Whether you are struggling with senioritis, stuck in a sophomore slump, or trudging through the notoriously difficult junior year, everyone has felt a lack of motivation to do their work at one point. SAT prepping is a handful, classes are time consuming, and various clubs and extracurriculars can be a lot to juggle. The homework isn’t just going to do itself, however. Here are a few tips to stay motivated, disciplined, and on track!

The first thing that you should consider is the big picture: your purpose and what you’re working toward. It is hard to stay motivated if you don’t have a clear sense of direction, so think about the goals that you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s a college that you really want to get into or a goal that you aspire to achieve. Whatever it may be, use it to guide you through hard times and remember that there’s light at the end of the tunnel!

Study methods are also very important because they enhance your ability to effectively learn. Cramming for a test the day of or pulling an all nighter is never an effective or healthy method of studying. Piling everything onto one day will only lead to stress and burnout. Instead, try to spread out studying sessions and assignments evenly across the week to build and stick to a consistent study routine. Create a realistic to-do list for each day and complete it to the best of your ability. Having a planner is a good way to stay organized and on top of all your assignments.

It is crucial to have an optimistic mindset in order to be able to tackle academic challenges. Focus on the positives and what makes your courses engaging. Celebrate everything, even the small victories, such as studying for a certain amount of hours or getting a good quiz score. This will inspire you to keep up the hard work and make you feel confident in taking on challenging assignments.

Consider what charges your motivation and what drains it. Contemplate how many hours you sleep per night, your diet along with your exercise habits and if you give yourself time to recharge. It is not easy to stay on track and be productive when you are not physically and mentally at your best. Overworking yourself can make you feel less productive and more lethargic, which ultimately undermines your progress. Taking time to prioritize your hobbies, relationships with others and to take care of your mental and physical health is essential for maximum productivity as well as your well being.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find motivation within yourself, and having a support system to rely on can help in times of need. Family, friends and counselors are all wonderful resources for encouragement. When school gets especially tough, it is important to have people who are there for you and will listen to you. Think of it as having your own personal cheerleaders. Teachers are also here for you so you should never feel embarrassed about asking them for help. If you feel confused with your course material, ask a teacher for assistance. There is nothing wrong with asking teachers questions, that’s what they’re here for!

Increasing your academic drive takes a mixture of strategies and methods, you just have to find what works best for you. No one ever said that high school would be easy, but going into it with a positive mindset, building supportive environments, focusing on your goals and having a solid study routine will make it much easier to cultivate motivation. This will not only cause you to grow academically, but it will help foster personal growth as well and prepare you for future challenges.