By Bri Brands 

Although the first few weeks after winter break can serve as a time to get reacquainted with your academic goals and refresh your mindset as a student, it doesn’t take long before burnout starts to settle in. The papers pile up, the midterms are scheduled, and the cold weather makes staying home from class seem a little too inviting. 

You are not alone if you have ever felt like going to class was an insurmountable challenge you just couldn’t face that day. Here are some tips from a CLAS student to help keep you motivated even when it feels impossible.  

Become acquainted with classmates who can hold you accountable

Getting to know your classmates during the first couple of weeks in a new course is a great way to be held accountable and give you something to look forward to when you walk through the door.  

Your classmates don’t need to be your best friends, but simply trading phone numbers with the person next to you can go a long way. After the first week, people are not likely to switch from their “unassigned assigned seats,” so you might be next to the same person two or three times per week for 16 weeks.  

What better way to have something to look forward to when you walk through the door than to have a familiar, friendly face on the other side? Plus, they can help keep you on track and share notes or assignments when you feel you are missing something.  

Check out a light box from the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center  

When the workload increases and the lack of vitamin D becomes obvious, it is increasingly common for students to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression caused by the lack of natural light. 

While SAD is not unique to college students, it can cause you to feel low energy, sadness, and sleep issues. Accompanied by the stress of being a student, these symptoms are known for making going to class everyday feel nearly impossible. 

Student Wellness has light boxes available for checkout at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Light therapy is thought to ease the symptoms of SAD, even in the darkest part of the year. 

Make going to class fun by rewarding yourself 

Often times, the best way to get yourself to class is to make it feel like a game. If you win the game, you will get a prize. 

Try telling yourself: “If I make it to all my classes today, I can buy myself ice cream on the way home.”  

If sweet treats aren’t your thing, find something else non-school related that makes you happy, and don’t let yourself have access to that thing unless you make it to all of your classes.  

Review how the course objectives apply to your future  

Every student has been in a course they didn’t necessarily sign up for. Maybe you had a late registration time and got stuck with your last choice for a general education class. Maybe you feel very strongly that the course has nothing to do with your future career. Regardless, these are often the hardest courses to show up for. 

Every class at the University of Iowa serves its own purpose. When it’s a course you don’t enjoy, you might have to look harder for that purpose, but it’s there.  

On the first day, professors outline their course objectives for students. Take a moment to reflect on these and draw connections to what these course objectives can do for you, even in a completely different field.  

If showing up is all you have the energy for, that’s enough  

If you are in a course that gives a grade for participation or attendance, why lose out on the easiest points? You may think “It’s only one point” but that one point can be the difference between a B+ and an A at the end of the semester. 

Furthermore, it’s okay if you aren’t an active participant every day. Participating can look like engaging with readings, taking notes, and focusing on the professor.  

If you don’t feel like you have the energy to pay attention, that’s okay. We’ve all had days where our brain feels like it is going in a million different directions. But, just by being in the room, you may be surprised by what your subconscious picks up on and teaches you later on.  

Don’t be afraid to advocate for your mental health  

Never forget that your mental health is number one. Going to class is important, but there are ways to catch up if you need to take a rest day.  

If you gave it your best effort but still couldn’t make it to class, engage with the assigned readings, review any available slides or notes, reach out to classmates for their help, and don’t be afraid to go to office hours. Humans are meant to learn from each other, and your professors are there to help you.