How to rise and grind:Is It All in your mind?

We all have those days when getting up feels like you're trying to crawl up Conduit Road, brushing your teeth is like climbing the steps to management school, and getting dressed feels like discovering your lecture is in the Medical School.

Staying motivated is tough at the best of times, but at university, it feels like we’re constantly tested. Growing up, you also learn that there's no teacher or parent guiding you and holding your hand every step of the way, like they once did. Whilst I used to crave independence, now I miss the structure. At university, we have complete free will to do whatever we want, whenever we want. With this freedom, productivity, personally, becomes a lot harder. If I want to lie in bed all day, I can, and no one will know, and no one can tell me otherwise.

But here’s the thing: after 20 years of life, I’ve learned that being lazy all day only makes me feel worse. It’s a vicious cycle.

Now, I’m not claiming to have all the answers, but here are a few things that have helped me crawl out of my uni halls bed (trust me, that's saying something).

Routine is something my mum always swore by, and now that I’m away from home, I’m starting to see the value in it. Having a basic routine helps me feel productive. I’m not talking about an intense and rigorous schedule; I just mean waking up at the same time every day (even if I’ve had little sleep), opening the curtains to let in the sunlight that hides behind the clouds in Sheffield, and avoiding my phone for as long as I can. These tips will help sustain your circadian rhythm, which is key to creating the perfect routine.

Another trick I learned from Atomic Habits by James Clear is habit stacking, and it works. It’s about linking a new habit to an existing one. For example, after brushing your teeth, try the habit of flossing straight afterwards. This might sound too simple, but it helps you intertwine repetition, which leads to effective consistency.

Breaking big goals into smaller tasks also makes them feel more achievable. Take the goal of getting a first in your studies, sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Instead, try setting smaller goals, like attending every lecture this week. To make it even easier, lay out your clothes the night before, find a friend to hold you accountable, or reward yourself with something small when you hit your goal to condition yourself into positive reinforcement; a small mind trick that will both treat you and keep you in check.

When motivation dips, reconnect with the reason why you’re at uni and why you chose to study. Whether it’s long-term career goals, your passion for the subject, or making your family proud, identifying what drives you can reignite that lost motivation. Keeping that in mind helps resist the temptation to procrastinate.

Although it may seem like I’m not saying anything groundbreaking here, after watching the tenth influencer on my For You page complete the 75 Hard challenge whilst I battle staying in bed, rotting all day, it’s these habits that always make me face the day. It’s during these moments that the routines you’ve set in place can help pull you through. They’re your safety net habits that hold you up when motivation dips.

Holding yourself accountable with small changes makes the biggest difference in ensuring you have a successful day.

Edited by Phoebe Huzij