Staying Focused: Dealing with The Winter Blues

It's winter. The mornings are dark. The nights are dark. At this time of the year it can be difficult to stay focused but with exams just a few months a way this is the time of year that can really make a difference. I'll outline here a couple of ways to fight those January blues and make these winter weeks work for you!

Firstly, keep in mind the big picture. It might feel like a grind: leaving the house in the dark, beavering away at school for six hours, coming home in the dark. It's easy to forget that you are building toward something. To avoid feeling like this is pointless, and that you are wasting your time, always have in mind the purpose of what you are doing.

Secondly, this is a relatively short period of your life. A few months of solid effort is all it takes to obtain real results that will benefit you for the rest of your life. It might be a struggle at times but it will be worth it to push through. In no time it will be the summer and all of this will be behind you - and when summer comes you will feel an awful lot better knowing that you gave it your all.

Finally, keep track of your progress. Pay attention to mock exam results at school. Give yourself little tests here and there. Grades will go up. Your knowledge will grow. If you put the work in, you will see the improvement. There is no single, more inspiring thing than seeing that your work is paying off. When you get a good result, recognise it, and give yourself a pat on the back!

These three small strategies will help guide you through until the spring, when the sun comes out and the end will be in sight! As always, if you have any questions or need advice you can contact me by email, social media and all the usual channels.

Jake