As the semester draws on, midterm season further entrenches students with projects and tests. This constant onslaught of deadlines and examinations may create a sense of burn-out, and a lack of outside stimuli may fuel this general dread. In addition to academics, many individuals also must juggle extra-curriculars, such as work, sports, and social obligations. The sheer amount of responsibilities on a person’s plate can serve as a motivating force to continually propel forwards. Nonetheless, with managing all these tasks, it is far easier to give way to the dreaded student’s downfall: the slump.
No student willingly falls into this rabbit hole, but it is far too easy to fall into this trap. A single missed assignment can easily cascade into an avalanche of obligations, until the workload appears indomitable. Nonetheless, even within this tangle, each student has the ability to remedy their situation. Here are several suggestions for vanquishing the slump.
Communication. Once a student has realized that they are behind, they should have an open line of communication with their professors. This should assist with creating a plan to get back on track, and to inform the professors of where one is with the coursework. In addition, students should communicate where they are at with a trusted group of friends. This allows for a support system, which motivates the individual, and if others are also in the same situation, forming a study group could be extremely helpful.
Organization. To get out of the slump, the student should list all the tasks they must complete for each class or project. These should include the aimed completion date; a manner that may be helpful is to list out each separate objective within each task. Completing certain assignments step-by-step will help visualize progress better. Furthermore, each task should be listed out in a reasonable manner, as setting unlikely deadlines will not serve to boost morale.
Revitalization. A key component of getting back on track is managing one’s schedule and creating a balance. Although academics are undoubtedly the first priority, overloading oneself can stunt progress as well. There should be scheduled breaks in which the student plans to completely relax in order to be revitalized for the tasks at hand. This could include reading, playing or listening to music, as well as simply getting some sleep. In order to conquer a large workload, adequate rest and a clear mind are essential assets.
There is no shame in getting into a slump. Each student has undoubtedly experienced this within their university career, and the focus should be on getting out of the slump. Reaching out to faculty and friends, opening lines of communication, will allow an individual external support and guidance. Careful organization will allow each objective to be completed in an efficient, yet reasonable manner, and revitalization through other hobbies is key to refreshing an overworked individual. The slump is conquerable; one simply must have the willpower and support to surmount it.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 老司机传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 老司机传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.