Getting Over the Mid-Term Slump

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

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

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.