Around this time of year, as spring approaches, your motivation to do any of those essays, projects and tests is probably at a negative 15 on a scale of one through ten. Mentally, you’re ready to give up on work, physically, you feel like staying in bed all day or going outside in the now warmer weather.

However, it is important to keep your head in the game because you’re still committed to your work. There are many reasons why it is important to keep working hard, for example, you don’t want to let anyone down and destroy that perfect reputation you built up. Your disinclination does not characterize you, everyone can get in a slump sometimes and you’re still as hard working as before, you just need a little bit of a push and some motivation. Even if it feels impossible to sit down for an hour or two to write an essay, you’re still going to sit down and blow that essay out of the park because that’s the kind of determined and hardworking person you are.

If you’re struggling to find motivation, well, that makes completion a little more difficult, but no matter, here are some ways to get yourself motivated.

Take it one at a time: Often times, the reason why you’re slacking is because you feel overwhelmed with the amount of work put in front of you. Choose one assignment, focus on it completely, finish it, then move on to the next assignment. Don’t try and force yourself to complete everything at once, because then you just won’t do it all.

Stick with it: If you’re in the middle of a goal and start to feel unmotivated again, don’t give up! If you stick with it, that motivation will return, but you just have to push through your unwillingness.

Focus on benefits: When it comes to cracking down on a book assignment or the endless piles of homework left abandoned on your desk, most of the time, the thoughts that run through people’s minds are: “It’s so boring”, “It’s too hard”, or “That will take forever to do”. Obviously, a mindset like this is not very positive. Rather than conjuring up the negative, think of the positive, How good will you feel once you’re done? Trust me, the hard work you put out will pay off.

Reward system: Everyone likes receiving awards, so treat yourself after you finish an assignment. Take a nap, go outside, eat some ice cream, whatever makes you feel good and accomplished should be your reward.

Remember past accomplishments: Remember how satisfied you felt when you studied hard everyday, stayed after with teachers for extra help, and worked hard in class and ended up getting an A on your final test? Yeah, keep that thought in mind as you work throughout the rest of the year on various assignments. It will give you motivation to complete the work with 110% effort and obtain that feeling again.

Everyone gets lazy sometimes, but it is no excuse to put off your work and wreck everything you’ve worked hard for. Yes, the school year is more than half over, but while you’re here, you might as well give it your all and earn yourself the grades you deserve. When you find yourself in a hole that you dug, just remember that there are plenty of ways to get yourself motivated and that you will find a way to get it done because you’re just that awesome.