As of Easter break, there are only four weeks left of the spring semester, including finals week. This, along with the weather warming, may give students tunnel vision towards summer. With summer in sight, students may fall into a slump, feeling unmotivated to finish the last assignments, projects, and exams. However, there are strategies to integrate to finish the semester strong.
The first strategy that can be implemented is getting organized. All of the assignments, projects, and exams become less intimidating once someone can see them all laid out. For example, I assign each task to a day of the week, so the workload is not so overwhelming.
While getting organized makes someone’s workload more digestible, it may still be difficult to take on. So, I would recommend switching up study spaces. It is hard to do schoolwork in a space where someone is supposed to relax, like someone’s home, bedroom, or dorm. There are many places to go, both on and off campus, like a library, coffee shop, or someplace outside.
A different environment may not be enough to have a strong finish for this semester. However, another strategy someone can integrate is to incentivize themselves by giving themselves breaks. For instance, every 30 minutes someone studies, they give themselves a 10-minute break. This breaks down the study time, so the potential long hours are not as intimidating.
However, there is much more to life than studying and living life alongside someone’s schoolwork can benefit their studies as well. For starters, getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising are not luxuries, they are necessities to do anything, especially studying, effectively.
Another necessity is having an outlet for stress. Attending university is a time where most students are coming into adulthood and that comes with stressors. Having an outlet to relieve stress can be beneficial. This may look different for everyone, but it can be anything from reading a book to going for a jog.
The last necessity someone needs to consider is staying social. Everyone operates differently when it comes to their social lives. However, it is important to stay connected with loved ones and friends.
The last piece of advice I have is remember why someone is obtaining their college degree. Recognizing long-term goals and gaining perspective on the big picture can be the motivator someone needs to beat semester slump.
The academic year is almost over, and all of this may seem futile in a few weeks. However, these practices can be applied to almost any season of life. If you develop these habits now, it may be easier to confront these situations later.
No matter how the spring semester unfolds, remember that getting through it is something to celebrate within itself and to finish strong.
Dylan Campbell is a Dakota Student Section Editor. He can be reached at dylan.campbell@und.edu.
