Some weeks just leave you in a funk. They drag on and leave you feeling suffocated in stress without any motivation to tackle it all. Few better examples exist than fall midterms week. It's getting colder, it's getting darker, and all the initial excitement and motivation of the beginning of the year has now faded into routine and repetition. Work begins piling up and you find yourself consumed with studying for tests and finishing projects. Illness has been spreading around campus like a wildfire and you likely have already fallen victim and are now trying to recover, or are desperately hoping you can make it one more week somehow managing to avoid getting sick.

This is a rough time for students, and though fall break glistens in the distance, fall midterms week can have many wondering how they will possibly make it through. It's time to focus on the positives. Just a few bright thoughts a day will keep you going through this tough week, and remind you of everything there is to be happy about.

Monday

Mondays get a bad reputation. Yes, it's only the beginning of the week, and yes, there will be a great deal to get done in the days to come. But a little positivity will show you that everyone's worst favorite day isn't really that bad. This is a great day to savor some of your favorite creature comforts, such as...

1. That half hour in the morning spent perusing social media in bed when you can't bring yourself to get up just yet

2. Your favorite hot drink from Holy Grounds

3. The radio in your favorite campus hangout spot, which always seems to be on point

5. Returning to your dorm after class to nap

Tuesday

If you can make it through Monday, you can make it through anything! Today, even when you feel surrounded by stress, remember what a great place you have to call your home away from home. Appreciate where you are, and try thinking about...

1. How pretty the church pathway will look when the leaves have all changed colors

2. The click-clack of your boots on tiled walkways

3. Unexpectedly seeing a dog on campus

Wednesday

Notoriously known as hump day, the middle of the week is when things may start to drag. As your anticipation for fall break grows, this is a perfect time to look around and think of all the good things about fall in general. For example...

1. Leaves crunching under your feet

2. Cozy sweaters and fuzzy socks

3. Feeling warm in the sun and cool in the shade

4. How much better the weather is today than it was a few days ago

Thursday

You're almost there! With the weekend so close but so far, it's important to stay motivated. Instead of looking at how much you have left to do, look at how far you've come...

1. The pride you'll feel when your studying pays off and you rock your midterms

2. How much you have already accomplished this week

3. Everything you haven't achieved yet, but know you can some day

Friday

Hello! Fall break is so close you can practically taste it! When you need a little extra incentive to finish the week strong, just think ahead to...

1. The smell of your family's home cooking

2. How much sleep you have to catch up on

3. All of the holidays to look forwards to after break

4. How excited your pets will be to see you when you get back