The summer slump is no joke; getting back into the swing of things after time away can be hard, even when you’re excited about your classes and the year ahead. But switching back to school mode doesn’t need to be challenging.

As the Director of Skills and Academic Strategies at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall, our department is prepared to face this challenge head-on with our students every fall. In this article, I’ve laid out a couple of useful tips to help reframe your mindset and make the task easier to digest.

Check In With Yourself | Everyone Faces Slumps

One tip I’ve always found helpful is recognizing that students are not alone. Everyone, including parents and teachers, can find it hard to be motivated after time away. Many factors can have an impact on your motivation, from the weather to your course load to events in your personal life. Feeling this way does not mean that something is wrong; recognize that the feeling is temporary and that your peers are often feeling the same way.

Make a Choice | Be Creative

One of my favorite parts of CH-CH is that classes come in all shapes and sizes. No two assignments look alike, and this enables much more choice in your learning. I invite you to take advantage of the areas where you have the ability to make your own choice. Find the times in class where creativity is encouraged, and make the assignment into something that excites you.

I once had a student who found the writing process to be challenging, but had great research skills. Although they were not necessarily thrilled by their topic, they were still able to find the information they needed to support their thesis. After some careful consideration, they decided to create a podcast as their final product, which made the writing process less daunting and allowed them to pursue creativity in a way that made the topic more accessible and even, as they eventually admitted, enjoyable!

If you’re having a hard time connecting with your work, reach out to your teacher and find ways to make the assignment work for you. It can be hard to be motivated when you’re not interested in a topic, but taking some ownership can turn a requirement into a creative outlet.

Reset Yourself | Take a Break

Don’t burn yourself out; take a break. When you’re overwhelmed, you won’t produce work that is up to your best standard. Prioritize taking care of yourself. Remember that there are other ways to be productive. Reading a book you’ve always wanted to, calling a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while, or even just catching up on sleep are all productive ways to stay enriched. Fall is a gorgeous time to get outside, and being active is another great way to reset and take a break! Enjoy a walk through your neighborhood or down to your favorite coffee shop. Movement helps!

Give Yourself Credit | Celebrate the Small Moments

Productivity does not come all at once. Although it would be nice to sit down and do all your assignments in one sitting, that’s not typically the way it goes. When you write a single paragraph, that’s one more than you had before. When you solve a math problem, that’s another milestone on the path to success. Celebrate your small moments of achievement. Once you do, the rest won’t seem so daunting.

As we head into the fresh start of a new school year, remember to slow down and make the assignments work for you. Following these tips can help you prioritize your work while taking care of yourself. You’ll be surprised by all you can accomplish when you reframe your mindset!