The day students and teachers walk into school after winter break is a hard one. After spending two weeks with infinite leisure time and no schoolwork to worry about, it is easy to feel a lack of motivation and fall into bad habits from the start. While it is difficult, it is important that students take advantage of this second semester; this time is a way to grow and improve learning from the first semester.
One way to stay motivated throughout this last semester is to set goals for yourself. Making a clear list of around three to five academically related goals is a way to keep yourself in check. Setting these goals may not seem reliable, but having them in your room or car, physically, through either post-it notes or a journal, could be a helpful way to keep them in mind. Setting goals is the first step to staying on track, and one that helps lead the rest of your tools into place.
Get organized. Staying organized is one of the most important things for staying on task and motivated. Schools specifically having binders and folders for each class will keep papers and assignments together, especially if they are placed in due date order. Keeping track of what is done and needs to be done through to-do lists is a great way to keep the mind clear and ready.
Sophomore Vanessa Gonzalez shared how she has learned to stay motivated over the years.
Gonzalez shared, “I definitely feel the stress of the second semester and I sort of feel burnt out. But some things I like to do to make sure I get my work done is organize a to-do list for each week. I like to make one on google docs and that really helps me lay out everything I need to complete”.
Lastly, keep your life balanced. While school is a priority, keeping the balance between school, home, and a social life is the key to keeping energy without burning out. This can be achieved by using the previous tools. Completing work during school days and knowing what needs to be done can help leave weekends and late nights free for spending time with friends and family.
As we dive deeper into this second semester, it is important to remember that you are not alone, and practicing these tools along with many others can be the key to staying motivated and completing the school year strongly.
