About two years ago, I wrote a post<\/a> about how January might be the toughest month for students. You’re not alone; numerous retailers and other businesses feel the same way about January. You have to go to back, expecting a tough time. How do you maintain your motivation?<\/p>\n Between my years at university and now, with my school-aged kids facing their own return to school, I’ve seen this scenario many times. What about a coping strategy, or else some perspective that may help?<\/p>\n In our house, we are known to do a little early “spring cleaning” over New Years. It’s nothing necessarily monumental, just a little purging and rearranging that hopefully improves day-to-day living for the next few months.<\/p>\n Very often, it’s hard to start a certain room: there’s so much that could be done. It looks like a summer project; over New Years, time is too short. Yet, summer is half a year away; do you want to spend the next six months with no improvement to a room that, presently, just doesn’t work? The initiation is what’s daunting: you know you really should get going, but where to start – and what to focus on?<\/p>\n I find that, no matter where we start, we often end up better by the end of the day than I had hoped for. An hour in, the process gains surprising momentum. Although the room may not get finished, it’s much more attractive to return to it another day, when it’s already much better.<\/p>\n Similar emotions might surround the return to school. The student feels that, long-term, the courses will likely be quite challenging. Yet, the real challenge is just getting started. Once a few days’ or a few weeks’ momentum has built up, going to class will likely be much easier.<\/p>\n For most biological entities, change is the hardest challenge. It’s likely not the difficulty of the courses that’s the problem; rather, it’s the transition from the holidays back to school. Yet, every student knows how to get onto the bus, head to campus, and walk into class.<\/p>\n To all you students, business people, and everyone: I hope the first day – or, more realistically, the first week – goes better than you might expect. The more depressing the prospect seems, the more likely you’ll be pleasantly surprised:)<\/p>\n All the best in 2015….<\/p>\n