I wake up around 9:00 or 10:00 a.m., brush my teeth, wash my face, and sit at my desk, tiredly waiting for the Zoom call for class to start. As a college student, this is how most of my mornings begin on a good day. On a bad day, I oversleep and make a beeline for my laptop. Sound familiar?

Thanks to Covid-19, every college student's world has been turned upside down. Attending classes either mostly online or completely remote may seem like the easy route, but it really isn't. It definitely takes a toll on your mental and physical health and it's arguably more demanding and difficult than in-person classes. For those of you struggling with sitting in your room day in and day out, I've compiled a list of ways to keep yourself motivated, stay confident in your school work, and maintain your state of mind.

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1. Create a morning routine.

This sounds so cheesy, I know. Every Youtube influencer has said this or made a video about an impossibly perfect 'daily' routine, but it really does work wonders. Doing at least one, and perhaps multiple things every morning, and making it a habit, can make you feel a little less like your day is wasted inside all day. Choosing things to do, like washing your face or picking out a cute outfit for the day, can make your day immediately start on a better note than if you just roll out of bed and start class. Oh, and set an alarm. Who wants to wake up and immediately get on Zoom to be seen by the whole class? No one. That's who.

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2. Get organized. Like, seriously.

Now more than ever, I feel like I need to have a planner and keep track of my assignments on my own time. In high school, my teachers used Google Classroom, a program that contained a fairly specific to-do list and that was actually better than Canvas, but in reality, making a list and/or writing everything down helps you to remember those due dates! While Canvas does have a To-Do list on the sidebar, I for one still forget assignments, especially if I solely rely on that. Using a planner that has both the monthly view and weekly view can help you see how busy you are, what to work on that week, and when to squeeze in stuff you actually want to do (because homework is such a lovely past time). Another way to get organized is by making lists every day of stuff to get done, and if you want to go the extra mile, by color-coding each class. Checking off assignments as I complete them then throwing the paper away at the end of the day is SO gratifying and I heartily recommend it to anyone who feels like he can't get anything done.

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3. Your mental health comes first. Always.

If you feel like you're drowning in homework, take a break. Seriously. It's okay to take breaks, especially if your physical or mental health is at stake. Something that helps me stay motivated and not feel depressed about doing school work all day is taking breaks to do something that's fun for me, like some sort of physical activity. Doing something active, even just walking around Taylor Place, in your neighborhood, or up and down your hall, while listening to your favorite music, can be a good way to get out of a funk! Maybe just taking a power nap helps you feel refreshed. If so, do it! Do whatever makes you happy and ready to complete the tasks at hand for that day. Take it one day at a time. Being optimistic can be hard, but it's the best way to make the most of your life. Think about it like this: Instead of saying I have to do homework today, say I get to do homework. I get to be in college, learning, in a new environment and I have good food places and amazing people around me to support me. Personally, gratitude and positivity make school feel a little less like work and more like something I want to do.

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4. Decorate and divide up your spaces.

If decorating isn't your thing, don't take that tip to heart, but dividing up your spaces is KEY! By this I mean, stop doing your homework in bed. It's not only bad for your body to sit hunched over a laptop all day, but your bed is where you sleep and trying to focus in bed is like eating dinner in the restroom. Sitting at a desk, sitting at the kitchen table, or even just sitting on the floor can set a more focused intention on your work than being in bed. This is where decorating these separate spaces comes in. I have an obsession with buying cute stationary and random knick knacks, so maybe it's just me, but having separate spaces that are decorated and that make you feel happy to sit down or lay down there, is just another critical part of the process of feeling driven about school or homework. Buy a cheesy motivational poster that makes you laugh or print out pictures of your favorite celebrities. Do whatever makes you content. Plus, retail therapy is never a bad idea...and this can be a way to take some time to shop around for your room or office space.

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5. Lazy days are okay. Just not EVERY day.

Your mental health being your top priority, taking a day off or pushing homework off for a day is okay! We all need to take a day off to relax. You're not alone, I promise. However, there's a difference between taking breaks and days off, and treating every day like a lazy day. A good rule-of-thumb is this: if you're taking more than one lazy day per week, then you need to change classes or make some other major change to your workload to prevent feeling so overwhelmed by assignments. Also, if you're taking a mental health day, don't feel guilty or worry about classes or homework ALL DAY. Feeling bad and worrying will only make you feel worse and the day-off will have been pointless. Consider self-care that will relax you, like putting on a face mask, taking a bath, shopping, drawing, reading, etc.

If it isn't obvious already, an overarching focus point of all of these recommendations is to do things that bring you pure joy. If you aren't doing things that make you happy, why are you doing them? Being in college is meant to be fun and exciting, a new and inspiring experience to fuel our future careers and the rest of our lives. As a student at Arizona State University, I know it can be frustrating doing online and remote classes. It is frustrating that, after Thanksgiving break, classes will be all online and who knows how Spring semester will turn out. There are to be no in-person events, no hang-outs, no wild parties, and no physical connections. There are to be NONE of the normal freshman, college experiences. However, this negative mindset will be the end of you before any adventure has even had a chance to start. It may be hard, but the resources, experiences, education, and everything happening NOW must be acknowledged, accepted, and viewed as just another opportunity to grow. For some, college may not be for them and dropping out is really what's healthiest for their wellbeing. But, if you know you can do it and you're just struggling because of the current circumstances, do not give up. You got this! Spite everything, take it one day at a time, and if you need help staying motivated, please take advantage of these tips.