Thanksgiving break is over, and things have officially gotten real. Finals are coming, and so is the holiday season, and it’s easy to let your head spin with everything you need to get done.
Don’t let it get the best of you! Take a look in the mirror, give yourself a pep talk, listen to “Roar” by Katy Perry as many times as necessary, and follow these six tips to get your life together in December:
Get your sleep cycle on point
“Are you okay? You look so tired!”
First things first: never say these words to anyone. Even with the best of intentions, no one wants or needs to hear this. If you’re the one getting this from your friends and family, it’s a good indication that you’ve let stress and discontent take over, and you could probably use a better sleep routine.
Make it a goal to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day.
Write it down
Now it’s time to figure out what your overall goals for the month of December should be, and how you’re going to accomplish them. Remember to make your goals SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
You’re probably not going to make all of your long-term goals come true by December 31st, but you can certainly get a good start!
Establish your routine of awesome
Become a morning person is tough, but you can do it! Waking up early is like giving yourself a little gift every day. The gift of not feeling rushed in the morning, of having enough time to review your notes before classes, and maybe even getting the chance to go outside and enjoy some sunlight (or very cold morning frost, depending on where you live).
This article has more tips for becoming a morning person, and more fun facts about why it’s great to wake up a little earlier.
Build up your toolkit
Even though you’re pretty darn awesome, you may need some help to hit all of your goals. That’s where your toolkit comes in! Give yourself the resources you need to succeed. Whether it’s an amazing new planner, an alarm clock that finds your lack of wakefulness disturbing, or (cough, cough) the coolest study resources around, you deserve it. In the immortal words of Tom Haverford and Donna: Treat. Yo. Self.
For the next few weeks, you can get an even better deal on Picmonic for Nursing through the Group Buy Holiday Special! Visit this page for all the details (and some adorable holiday Picmonic characters).
Find inspiration and stay thankful
During the Thanksgiving season, gratitude is everywhere. It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you’re eating and thanking people all day. Keep that spirit with you by keeping a gratitude journal throughout the month of December. It may seem cheesy, but taking a few minutes to focus on the good will help realign your whole day!
And when all else fails, think about someone who inspires you. Whether your role model is a fellow nursing student or Ronda Rousey, think of someone you admire to help you stay motivated.
Go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens
We’re all pretty excited here at Picmonic HQ for the new movie. If you’re not a Star Wars fan, pick something else instead, like The Good Dinosaur or In the Heart of the Sea (mmm, Hemsworth). Seeing a movie in the theatre is an amazing way to take time with zero distractions to just zone out and enjoy yourself.
And to help minimize stress, buy your tickets in advance!
When the going gets tough, remember that you’re worth it. Never be afraid to give yourself a pep talk in the mirror, or ask for one from your best friend/study buddy/cat. Or the Picmonic team! Contact us anytime at feedback@picmonic.com if you need a boost.
