Week 6: Productivity & Motivation

This year, I have really wanted to focus on shifting my mindset and how I can improve my productivity. I have found that with being a college student (especially a senior) that keeping motivation and continuing to be productive everyday is not an easy task. It's definitely challenging to stay motivated as a senior in college, especially with the growing demands of coursework, future planning, and sometimes feeling a sense of burnout as the end of your academic journey approaches. It's easy to fall into a cycle of procrastination, especially when there's the temptation to take a break or focus on more immediate rewards, like social activities or downtime. I personally like to "doom scroll" on Tik Tok or other social media platforms that seem to drain my energy and waste my time. Which, I am sure we all can relate to in some aspect. 

Between coursework, preparing for life after graduation, and trying to balance my other responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. For me, the key to staying on track has been making a few simple changes to my mindset, and one of the most effective strategies has been breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. When I started thinking about my to-do list as one giant, never-ending mountain of work, it was easy to get discouraged. I found myself procrastinating and feeling like I wasn’t making any real progress. But once I made the shift to focusing on smaller, more achievable tasks, things started to feel more manageable. I usually start with a big task and then try to do smaller tasks in between to make it feel like less overwhelming. By shifting my focus to one step at a time, I’ve found that I not only get more done, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment as I check things off along the way. I have even found that physically crossing things off a list, gives me some sort of validation and productivity. These small wins add up, and they keep me motivated to keep going. 

So, if you’re struggling with productivity, try breaking your tasks into smaller chunks. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the big picture, focus on the small steps that will get you there. Celebrate each little win, and you’ll find that staying productive becomes a lot easier. I know this might sound easier said than done, but even the smallest changes in our habits can make a big difference over time.