The mid-semester slumps have turned into the Christmas-cannot-get-here-soon-enough slumps. With only a few weeks left until Christmas Break, we are all lacking motivation. Find something you enjoy besides Netflix, and do it.

1. Do arts and crafts

I love doing arts and crafts; they help me to destress a little bit, and it makes doing homework more fun because you get to look forward to doing something crafty after every hour or so of working. I enjoy making collages and window stickers.

Window stickers take a little while to dry, which is nice because doing homework helps to make the drying time go by faster. With collages, you get to take all of your stress and anger out on paper without having to worry about whether or not you are cutting on the line. Coloring printed out coloring pages is also a great time.

Need I say more? Find something or multiple things that you enjoy, and do that to reward yourself.

2. Use a whiteboard

I joined the Odyssey community last semester at another school. To help me balance school and writing, I used a whiteboard and divided it into seven squares across by five squares down so that it looked like a calendar. I wrote down everything I had to do and when it was due, including articles and ideas for articles. I found that this method helped me to stay on top of everything, and it was always rewarding to erase projects, papers, and homework upon completion or after turning it into the professors.

3. Journaling

Whenever I get tired of doing schoolwork, and I just need a break, I love to write. I usually work on articles during that time, but I would like to get back into journaling. It helps to lower my stress levels or inspire me because I am getting my thoughts down on paper.

The journal can be an old notebook you had back in middle school, or you can spend money on a nice one. I took a creative writing class in high school, and everybody was required to "write selfishly," meaning to write only for yourself. Vent about how angry that one professor makes you or talk about your latest celebrity crush and how perfect you would be together.

Nobody is going to see what you write, which is all the more reason to write for yourself and say what you want. When summer comes along, if you are not attached to the journal anything you wrote in it, you can burn it. Just throw it into a bonfire and watch its existence burn to ashes because that part of your life is behind you, done, over; es no más.

Some entries will be fantastic, and others will make you wonder if three-year-olds wrote them. No matter the outcome of your entries, you are writing selfishly, so don't worry about how terrible some are.

4. Treat yourself

I don't mean binge watch your favorite Netflix show after doing three hours of homework because we all know what position it puts us. I'm talking about taking a warm bath.

Purchase something from Lush, and soak in the tub for an hour while listening to music or reading a book for leisure. Take that time to relax and to improve your mental health. You need it.

If you don't have a bathtub, make some Pillsbury cookies or eat the dough. Take an hour break to buy a coffee or tea drink, or pick up Chipotle.

5. Clean

Clean your room, do the dishes, wipe down the shower. Make your place squeaky clean so that there is no way you will get distracted by thinking, "Did I forget to clean my hair out of the shower today?" Besides, when was the last time you did your laundry or reorganized your room?

Admit it. You need to do it.

Whatever you do, have fun without watching an episode or five of your favorite show on Netflix. You just have to keep on keeping on and power through while avoiding technology as much as you can. We only have a few more weeks left of the semester, so take a break and do something you enjoy or need to do!