The semester is in full swing, spring is around the corner and procrastination levels are slowly rising while motivation is slowly diminishing. You know what I’m talking about, as it gets nice outside you spend your time daydreaming out the window instead of getting your work done. And that’s ok, it happens to the majority of us.

Sustaining motivation can be tough when you have a ten page paper due in 2 days, a test tomorrow, a group project on the weekend and homework due at 11:59pm tonight. The thing is, motivation is not magic, there are no special ingredients or a genie in a lamp. It is something you have to find within yourself. Now you may ask, “How do I stay motivated?” Below, I have listed some different things you can do to get yourself inspired and to finish off this semester on a good note. Let’s get started!

Morning routine

  • Make your bed. Yes, you heard that right. If you make your bed every morning you have accomplished the first task of the day. This will give you a slight sense of pride. Which in return will motivate you to complete another task, then another…etc. It’s about starting off your day doing the little things right so you can tackle the big things down the road.
  • Watch a short positive or motivational video before you head to class in the morning. Even if you have an 8am or test coming up, it’s good to start off with a positive vibe. (Click here)

Daily reminders

  • It helps to have positive reminders of your goals and aspirations on a regular basis. Something you could do is have a motivational quote or your goals as your phone background and screensaver. This way you always have positive reinforcement throughout the day.
  • You also can have motivation posters in your dorm room. These posters can serve as a constant reminder of what you’re striving for.
  • Write down your goals. It’s not just enough to say it or just keep them in your head. Write them down in order and keep it in a place where it’s easily visible. This tip is very important!

Watch motivational speeches or stories

Hold yourself accountable

  • This is a hard thing to do starting off. But if you are trying to get to the next level, we need to increase the stakes. Set up personal penalties that you would enforce if you don’t act right, such as throwing out one of your favorite foods if you don’t complete a necessary task. By doing this, you would always have a reminder of the consequences in the back of your mind.