Let's be real: Fall Break is a major tease. By this time of the year, you've already settled into school, established some friendships, developed your own routine, become piled deep in your classes, and now have the midterms/final projects and/or assignment due dates just peeking the edge of your brain. Until now, there hasn't been too much stress. But, as you all know, Fall Break is the long weekend at the cornerstone of the semester that reminds you of everything you are going to have to deal with when you get back to school. Personally, I need help persevering these next few weeks in order to keep me from tossing the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner out the window and bursting into a tantrum because of the 4 midterms I didn't study for. Yikes.
So, here are some basic but helpful tips to assist YOU in taking the next few weeks head on so you can stuff your face with mashed potatoes soon.
1. Stay Focused
One of the hardest things to do at this point is to stay focused. You have just gone home to see your family, been able to sleep in your own bed, be able to wake up at 3pm, and eat food that actually tastes and looks edible. You are able to relax, take a load off, and push your books to the side for a while. Wether you spend time with your family or spend time with the couch & Netflix, this weekend has given you some slack. Now, it's important to realize what workload is ahead of you, and to jump back on your feet and get back in the school grind.
2. Take Care of Yourself
Though these upcoming weeks may be stressful, it's really important to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Make sure you are drinking enough water (and not just drowning yourself in coffee), setting aside time to exercise, getting enough sleep, and even pampering yourself. For example, make it a goal to finish your work/studying by 10pm so you can go back to your dorm/apartment and take a shower, maybe paint your nails, or just watch some Netflix. As far as exercise goes, make sure you aren't sitting down and slouched over for too long, even if that means getting up and taking a lap around the library every half hour. It's good for your body to move every so often. Do whatever you need to do to destress and regenerate!
3. Plan Ahead
One of the most difficult but most important tasks is to organize yourself and your work, and to simply take a step back and look at what you have to do and when you should do it. Plan certain days or chunks of time and devote them to certain subjects or assignments. If you have multiple things due on the same day, make sure you are giving each assignment the time it needs. If you plan ahead, you will be much more successful in managing your time and getting everything done that you need to.
4. Establish "Mini Goals"
Something that always keeps me motivated and focused is setting "mini goals" for myself. I'll tell myself ahead of time that I want to get (this much) work done within (this amount of time). Also, I often reward myself for accomplishing each mini goal, or giving myself inspiration to accomplish that goal. For example, I will tell myself that once I finish my study guide, I can go and eat dinner with my friends. Then, I will actually study the study guide and begin one of my assignments before my a cappella rehearsal, so that afterward rehearsal, I can go right to sleep. Establishing these mini goals will help keep you focused and encourage you to work hard.
5. Remind Yourself of What's Coming... Inspiration!
One of these sources of inspiration could be Thanksgiving Break itself- if you work hard now, you will be able to enjoy the break with your family and friends and not stress so much about the tests you just bombed or the assignments you didn't do well on. Also, each weekend can be an encouraging thing. Setting goals for yourself to get X things done will allow you to go out this weekend with your friends and just chill out. Each week, remind yourself of something exciting that is or can happen if you devote the time and energy into your school work now. Most of my assignments are due the week after halloween, and a goal of mine is to finish those assignments before the weekend so I can enjoy Halloween with my friends and not stress about last minute work I didn't do.
I hope that these 5 basic tips will help you, as much as it will help me, stay in the school grind and persevere to the next break. I don't know about you, but in a few weeks I want to be stress free, sitting on the couch with a bowl of stuffing, surrounded by my family, feeling internally proud of myself, accomplished, and relaxed for staying focused and getting my work done. And, if i'm extra good, I'll treat myself to TWO slices of pie. Or 6. Who knows. ;) You can do this!!!!!
