A good student, just like a successful athlete, finishes even stronger than they started. It’s in the times of hardship, fatigue, and weariness where “great” students rise above the “good”. We know the cruel tease of Thanksgiving break all too well and experience the weakness it tries to impede on us going into the final weeks of class. The home stretch. This is where we find out what we’re made of.

Pumped up yet?

No?

OK.

Here’s some tips on how to push through the last quarter, the final period, the 18th hole, the remaining meters to the ultimate finish line. You get the idea.

Know yourself.

You know if you procrastinate. And if you’re like me, you compete with yourself to see how long you can possibly procrastinate for. That being said, make yourself a check list of things you need turned in by the end of the semester and the dates they are due. This way, you don’t run into the problem of procrastinating every single task until the last moment.

Delete social media.

Relax, not completely! Just during the period of time you decide to sit down and get sh*t done. You’ll end up disappointed the first 11 times you go to check your phone for updates, but that’s all part of the strategy. The instinctive need to check will recede.

Do NOT order a late night venti expresso.

This is tried and tested. Ordering a venti with extra expresso shots at 11:00 p.m. will NOT help you focus. Rather, it will make you jittery to the point that you cannot focus whatsoever. Cue waiting an hour and a half for hands to stop shaking. Stick with your go-to grande or tall.

Make fun plans.

Make fun plans? Aren’t we supposed to be buckling down?

Yes. Making plans for a weeknight during the homestretch will help you avoid procrastination believe it or not. Knowing that you have a fun activity to attend (that you do NOT want to miss) will force you to get er done earlier in the day.

Keep chugging along, the light is in sight!