Winter break is winding down, and college students everywhere are making the trek back to school. Everyone's moving back into their dorms, friends are reuniting and the anticipation for syllabus week is seriously real. As you adjust to your new schedule and new classes, typically you'll set goals for semester two. We go into the new semester with hopes of a higher GPA, thriving in our extracurriculars or perhaps excelling in a sport. We hope to successfully balance schoolwork and social life, while staying fit and healthy. But, as the workload gets heavier and the commitments you've made become more pressing, it can be difficult to fulfill those lofty goals you had hoped for.
This is why it's so important to set smaller, attainable goals that you can actually achieve. One of the most helpful tip that I've found is to set specific goals, instead of vague ideas. For example, rather than wanting to go to the gym more, chose a specific number of days you'll try to workout per week. Or instead of pledging to do better in classes, study an extra hour a day. These smaller goals are easier to achieve short-term and will make you feel accomplished, while helping you to tackle those bigger goals.
Always remember that motivation comes and goes. Some days you'll wake up eager to seize the day, and others you'll hit the snooze button multiple times. But even on those days where you're lagging, try to put in some effort, however small, that will inevitably get you closer to your goals. After all, "you can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good."
While motivation can be certainly fleeting, you can help combat this by forming meaningful habits. If the habit of studying for a few hours at the library, meal-prepping or hitting the gym at a certain time is engrained in your daily routine, it'll be a lot easier to do at those times when you're simply not feeling motivated. It takes away option to not do the task, if you are so accustomed to it.
Your goals may not always be the same. Goals are not set in stone, and neither are you. As you change, it's only natural that your goals do too. What you wanted when you first began college will be different than what you want during your last semester, and that's normal. Accept the fluidity of your goals, wants and desires.
Lastly, think about how you'll feel better going to sleep at night knowing that you made the most of your day. It will always feel better knowing that you did something to better yourself, and get you one step closer to your goals when your head hits that pillow at night.
