WRAPPING UP

I was of two minds thinking about what to talk about with this blog, which marks the end of term for most of you. Or soon will, as the last exam is handed in.

On the one hand, next term comes sooner than you think, and there are some things that need to be done sooner rather than later. Such as ensuring your funding applications are in process. Registering for preferred courses before they fill up. Christmas and end-of-term notes and thank-yous. 

On the other hand, enough is enough.

Take ten minutes and schedule when you’re going to sit down and make up your to-do list.

Then Stop.

Decompress.

Take it easy for an evening, for a day. Remember that reward you were planning for getting through the term? Take it, whether it’s a spa weekend, a hike, a special meal, a new game, or new gear. Or an afternoon with a run with a pet in a leash-free dog park. Or binge-watching a series you’ve been looking forward to.

If circumstances prevent the reward you planned, get creative and reward the person who got through the term with something that person will enjoy.

Why is it so important not to skip the reward? Because when a promised reward is skipped, the person who promised the reward isn’t trusted the next time they promise a reward. You don’t want to game yourself on this.

Didn’t get the 4.1 or 2.5 you were aiming for? That’s now next term’s target. Getting through this term is worthy of reward and endorsement. Don’t feel you deserve that reward? Consider what you did, the challenges you met, what you did get done, and design a reward to mark that effort, that sticking at it. Replace “I don’t deserve”. . . with, “Hey, I did . . . and I do deserve . .  .!”

And indeed you do!

Let me know how your term went, and when you’ve decompressed, let’s strategize for the next term. [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.