It's getting to that time of year when the "fresh start" motivation is starting to wear off. The idea of waking up early and going to sit through the class isn't appealing and it's even less appealing to spend hours outside of that class working on assignments. I personally spend more time making lists of what I need to do than actually doing the things that I am supposed to be doing. Here are some tips that I use to keep me motivated and focused when all I want to do is take a nap

1. Just start

This one sounds very obvious, but it can be super great if done right. When I feel super unmotivated and distracted I tell myself to just do one thing on my long list. Once I have started that one thing my mind focuses and I am usually able to do other things as well.

2. Put away devices

Technology can suck anyone in for hours. Scrolling on social media won't help your GPA. Put the phone away for the time when you have to focus. Or you could put the phone away and only allow yourself to use it once you're done. Blast a study/focus playlist from Spotify and get it done!

3. Pomodoro method

I have an app on my iPhone that has a timer for 25 minutes then gives me a 5-minute break. I love using this because it splits up my studying time with little mini breaks. After a few segments, the break time increases to 15 minutes. It has been proven that taken small breaks helps with productivity.

4. Keep your goals in mind

When I'm struggling with focusing or even starting my work I like to think about what I want out of life and what I want my future to be like. Currently, my immediate goal is doing well in college so that I can get into a medical school. This puts my seemingly tedious work into persepctive and basically scares me into starting the long list of tasks.