‘Tis the (exam) season: Motivation from a fellow Niner

We made it! We have now begun the final stretch of the semester. Entering my third year at Charlotte, I would have never imagined myself to be where I am today. Still, this time of year is stressful for everyone, especially students who may feel like there are a lot of things to balance at once. If you’re anything like me, finals “week” is actually finals “month”. The weeks before you may be thinking, “oh, I have time!” Now we’re in the week before the last day of classes and reality has set in. We don’t have as much time as we thought.

Because I’m right there with you, here are some suggestions to keep your motivation up through the coming weeks:

Lean on community

Your professors, friends, and peers at Charlotte want to see you succeed. Lean on them! Many of your fellow Niners likely have similar stressors and worries. Reach out, connect with them, and remember that you do not have to do this alone.

Take care of yourself

This time of year is incredibly busy with final projects, papers, and tests. I will be the first to admit that I have to work to prioritize my whole self during these times, especially as the holiday season quickly approaches. So, let’s quickly reinforce the necessary: drink water, and prioritize your mental and physical health.

My biggest health hot take: Go to sleep! Do not pull an all-nighter. Don’t do it. I too have tried to go the all-nighter route and have learned recently it does nothing but make me more stressed. Just go to sleep! Trust that you know what you’ve been studying – there is nothing that will prepare you more than a full night of rest.

Find your why

In a time of low motivation, draw on the things that excite you or make you the happiest. Why are you doing this? Why are you completing these finals? Your ‘why’ can be completing a degree, achieving a larger career goal, or simply finishing the year out strong. Your ‘why’ also can change from time to time. Whatever your ‘why’ is, use that to fuel you to the next step.

My final thought: Whether it’s your last semester or your first, live in the moment. Cherish every second. Do not stress over things you can’t control, and find solace in the things that you can.

Congratulations to everyone on making it this far! Good luck on finals – we’re almost there!

Additional resources:

Events and activities to keep your heart happy.

UREC hours to keep your body healthy.

Counseling and Psychological Services to keep your mind healthy.

Exam schedule to keep you up-to-date.