We’ve just entered the homestretch of the academic year. After spending over seven months dealing with homework, stress and exams, we have one more month to go!
As we get closer to May, we’re probably beginning to lose our motivation. Many of us may be procrastinating, while some of us might be developing the urge to skip class. But we need to remain strong. After surviving somany weeks of academics, we can survive just a few more by using one or more of these tips.
#1: Staying active
The key thing to pushing through the last month of the academic year is keeping yourself busy. If you sit in your dorm doing nothing all day, then the time will pass like a sloth, making you feel bored and unmotivated. However, if you spend your free time doing activities such as going to the gym, playing sudoku or going on a run, the time will pass in a swifter manner, allowing April to be an easier month to handle.
#2: Build a routine
Similar to staying active, building a routine is an excellent way for you to keep yourself busy. This is something I do daily. My routine is that I have classes, I do my homework between them, and then I have club meetings in the evenings. In any free time that I have afterwards, I work on my articles or play some sudoku.
Having a routine helps me a ton. Not only does it keep me driven, but it prevents me from asking myself what I should do whenever I have free time. By having a routine, I always have something I can do even when I have no homework to take care of. This is something you can do as well. By planning what you’ll do each day, you’ll keep yourself organized as well as prevent yourself from falling into boredom, which can cause you to feel unmotivated and drained.
#3: Find a study buddy
Have you ever tried studying for an exam by yourself but procrastinated? As May comes around, you’re going to have final exams to study for, and if you consistently lose your willingness to study, you’re not going to get the grades you want. However, if you study with your friends, you can restore the energy needed to get out your textbooks and practice the concepts you need to ace your final exams.
I’ve found that studying with a friend is very beneficial. When I study with a friend or a classmate, we keep each other on task by telling each other we got this and that passing our exams is critical to graduating. The same can be done for you. If you study with a peer, and you begin going off task, you’ll have your peer to remind you of the importance of final exams and why it’s crucial to prepare for them.
#4: Create a rewards system
Sometimes, doing homework and studying for exams can be demanding. You might have an eight-page essay to take care of, you might have a midterm to prepare for or you might have a research project that needs to be submitted by the end of the month. These challenging tasks are ones you can easily set to the side or ignore entirely. But if you establish a rewards system, you won’t find yourself ignoring the things you need to complete.
When you create a rewards system, you’re motivating yourself by giving yourself a treat after completing an assignment such as reading a book or doing a group project. After finishing the assignment, you can reward yourself by getting a cappuccino from Starbucks, a meal from the Student Union or some delicious ice cream from the Dairy Bar. Giving yourself that reward will allow you to stay focused since you’ll know that by successfully getting your work done, you’ll get rewarded for it.
#5: Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the future
There’s nothing more important than keeping your head high and focusing on what lies ahead of you. Every day, I remind myself that summertime is near and that I only have a few weeks left. Staying positive and thinking about the future is a marvelous way to persuade yourself to remain fierce in the few weeks you have left in the academic year. It can also serve as a reminder that while you have a lot of work to take care of right now, you’ll soon be able to relax, hang out with your friends and travel without having to worry about homework or school.
April is a difficult month. But it doesn’t have to be. If you follow one or more of these tips, April will fly by, and when you blink, it’ll be summer vacation.
We’ve already survived so much homework, projects and exams. Let’s stay strong and finish the academic year together!