5 Ways to Turn Over a New Leaf This Autumn

It’s that time of year again! You know it’s time for uni to kick back in again, and everyone starts to loosen the reins on those New Year’s resolutions. Despite the extra-long hiatus for most, this is usually the time where motivation is the scarcest. But before you fall into a post-summer holiday depression, there may be a way to avoid the slump altogether (and no, it’s not dropping out). If the leaves are able to change colour this time every year, why can’t you change things up too? 

1. Think of it as adapting not changing

So maybe ‘change’ isn’t the correct word at all? Autumn leaves turn orange as a means of adapting to the colder environment. This means, to boost motivation, a total personality transplant is not in order.

Retain your old personality but maybe adapt your habits and attitudes to the contrasting atmosphere of University after a long break. This could look like many different things for all sorts of people. Maybe you just need to sleep a half hour earlier to adjust to your study schedule. Or perhaps your bedroom hasn’t served you well as a study space in the past? Off to the library! Find what works for you and don’t look at what others are doing.

2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

It’s important to avoid directing all your energy into one pursuit and then later find that may not be serving you very well. Rather than working our hardest to finish your degree and not enjoying it very much, relieve yourself by also doing the things you love. This can be as easy as embarking on a passion project or taking time for your social life. By working on a blog or YouTube channel on the side, you’re less likely to get bored of working on the same thing day in and day out. Do remember that these side projects shouldn’t overwhelm you, but should only sustain your motivation through variety. 

3. It’s okay to drop a few things

Just like it’s important to take up new things you love, letting go of a few things that are stressing you out is key. It’s very common for Uni students to overwhelm themselves with a whole raft of responsibilities and this can often sap your will to keep going. Often, letting go of commitments that are stressing you out can actually help you focus better on other tasks in the long run. Want to say no but don’t know how? Learn here.

4. Redefine your purpose

The number one way to lose momentum while studying is losing sight of your career desires. We’ve all experienced getting so caught up in our degrees that we forget what we’re even working towards. Write down a list of all the things you want to achieve in life. It can be as simple as travelling the world or using a much-loved skill more. Then, next to this list, write down the ways you think you’ll be able to achieve those goals. You might find that what you really want isn’t what you’ve been working towards for so long.

5. Put  YOU first

It may sound cliché, but your mental and physical wellbeing should never be put on the backburner. It’s so easy to sideline the simple things like drinking enough water, sleeping on time and exercise. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the type of person who struggles to take breaks or feel you don’t deserve them due to procrastination. Every person needs the occasional breather. You’ve been on a break for months and it’s not reasonable to expect yourself to go from zero to workaholic overnight. When things start to pile up, prioritise down-time to spend with the family, your dog, or even by your lonesome. Be sure to check out our other posts for more on battling stress while studying and developing a work-life balance!

Featured image courtesy of Unsplash