Surviving School in the Spring

It may be cliché, but I’m going to say it anyway: It’s that time of year again…

You know, the time when everyone returns from an amazing spring break and gets slapped in the face when they realize they are not, in fact, on summer vacation yet, and there’s still a few months of school remaining before freedom. Yeah, you know the feeling. Flowers start to bloom, the weather warms up, and all we want to do is bask lazily in the sunshine instead of stay cooped up indoors, studying. I think the eye roll in the photo above says it all! As a student, staying motivated during the spring—the “home stretch” between spring break and summer vacation—can be a really difficult task. That’s why I’m sharing some tips today to help you power through and maintain a little motivation to survive until summer break.

1. Do a little “spring cleaning” with your school supplies. I don’t know about you, but by this point in the school year, I’ve usually given up on my neat organization system and am lucky if papers survive long enough to get shoved haphazardly into my backpack. However, getting reorganized can be a fun way to get your life together and gather your thoughts (and possibly remember that research paper you forgot to write in your planner). Add stickers, washi tape, or colorful pens and it just got that much more fun!

2. Handwrite the reasons you want to stay motivated. Again, break out those pretty gel pens and start really thinking about why it’s important for you to stay motivated. What goals did you set at the beginning of the school year? Maybe you want a 4.0, maybe you have to keep your GPA up in order to study abroad, maybe you’re deathly afraid of your parents…Whatever the reasons, writing them down can help you see just how important it is to stick to your studies, even when you’d rather take a nap (@me, literally all of the time).

3. Find a new study routine. A change of scenery can do wonders when you’re having trouble focusing on your work. Bring your textbooks outside in the shade of a tree or find a cute coffee shop near school to grind out some studying. I’ve also always wanted to try that study technique where you lay gummy bears at various points in your textbook and can only eat them once you’ve read as far as the candy is located, but I feel like I would just end up eating the whole gummy bear bag without actually reading anything. Anyone else with me on that?

4. Use a big black Sharpie to cross off days in your calendar. Last quarter, my classes were a lot more difficult and I was struggling with the work load. However, at the end of each day, I took a bold black pen and put a neat X through that day’s square in my planner. Instead of focusing on the future and looking at how long I had to go until spring break, I just concentrated on surviving one day at a time, and it really helped.

5. Stop procrastinating and set a timer to work. Divide your homework into tasks and then set a timer for 30 minutes—see how much of one task you can complete in that time frame! I get really competitive with myself and turn it into a game. By allocating a set amount of time to get as much done as possible (without distractions, I might add—make sure to put your phone completely away during that time), you gain the necessary momentum to actually get stuff done. Don’t be surprised if the timer goes off but you decide to continue working anyway! For more tips, check out this post about how to stop procrastinating.

6. Don’t sacrifice exercise. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, but never underestimate the power of a good run or workout. Taking a break to exercise can relieve a lot of stress, make you feel better about yourself, and give you endorphins as an extra boost of encouragement. You may feel like you don’t have time to spare on fitness, but even a 30 minute run can clear your head and actually make you more efficient in the long run (pun intended).

7. Take breaks. Similar to exercise, don’t be afraid to take breaks every now and again! Go for a quick 15 minute walk around campus or your house when it’s super nice outside. You’ll be able to focus better once you actually experience the warm weather, instead of just pining for it from your window after reading each paragraph in your textbook.

8. Visualize. Finally, take a few minutes each day (when you first wake up, when you’re walking to class, or when you’re in the shower) to visualize. Picture what you want to accomplish, how you’re going to get there, and most importantly, what you need to do right now (ahem—stay motivated) to reach those goals. I talk all about the importance of visualization in a post from last summer.

And as always, having a stinking cute spring outfit certainly helps ME stay motivated! How adorable is this look?! I threw it together last minute and didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. The colors and airiness of the outfit just scream “spring,” and I think it would make a darling Easter ensemble.

Let me know if these tips help you, or if you yourself have any ideas for staying focused during this time of year! Have a wonderful Thursday and weekend, and as always, thanks for stopping by today.

Miles of smiles,

Grace

Floral Blouse: Kohl’s, $20 // Jean Jacket: JCPenney, $19 // White Peasant Skirt: JCPenney, $20 // Black and White Heels: CL by Laundry via DSW, $30, available in DSW stores // Polka Dot Sunglasses: unknown, $20 // Belt // Polka Dot Purse: Kate Spade, was a gift