Welcome back to the blog! 

The last few weeks and the next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. I have so many assignments, projects, and things that I want to do before our Thanksgiving and holiday winter breaks. I can honestly say that I’ve done a good job keeping up with everything and getting my work done so far this semester. However, I have been struggling with burnout and a teeny tiny case of senioritis. To deal with this, I’m taking one day at a time, so I don’t get overwhelmed or stuck in a loop. The topic for this week is some tips to stay positive, because at times like this positivity is very welcome.  

The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Tips to Staying Positive   

Motivate yourself  

It’s helpful to celebrate the small wins and the big ones so that you don’t feel like you haven’t accomplished anything at all. I’ve always struggled with getting over my losses and not celebrating when I’ve successfully done something whether that’s a personal skill or college related. Sometimes you might not like to or don’t have the time to rely on others, so you have to show up for yourself and reward yourself. 

Surround yourself with people that care and are positive  

If you didn’t know already, I’m originally from St. Louis and while I’ve been attending college these last five years my immediate family has been back home. I like to keep in touch with my family and friends through the phone, text, and even facetime. My family and friends motivate me to push forward and to think about my own wants instead of other people’s. It’s worth talking to the people that know you so when you do need some type of positive message or affirmation those people will be there for you.  

Drop negative habits  

Throughout life and your college career, you most likely will adopt some bad or good habits that could be affecting your life. You have to make sure that you are creating good habits and that you’re regularly evaluating whether or not you have some habits that you need to address. These would be habits that negatively affect your well-being, your academics, your work, or other parts of your life. You want to drop the bad habits so that they don’t develop into something you probably can’t control and prevent you from being successful. Detecting bad habits, especially your own can be hard so try to observe yourself. Take notice of the things that negatively affect you or an issue that you continuously encounter that triggers the things that you do. You can excel mentally and physically and not waste your time or energy if you go along with this tip.  

Try to start your days or weeks right  

I like to typically do a Sunday reset where I do the things that I probably wouldn’t have time for during the week like my laundry and meal prepping. My Sunday reset sets the tone for the week because I’m managing my time in advance, looking over my classes for the upcoming week, and taking time out for myself. Starting things off right doesn’t have to look the same as what I do but could just be some small additions like making your bed, morning meditating, or just making your environment around you clean and welcoming.  

Takeaways

Being positive can help you when you’re feeling down or even when you have experienced something that you’re not used to. You gain skills to help yourself with your resistance and stress levels so that you can overcome some of those hard challenges that college and life like to throw at you. I’m going to continue to utilize my own tips and still learn just how much positivity can impact my outlook on life. I’m going to leave you with this quote by Willie Nelson, 

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”  

~Alexandria  

(Bio: I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a senior business major at Missouri State University.)