DOUBLE DOWN OR CUT BAIT?

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I was talking with a colleague this week, and she commented on how so many students on college reddit sites are just . . . tired! So ready for the year to be done, but it’s not. Looking at blogs I’ve written earlier about the long March, I’d have to agree. This week, I’d like to talk about what goes into the demotivation that hits students this time of year and what you can do about it.

March–please just let it be over with already!

If you are feeling so done with school this month, take a moment and consider the downers this time of year brings. Jot down the ones that fit you:

  • The weather. Spring isn’t here yet. Snow and cold come and go. A lot of the days are grey. Nothing is green.
  • You’ve been going since Christmas–this is the longest haul of the year. It just feels different from Fall Session. We came into Fall after summer, with its sunlight and greater activity. We come into this term after the darkest time of the year. 
  • Maybe we have guilt over what we planned and didn’t get done during reading week. Some schools are getting realistic here and renaming it Term Break.
  • And two years of COVID uncertainty and adaptations. The country and schools are in a real hodge-podge of coping with COVID. We’re in a constantly changing inconsistent mix of in-person, online, hybrid, masks, not masks.
  • . . . .
  • . . . .
  • . . . .

Now take a break. Endorse yourself for pausing and taking stock. Do something for yourself–stretch, walk, make tea . . .

What to do?

First, there are two broad categories of March doldrums, and each category needs a different approach. These two categories are (a) motivation/fatigue and (b) marks low enough to risk a failing grade. 

Let’s deal with the worst first.

Is it time to cut bait?

Let’s say that in at least one course you feel your marks are low enough that you risk not getting credit for the course. An F. 

Please keep reading.

Here, the advice is straightforward:

  • Know the deadline to withdraw from a course. Know the implications for your program.
  • Get a realistic view of just how bad it is. Get objective information from the instructor and from your academic advisor. That same colleague I was speaking with withdrew from her freshman year six weeks before finals because she had a C+ average. She’d always made high 90s in high school, and in March of her first year at university thought she was failing with the marks she was getting, so she scrubbed the whole year. She would have passed. Don’t let that be you.
  • After an objective assessment of where you stand, sketch out and schedule how much needs yet to be done to pass. If after scheduling you see that this is a case of being behind on work you could complete, talk about extensions (which I don’t usually recommend, but sometimes . . .). Plan for contingencies.
  • If after an objective assessment of where you stand it is clear to you and your advisor that you are probably not going to gain required insight into linear algebra or advanced semiotics to gain a pass, well, I quote a professor, “Do you want to see a W or an F on your transcript?”

Take the long view here.

Is it time to double down?

If it appears that getting the work done is doable and making up for any shortfall to date is achievable, then you will likely choose to double down. To bump up the probability of achieving that goal, you can attend to three main areas:

  • Schedule for the whole term. Schedule with flexibility and contingencies. Review your schedule each evening.
  • Use resources. Book with your advisor. Book with peer tutoring. Join work groups.Book with campus student learning supports. Book with a strategist.
  • Maintain your physical health. Eat smart. Hydrate. Exercise. Get enough sleep.
  • Maintain your emotional and mental health. Take smart breaks. Plan treats. Get outside. Maintain social connection. Endorse yourself for each effort you make. Book with student counselling if you are on shaky ground here.
  • Be kind to yourself. When you’re tired of the whole process, stretch out. Give yourself a small treat. 
  • Take the long view: Visualize the diploma, the job/career.
  • Then endorse for staying the course.

Making the decision

Almost always the decision to tough it out meets long-term goals. But not always. I can’t make that decision for you–I can listen, I can point you to resources, but ultimately, if you go through the steps I’ve outlined here and take the long view, you will likely make the decision that is best for you. 

When will you know if it is the right decision? Like almost every other decision we make, you will know in hindsight. Stepping back, evaluating your situation, using resources, and self-maintaining will go a long way toward getting the results that you aim for in the long term.

Let me know your experience here, or we can schedule to discuss your March Madness: [email protected]

The information in this blog cannot take the place of support from your own mental health professional or community health resources. Reach out to them. And IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS PLEASE DIAL 911.