Let’s face it—college is a grind. You’re going to class for hours each day, homework assignments are multiplying, and you might even have a job on top of that. There’s no doubt that you’re exhausted, and you may start to feel a little uninspired and unmotivated. But you don’t always have to feel that way—here are a few ways to spark curiosity and inspiration while you’re at college.
Learn about what interests you outside of class
You’ve been in class all day, you’ve done your homework, and the last thing on your mind is learning about something else. But you don’t need to learn about anything directly related to your classes. You can learn about the things that interest you and may provide inspiration.
Plenty of educational resources are available, like online magazines, podcasts, YouTube videos, and streaming services that offer exciting articles, documentaries, and factual stories. According to a survey by MagellanTV, 57% of millennials felt inspired by a documentary they watched. You, too, can feel motivated by learning about something you love.
Make time for Hobbies
It makes sense to push your hobbies to the side and do them when you have “free time.” But that free time is scarce in college, and you may find that you don’t do any of your hobbies at all. If you don’t prioritize your hobbies, you may become increasingly frustrated that you aren’t able to spend time on them, or you may lose interest in them over time. Furthermore, a Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology study found that those who participate in creative activities have higher overall performance in work.
You must make time for your hobbies and the things that excite you. Even if you only set aside an hour or two each week, this can help you de-stress, stay motivated, and perform better in classes. Hobbies help you foster creativity and curiosity, whether you realize it or not.
Take a Break
Like hobbies, it’s easy to say you’ll take a break later—once you’ve finished your homework, taken a test, or the semester is over. But we all know how that ends in college. There’s always something else you can work on, like another test, another homework assignment, or another semester. If you don’t take a break, you may get burned out and lose motivation.
Get away from the campus or your apartment. Schedule a weekend away, take a day trip, or just spend a couple of hours doing something fun. Breaks can even lead to increased productivity, so you’ll be doing yourself a big favor. Take a one-night camping trip, explore a nearby city, or take a drive along a coastline or into the mountains and enjoy nature. Just get out there where you can be inspired by new experiences.
You’re responsible for keeping yourself motivated, curious, and inspired in college, so take charge! Try one or all of the things mentioned above to renew your excitement while you’re in college. Although college is always a grind, you’ll find that you can still be inspired to enjoy life while successful in school.
