During the winter seasons, it’s hard to stay focused with distractions all around. Not only is there Christmas, the festive season has a slew of festivities that could derail you from your goals! But don’t panic just yet-we’ve got you. With this article on how to beat the winter slump, you’ll have a fun and productive holiday!
- Goal-Setting
Set small goals on the daily. If that’s too much for you, look to set weekly wins in order to track and ensure progress. It’s important not to overwhelm yourself since you’ll already probably have lots of exams and events coming up on your schedule. Stay flexible with your goals and make sure to go with the flow! Next, enforce strict studying habits so you won’t have to cram once a test comes up! Try setting a specific block of time each day, in the morning or evening, dedicated to homework/reviewing material. Use the Feyman technique, active recall, mind maps, and practice questions for the most effective study season. If you have more time on a particular day, you can instead use the working block for a workout instead or as time to enjoy your hobbies. Something that I recommend people do is completing the hardest task of the day in the morning, also called “eating the frog”. The saying goes like this, “if you need to eat a frog, is it going to be easier to do before a delicious meal or after?”. The straightforward answer is that you should do a difficult task before a lighter one, because if you do the easier one first then it will be less pleasant to get the harder one done.
- Self-care
It’s important to take care of yourself during this time. Not only is it exam season, but your mood is generally lower during the darker months. With shorter days, less sunlight, it’s normal to feel sluggish and more tired than usual. Stay hydrated even if you don’t feel thirsty, and make sure to eat filling foods, such as hearty stews and roasted vegetables. Sleep lots too, since you’re already feeling sleepy, it’s the perfect time to catch up on your rest. Secondly, implement a relaxation routine. Whether it would be reading your favorite comfort book, bath bombs, aromatherapy, you should find something that helps you destress so it doesn’t get bottled up. Set out a day each week where you have absolutely no work to do, and can focus fully on just your hobbies and what you enjoy doing. Plan a fun task to do at the end of every week to stay motivated and power through tough days. Adding smaller rewards at the end of completing a task will make the process more fun and enjoyable.
- Exercise
Staying active is not only key for physical health, but it is greatly important for your mental health too. Try getting some Vitamin D by heading outside and getting some fresh air. Even if the weather is a bit chilly, you can go and bundle up for a brisk walk. On the other hand, if it snows nearby, you can go skiing and snowboarding to fully appreciate nature! Head up to one of your mountains for some winter-exclusive fun. If that doesn’t sound as appealing, heading indoors is always a good option. Start heading to your local gym for a quick workout, or try an indoor sport such as a martial art. You can even do some home workouts, such as dance workouts or doing yoga. Pilates is a trending activity that can boost your core strength and balance. Signing up for group fitness classes is also a great way to get exercise with the benefit of getting to know others. With all these options, ultimately how you want to stay healthy in the winter is dependent on you! So, try whatever you want.
- Mental health
Give yourself permission to rest and seek to declutter and organize. Research has shown that our environment has a large impact on our mood, so doing some winter cleaning could be greatly beneficial to you. In addition, you could also implement self-reflection methods, such as meditation or journaling. Doing gratitude journaling and meditation has been proven to increase your happiness and focus, so why not give it a go! Engage in the hobbies that make you feel good and make sure to reach out to loved ones if you feel like you need support. Lastly, use social media mindfully. Try not to doom scroll as much now that you’re stuck inside, and instead try to choose some screen-free activities for your free time.
Well, there you go, that’s the ultimate guide to getting your work even when you don’t feel like it during these tough days. Remember, while it’s important to stay productive, your health and well-being comes first, so take a break if you really need it. Good luck!