How to Stay Motivated During a Long Semester?
Set Achievable Goals
By Grace Lee
Are you feeling overwhelmed or burnt out during this long school year? Here are a few tips you can use to keep yourself motivated throughout the year:
Set some specific and challenging goals for yourself to work toward throughout the semester. However, writing down unachievable goals will end up feeling unmotivated and stressed since now you may feel like you are falling behind after not being able to complete them by the end of the day. Therefore, you should aim for achievable and realistic goals that will give you the motivation you need to get ahead and start the next day’ s goals.
Avoid Social Media
Your phone is a huge distraction when studying. Put your phone on silent or turn it off entirely to avoid any distractions. When working on your computer, close any windows or apps that are not related to what you’ re doing. Limit your screen time to a specific amount each day. These tips will help you to stay away from your devices and focus on the assignments.
Stay Organized
Buying a planner will help you stay organized by visualizing your daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. Planner, with everything written down and organized in one place, will make it easier to stay on track and keep yourself from falling behind. Arrange a few minutes at the beginning of each week to schedule deadlines and exam dates.
Seek Support
Sometimes relying on trustworthy people can encourage you along your academic path. Family members, friends, school teachers, and therapists can all be great resources for support. Having someone there to listen to you can give all the motivation you need.
Take Breaks, Stay Active
Setting time for yourself each day can help maintain a positive mindset. Find a hobby you enjoy or any relaxing activity to take your mind off of school for a moment. This could be going for a bike, listening to music, watching a movie or even taking a short nap. Although you spend a few minutes each day, taking time for yourself prevent burnout. According to Health Promotion International, physical activities positively affect stress, anxiety, and depression among high school students.