Let me preface with this: As of January 13th, 2026, there are ONLY around 70 school days left till April 30th! That means only FIFTEEN Fridays, or 35 A or B days!

After all the joy of the holidays are over, it can often lead one to feel a sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness. This can be heightened by the cold and rainy weather that comes in this season, which only adds to the susceptibility of seasonal depression. Not only that, both teachers and students alike are working hard to get these last few months in before final exams and the work can feel overwhelming as there is not much to look forward to. However, I have a solution! I am a survivor of these negative effects as last year I said to myself, “Wow, January and February went pretty fast and weren’t that bad” which you probably have never heard in your life (for a valid reason) so trust me when I explain my tips.

1. MOST IMPORTANT: YOUR MENTALITY. If you find yourself thinking how bad and miserable you are, don’t. I know it’s hard but once you stop or hinder that negative mindset, suddenly it doesn’t become as bad. There, unfortunately, will always be bad experiences in your life, but I can help with preventing your spiraling:
   1. Focus on gratitude and kindness to yourself and others.
   2. Turn “I can’t” into “I CAN”: I know these seem simple, but it really is the little things that make the most difference. If you find yourself saying negative things about yourself, try turning them into positive thoughts or find things about yourself that you like. 
      1. For example, if I find myself thinking “I’m not the best at math” I turn that thinking into “I’m not the best at math, but I do try my best, and I have other strengths.” 
      2. Comparison at this school is easy to fall into, as we are surrounded by so many intelligent people! Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, just because you are not as good at something doesn’t mean you’re less than them! It just means you have your own great strengths, and these can come in handy in the future, you never know what might happen.
      3. Instead of naming your weaknesses, name your strengths.
   3. Think rationally. Is that really going to happen? What does the evidence suggest? Most likely, it’s not as bad as you think it will be. For example:
      1. “What if I don’t get into this college?” -> “Whatever’s meant to happen, will happen.”
   4. DON’T COMPLAIN, it makes it worse! 
      1. Thinking “I have too much work to do” often just results in more overthinking than necessary. Write down what you have to do, and cross them off when done.
      2. Do the hardest things first to get you feeling productive (generally, not homework).
   5. Look at the positive side:
      1. “I’m broke” -> “At least I have clothes and a roof over my head.”
      2. Instead of wishing for what you want, be grateful for what you have
      3. The cold now means one day it will be warm!
   6. Try not to dislike school, look forward to seeing your friends and the classes you like.
   7. Get your work done sooner rather than later so you have more time when you get home! Would you rather play Coolmath or Solitaire or get off-track in class OR relax in your OWN bed or do whatever hobby you like in the peace of your own home? Probably your home, right? If you force yourself to “lock in” while in school, you’ll have better and more enjoyable free time later, so it’s worth it.I force myself to do school work no matter how much it is and how close I am to falling asleep, and then I have more time when I get home and on the weekend!
2. Give yourself things to look forward to: Even the small things, like a hangout on the weekend, can give you something to look forward to. Here are other occasions or things to look forward to:
   1. Semi-formal
   2. Prom
   3. Warmer weather
   4. Spring break
   5. Seeing your friends
   6. Going home
   7. Fridays
   8. Summer
   9. Food
   10. However, this all goes without saying that you should live in the moment while doing this. Although having occasions to look forward to is important, make sure you balance with living in the moment as much as you can.
3. Treat yourself:
   1. Give yourself a relaxation day if you can – focus on skincare and mental health, maybe even go to an actual spa place.
   2. Go on a walk
   3. Eat food
   4. Hangout with friends
   5. Take a nap
   6. Bake or cook something for yourself or others
4. Avoid listening to sad music and going on social media too much
   1. Sad music might actually be making you sadder! I listen to upbeat music because I realized that sad music often makes me feel worse. If you genuinely like it and it doesn’t affect you, then go ahead.
5. Balance school work and mental health. Here’s how to study or do homework when you have NO motivation:
   1. Set a timer: Give yourself 30 minutes-1 hour on the timer to study or do whatever work you have to. Then, take a 5 to 15 minute break to do whatever you want. Knowing I have a break ahead alone motivates me to try to get as much done as I can. Repeat this until your work is done and you feel comfortable with the amount you study.
   2. Here’s the order that you should do your work:
      1. Assignments/homework due tomorrow/soon
      2. Studying (but set timer)
      3. Writing an essay
      4. By doing this, you’re doing the assignments from LEAST to MOST time which will get things done faster instead of spending so much time on studying or writing and then not having time to do your homework or assignments.
   3. Know your limit: When I over-exert myself and study for hours on end, it often ends in the same result as if I just studied as much as I needed for a few hours instead of sixteen (actually happened, don’t recommend).
   4. Focus on the goal