It's completely normal to have an off week—university can be exhausting! But if a lack of productivity is causing you stress, then that can be a problem. Stress can make you less focused on your schoolwork and affect your mood and overall mental health. Here are some of my tips to get rid of that stress and get back on track after feeling unproductive.
1. Accept it
There’s no point in dwelling on what you didn’t get done last week. This will only delay your progress in getting back on track this week. Don’t panic and try to get everything done in one long and exhausting day. Take a moment to remind yourself that an unproductive couple of days doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the semester. It’s completely normal for your productivity levels to change week by week, especially when we get further into the term and are feeling extra tired. Leave the past in the past, so you can start focusing on how to feel better!
2. Reset
Now that you’ve stopped focusing on the problem, set yourself up to get to work on the solution! Spend some time organizing, whether that’s your study space or your mind. Take some clutter off your desk and do a short meditation exercise (there are tons on YouTube). Taking 30 minutes or less to tidy your space and breathe is so worth it. Starting with a clear space and mind allows you to start your comeback with a calm mind and environment.
3. Do a brain dump, then make it useful
Start by writing down everything that’s on your mind. What things need to get done that are causing you to panic? This may be school related, other errands, or things you’ve been putting off. If the list gets long, that’s OK, just keep going. Getting everything out there is the necessary starting point for accepting it and getting it accomplished. Check your Brightspace and syllabi, your calendars, and emails to make sure you’ve got everything down.
Once you're done, you can organize it however is best for you. Maybe by course, by deadline, or by what feels most daunting. This will serve as a reference when scheduling your time to ensure you don’t forget anything that needs to be done.
4. Make this into a priority list and then into realistic daily tasks
Remember, you can’t catch up in a day (or even two or three). Making a realistic schedule or calendar ensures that you can actually follow it, instead of continuing your feelings of guilt when you can’t get it all done fast enough. Getting one or two of these things done or at least started in a day should be the goal—on top of going to class, and getting adequate sleep, meals, and movement. You certainly won’t feel accomplished if you skip out on your other regular tasks like lectures and going to the gym, for example, just to catch up on an assignment.
Overall, my biggest piece of advice throughout each of these steps is to keep your cool! It can be so easy to lose your focus being upset by all the things you wish you did earlier. Your academic momentum is not permanently erased after a bad week. Take one small step today, like watching that online lecture you’ve put off, or brainstorming your paper topic, and you will feel better tomorrow.
If you need some outside help, Dal has study skills coaches [NetID login required] who can work with you to improve your learning and study strategies.