Struggling to find motivation is a common problem during the winter quarter due finals, seasonal depression, and burnout all begin to take a toll. Upcoming final exams can put a lot of stress on oneself and can lower productivity and slow down one’s ability to keep working. Another factor that may affect students’ ability to succeed is seasonal depression.

Seasonal depression is known as “seasonal affective disorder, which is a type of depression that is triggered by the change of seasons,” according to Cleveland Clinic. Its symptoms may include feelings of prolonged sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping, and weight gain. Although “5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD,” it has a higher rate in Washington State compared to the national average, and can be a contributing factor that affects college students’ ability to stay motivated. Lack of imotivation can also be due to excessive burnout. Considering all these factors, it is no wonder that the winter quarter is often considered by many students and professors to be the most difficult academic quarter

Throughout the winter quarter, focusing on healthy study habits to avoid procrastination can help students stay motivated. Some helpful study habits from Honor Society include creating “a realistic study schedule, setting an achievable goal, utilizing online resources, engaging in group study sessions, staying active, and exploring internship opportunities.” Keeping these things in mind can help you be proactive during the winter quarter and avoid procrastination.

Additionally, there are also study resources on campus, including the Academic Support Programs, the Writing and Communications Center, and the Quantitative Skills Center located in the Learning Commons (UW2-030). While these resources pinpoint specific skills, campus study areas such as the Gold Brew, Starbucks, and the library are great workspaces to reduce distractions and create an atmosphere that helps students focus on work. Even though these study tips can help, it is usually hard to overcome is procrastination.

Procrastination can be caused by many factors, such as feeling overwhelmed, perfectionism, or fear of failure. Some procrastination tipsfrom Purdue Global include, “break work into smaller tasks, manage time, and eliminate distractions.” It is important to note that as students apply study advice, it can often be overwhelming to change many aspects at once. Instead, focusing on a couple of tips at a time can slowly foster a positive mindset for change, improving one’s overall success as a student.

When it comes to acting towards one’s needs, improvement towards procrastination or SAD symptoms can grow into an essential way to maintain mental health throughout the winter quarter. According to A Healthier Michigan article, Dr. Alexander addresses why self-care is critical to oneself: “Self-care involves addressing whole person health by improving or maintaining physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.” Self-care can include anything, such as working out, reading, or limiting screen time. Focusing on hobbies that relax you is a start toward mindfulness.

Mindfulness can create many positive outcomes for one’s mental health . Dr. Alexander states practicing mindfulness activities such as nature walks, meditation, or journaling can “reduce anxiety and depression, improve focus and productivity, boost emotional stability, foster a deeper connection with yourself and others, and enhance overall happiness and satisfaction.” At UWB, there are resources such as the Counseling Center (UW1-080) that offer free services like quarterly group therapy sessions to students. . Watching out for one’s mental health and signs, like changes in behavior, withdrawal from social activities, or neglect of self-care can help one remain strong throughout the upcoming quarter, before schoolwork becomes more intense.

By focusing on what is most important like our health, our ability to succeed as students can increase during the winter quarter. Following a specific number of tips at a time can help pinpoint one’s needs in a particular struggle, such as procrastination or low motivation. This winter, rethinking your habits may improve your approach to mindfulness even when doubt is present.