Thanksgiving break is arguably the hardest time to stay motivated in college. Before fall break, you have the excitement of being back on campus with your friends, and after Thanksgiving break, you muster up your final sense of motivation for finals, but the in between is just… meh. Soooo, let me take you through some of my tips to survive this meh period of time.
Get out of your dorm room!!
One of the biggest traps once winter begins is not wanting to go outside/leave your room. So, you end up turning your room into a workspace, hang out space, and sleeping/relaxation place. I find setting boundaries with my room to be very important. I try my best not to do homework in my room, even if that just means going to a lounge in your dorm. I want my room to be a place where I can shut down my school brain and relax or sleep. Some other places I recommend for working are any of the campus libraries, the AJLC, and North Quad (if it is nice enough to be outside).
Stick to a schedule
Another big trap during this time is falling behind on your work. I find it really important to make a schedule for yourself and stick to it. If you have a big project coming up, break it up into sections of work and make your own due dates for yourself so you aren’t scrambling the night before to finish the whole thing. As a musician, I make my own deadlines for learning pieces of music. And if you start falling behind, figure out which assignments/tasks are the most important for you to prioritize at that moment.
Ask for help
I know, so many Obies are scared of this one. However, I want to affirm for you that asking for help is not a “weak” thing to do, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t smart. Everyone needs help sometimes, and it is time we all admit that to ourselves! If you need to miss a class, ask someone for their notes. If you don’t understand one of your professor’s lectures, set up a time to meet with them and discuss it. If you’re going through something, talk to one of your friends about it. Everyone on this campus is rooting for you to succeed, so reach out!
Make plans!!
If you have read any of my other “advice” blogs, you know I am a HUGE fan of Google Calendar. Check your friends’ schedules, and send them an invite. If you are looking for something fun to do around campus, check Campus Digest. They advertise basically everything happening on and around campus (most of which is free or super cheap). It is so important to have things in your week that you look forward to. I kind of use my fun plans as stepping stones. “Only 3 more classes till I get to do this. One exam and then I get to go do that.”
I hope you are doing well in this time of meh, and maybe some of this advice will help! Until next blog <3
