Beat The Winter Blues
By Shelby Spiegel, Lifestyle Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again. The time when you don’t know whether it will be 45 or -15 degrees out. The time when your first round of midterms hit and you don’t even know what you don’t know. The time when you question whether you should start transitioning your winter wardrobe into spring. Basically, this whole period is a big, fat question mark. I think I speak for most when I say that staying motivated in this gloomy, drab time of year is extremely hard. You know you should be studying and preparing for upcoming midterms and other important things in your life, but the weather tells you to curl up under the covers. However, there are a few small things that can get you through to springtime.
Set Small Goals
It may be tough to find motivation when tasks are piling up. As a college student, it appears that every time you finish one project, two more are added to your to-do list. To combat that overwhelming feeling, set small goals for yourself. There is nothing comparable to the feeling of crossing something off your long list, so by setting these minuscule goals, finishing one will give the needed boost of confidence to continue achieving more.
Make Tasks Enjoyable
Studying, although extremely unbearable, is not something that is going to disappear in the near future. By finding innovative ways to learn new information and changing up your study habits, it may make studying a little more enjoyable. I have found that if a study habit is not working for me, changing it up and doing something different helps. Try giving yourself an incentive, like a piece of chocolate, every time you finish reading a chapter or writing a page. Using your planner and customizing it to your own personal needs is another way to make sure your schedule is organized. This makes for a much easier and enjoyable day overall.
Look Forward to Events
If you are having a hard time making it through the week, plan small breaks in your schedule that you can look forward to. For example, if you know you have a stressful week ahead, plan a dinner with friends on the upcoming Thursday. That way, you have something to motivate you through your hard days and a reward at the end!
These are a few of the many things you can do to combat the winter-to-spring transition blues. Although they are small changes, a little bit always goes a long way.