With the start of school, comes a lot of excitement, as well as a big shift in your daily schedule. After the newness of the start of the school year has worn off, you’re left with the need to remain motivated to finish all of your work and to stay organized. It can be really difficult to keep yourself motivated, especially as you get closer to the end of the quarter. With just a few tricks, you can boost your motivation to have an amazing year.

Take a break

This may seem like a counterproductive tip, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do for yourself and your motivation. When you’re burned out, continuing to work isn’t very productive. It’s hard to focus, the work you do isn’t as good as you know it can be, and it’s easy to get frustrated. A break doesn’t have to be long or time consuming, but you deserve a break in order to refocus. Go on a walk, take a bath, call a friend, or make yourself a snack. Avoid looking at a screen on your break to give your eyes the rest they need before refocusing on your school work.

Organize your space

Having a good study space is really important to being productive. Make sure your desk is uncluttered, with all distractions removed. Have everything that you need on hand, so you won’t have to disrupt your flow to find your calculator or get a drink of water.

Put your phone away

Seriously. Having your phone readily available is just too much of a temptation and distraction. It doesn’t have to mean you can’t look at your phone at all, but put it away in another room and finish schoolwork for at least one subject before going back to it. Nothing will explode without you having access to your phone for an hour or two.

Set small goals

Accomplishing a task or goal makes you feel good, and helps you stay motivated. Organize your tasks into smaller goals, and write them out. Checking off your smaller tasks will make you feel accomplished, and will motivate you to keep going and to continue being productive.