Winter is arguably one of the toughest terms of the academic year. Why? Inclement weather, little-to-no sunshine, shorter days, and few breaks with no holidays to break up the time. Essentially, winter term is a dark and fast-paced 11-weeks of school with little time off to rest. To combat these issues and continue powering through the year, here are some tips that have worked for me in my years at PSU:
- Find new places to study and do homework.
The bad weather makes it tempting to just stay indoors and do homework at home. Instead, branch out and add some more structure and change to your schedule. Do homework in the numerous cafes and coffee shops around campus, study in the school library, or even in some of the awesome buildings such as Karl Miller Center.
- Exercise.
Although the trek to the campus gym may be daunting in this weather, exercising rewards you with higher levels of energy which can be essential for staying motivated! Pair this with a healthy diet, good amounts of sleep, and you will feel good enough to conquer this term.
- Reward yourself.
Studying for long periods of time can be difficult. For me, I am easily distracted and have trouble maintaining focus. Give yourself incentives so that you can maintain focus, complete your schoolwork, and do something for yourself when it is all over with.