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Getting Over the Mid-Term Slump

Feeling unmotivated? Here are 5 tips to keep going!

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It's often exciting to start courses and learn new things. However, a few weeks in, do you ever find it difficult to stay motivated? You're not alone! Here are some tips to help you keep going and push past the "mid-term slump."

Reframe your thinking

It’s natural to feel overwhelmed with your workload as courses progress, and it can help to seek a new perspective.

Instead of focusing on a project as a whole, break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. For example, if you think a project will take you about 10 hours to complete, break it into one- to two-hour steps, and complete a step each day until it is complete.

Stay caught up in your courses

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By week 4 or 5, it can be tempting to skip an assignment or two that may be worth fewer points. However, each assignment has a purpose and will give you insights and skills to help you grow.

You may be able to recover from missing one or two assignments, but if it becomes a habit, it will be harder and harder to make up the missed work.

Ask for help

When studying feels hard, remember asking for help is a sign of strength! Instructors, classmates, and tutors are all great resources, and don’t forget about the ultimate source to whom you can turn for help — Heavenly Father.

Pray and study your scriptures daily, and the Holy Ghost will give you revelation to help you succeed. You can also ask for a priesthood blessing of comfort and guidance from a worthy priesthood holder.

Keep yourself accountable and focused

To stay accountable, consider sharing your goals with a trusted friend or family member and schedule a time each week to check in with them.

To stay focused, you can also set a timer for how long you’d like to work on an assignment, or work in an online or virtual room where other people are also focused. Setting a timer can help you center your attention on a task for a set amount of time, and working in a shared space can help minimize distractions and motivate you to keep going.

Give yourself a break

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Avoid burnout by regularly setting aside time to relax. Taking mental and physical breaks can help you feel more refreshed when you return to work.

The middle of the term is difficult, but you are capable and strong! Keep going, and have faith that you “can do all things through Christ.” 1