Listen, we know it can be hard getting motivated after having 3 weeks off from school! Even if you worked all winter break, you might find your good school habits have been sleeping in while school was out.
But 2020 is upon us and it’s time to get motivated, Take Stock college student scholars! New year, new you! Let’s talk about some ways you can start off your year, your semester, and your outlook on the right foot.
- Be positive
A better outlook starts with better language. Don’t tell yourself “I’m terrible at math,” or that “you hate this class.” Instead, put positivity into your personal universe: “The sooner I start, the sooner I finish!” or “I’m getting better at this every day!” or best of all: “I know math isn’t my best, so I’m going to get a tutor and ace this class.” Remember, the words you say to yourself and to others affect you! Set yourself up for success by remaining positive! Tell yourself you can do it. - Make some goals
Consider giving yourself a big goal like “I want to get a 3.0 GPA this semester” and lots of little goals to get there like: “I am going to tutoring two times this week” to help you along the way. These goals will give you something to strive for, to provide you focus, and to help you track your progress along the way. - Make an accountability buddy
Don’t keep your goals to yourself, share them! Let the people in your life know this year you are making moves! Consider asking a friend to make goals along with you. Though your goals may be different, you can help keep each other accountable to accomplish them. Don’t underestimate how helpful it can be to have someone checking in with you about your goals, to cheer you on in your successes, or to comfort you when you have a setback. - Declutter your workspace
A great way to get your semester started on a high note is to do a little spring cleaning. A cluttered workspace is a cluttered mind. Clean off your desk, put away (or better yet, sell) your old textbooks, get the fast food residue out of your space, and the granola crumbs out of your back pack. And don’t buy new pens—I promise, there are at least 27 laying in the nooks and crannies of your dorm room. Carve out a few minutes to get organized; you’ll be glad you did! - Work on arriving early this semester
We’ve said it before and we will say it again: time management is the best ally of academic success. Give yourself an achievable goal this year and start getting to your classes, appointments, tutoring sessions, and work shifts 10-15 minutes early. This will give your mind a much needed break (no more worrying about being late!), and you will find time to get yourself focused before diving into the task at hand. Besides, this is a good opportunity to make friends in class or to swap notes with a study buddy. - Make a checklist
Studies show that checklists are a great way to set achievable daily goals, to maintain them, and to make yourself feel proud of your budding productivity. Nothing feels quite so sweet as crossing another item off your to-do list. Give them a shot!
Succeeding in school is about more than studying, doing homework, and learning new stuff—though, of course, those are three vital components of your education. College is an opportunity to grow yourself, not only to move towards your future career, but also to develop a healthy mindset, productive habits, and a positive outlook on who you are and what you can accomplish when you set your mind on something. Get out there and start setting your goals for 2020. Be sure to share your goals, your strategies for self-improvement this coming year, and your early successes with us on www.TakeStockConnect.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!