Motivation tends to shift halfway through the semester. The eagerness of syllabus week fades, the weather changes, assignments overlap, and campus starts to feel familiar instead of exciting. Currently, most students are focused on simply making it to Thanksgiving break, the unofficial point when everyone checks out. After Thanksgiving passes, the timeline speeds up fast. You come back, blink twice, and suddenly it’s winter break, finals are behind you, dorm rooms are packed up, and your first semester becomes something you reflect on instead of something you’re living in. Romanticizing the rest of your semester isn’t about ignoring stress, acting like you have everything figured out, or pretending your life is an aesthetic edit. It’s about staying emotionally present long enough to actually remember it.
Treat Your Morning Routine Like a Ritual
Morning habits shape how the rest of the day feels, even if they’re small. Instead of rushing to get ready half-awake and mentally exhausted before your class, make your routine into something intentional. You don’t need to purchase candles, expensive skincare, or a perfect breakfast. You can start your day simply by stretching for at least a minute as soon as you wake up, instead of grabbing your phone and scrolling. Then begin making coffee, for an extra boost. While that’s brewing, do your usual skincare, open your blinds, listen to music or put on a show in the background, and if you have enough time, take a quiet walk by The Great Hall before class. The point is to start your day with control, not chaos.
Turn Studying Into a Scene You Don’t Dread
Since studying is unavoidable, it deserves to feel less like a punishment and more like a focused, manageable part of your life. Many pretty spots on campus will help romanticize studying, the library is a great place to get complete silence, the student center is a place to grab a meal either from the food court or Dunkin and find a place to sit on the second floor to study, and The Great Hall is always very aesthetic to sit in, there are many comfortable couches to find. Additionally, build small habits such as creating a playlist for concentration, wearing comfy clothes like hoodies, getting an iced coffee, wearing warm cozy socks, and keeping extra pens, pencils, and highlighters on hand. Even creating a simple start-up ritual, such as putting your phone in your bookbag, stacking your materials neatly, or setting a timer, can transform the energy around academic work. Studying doesn’t have to feel cinematic; it just shouldn’t feel dreadful.
Appreciate Moments You Typically Ignore
A major part of romanticizing your semester is noticing details that are normally invisible when you’re rushing. Monmouth’s campus is full of sensory moments that will one day feel nostalgic: the table pop-ups in front of the student center, the service dogs by Edison Hall, ocean air blending with cold wind, late-night conversations in the dorm buildings, freezing walks to the dining hall, or the quietness of campus on a Sunday morning. Even remembering how you can see a sunset on a beach just 10 minutes away from the university is enough. Most students don’t realize the significance of these details until after they’re gone.
Take Yourself on Solo Dates Without Feeling Self-Conscious
It can be difficult to find time in your schedule that aligns with friends to go out, but that’s what college is all about. It teaches us one of the most important lessons on how to learn to enjoy your own company without feeling embarrassed. Solo dates can include grabbing lunch alone and watching a show on your device with headphones, exploring campus and discovering a new study area, shopping, taking a walk, or going to the gym. Independence isn’t awkward; it’s powerful. When you learn how to enjoy time with yourself, you stop settling for company that doesn’t support your growth.
Redefine “Productive”
At this point in the semester, you’re most likely comparing what you initially planned to accomplish with what you’re actually doing. However, to romanticize this period, shift from perfection-based productivity to realistic, sustainable progress. Every day doesn’t need to look like an academic highlight reel; some days will be high-output and other days will involve simply showing up to class, answering emails, doing laundry, or enjoying real food instead of surviving solely on caffeine. Let your semester be balanced, not performative.
Actively Create Something to Look Forward To
When days start blending together, anticipation becomes a powerful form of self-care. Plans don’t have to be expensive or extravagant, as long as the intention is to help break the feeling of repetition. This could be planning to get coffee after class, scheduling a workout or yoga session, making plans for the weekend, or having a “treat yourself” day. It becomes easier to stay mentally present when your semester has momentum and moments of joy rather than waiting for it to be over.
Thanksgiving break will arrive quicker than it feels, and once it passes, the semester becomes a countdown. Your fall semester only happens once; enjoy it and stop rushing
