The first year of\u00a0uni\u00a0is full of excitement with new people, new\u00a0freedom\u00a0and a shiny\u00a0new Student ID. But by second year? The novelty can wear off. Assignments pile up, your routine settles\u00a0and it can all start to feel a little\u2026 flat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s completely normal to hit a mid-degree slump. The good news? You can shake it off with a few\u00a0small changes\u00a0that\u00a0can help\u00a0bring back\u00a0your\u00a0spark.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If every day feels the same, change your routine. Study somewhere new, try a different caf\u00e9 on campus or switch up your study playlist. Sometimes a simple change of scenery, like moving from the library to Henderson Court, can make a big difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t realise how accustomed you have become to a routine until you actively begin changing and challenging it. You might have formed habits that don\u2019t serve you and are just continuing them because \u2018that’s just what you’re used to\u2019. Simple things like changing from studying at uni vs at home, morning vs afternoon, writing by hand vs typing are all little switch ups that may help you find a new routine that works better for you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember why you started your degree in the first place. Maybe you wanted to make a difference, work in a specific field or explore your passion. Revisit those goals and think about how your current units connect to your future. If you\u2019re unsure where you\u2019re heading, chat with the Curtin Careers<\/a> team, they can help you realign your studies with your ambitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With each year at uni, social circles can drift as schedules change. Make the effort to reconnect with old classmates or meet new ones.<\/a> Making friends through groups like Guild clubs<\/a> and Curtin Volunteers!,<\/a> will allow you to meet people who enjoy the same things you do. Building community keeps uni fun and reminds you that you\u2019re not in it alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Long degrees can feel endless, so break things down into short-term wins. Set weekly or monthly goals, like finishing an assignment early, attending a workshop, or joining a new club. Celebrate those small achievements; they keep your momentum going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Feeling unmotivated can sometimes be a sign you\u2019re burnt out. Make time for rest, exercise, and doing things that make you happy. If you\u2019re feeling low or stuck, reach out to Curtin Psychology and Counselling<\/a> or the Student Wellbeing Advisory Service<\/a>. You don\u2019t have to push through alone. You\u2019ve already made it through the hardest part: starting. Every unit you complete brings you closer to your goal. Take a moment to appreciate how far you\u2019ve come and how much you\u2019ve learned (even if it doesn\u2019t always feel like it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the second-year slump is more than just a lack of motivation, it can be a sign your degree isn\u2019t quite the right match anymore. It\u2019s completely okay for your interests to evolve, and plenty of students realise they want to shift direction once they\u2019ve had a taste of their field. If you\u2019re feeling unsure, start by exploring your options with a Student Success Advisor<\/a>, or book a Careers Conversation with the team<\/a> to chat about course<\/a> pathways, majors or switching degrees. A small change now might set you up for a future that feels a lot more \u201cyou.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0mid-degree\u00a0slump is real, but temporary. Keep showing up, stay connected, and give yourself credit for the progress\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0made. Your future self will be glad you pushed through.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Feeling stuck halfway through your degree? You\u2019re not alone. Here\u2019s how to push through the mid-degree slump and rediscover your motivation for the rest of uni. | Reading time: 3 mins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4418,"featured_media":26696,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"5153,5366,6193,5950,7761,4714","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_oasis-categories":0,"footnotes":""},"oasis-categories":[146],"class_list":["post-29752","oasis-news","type-oasis-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","oasis-categories-student-life"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AdobeStock_230884787-1000x500.jpg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Rachelle","last_name":"Erzay","display_name":"Rachelle Erzay"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-24 20:35:07","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/29752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oasis-news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4418"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-news\/29752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"oasis-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oasis-categories?post=29752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}3. Find your people again <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Set smaller goals <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. Take care of your wellbeing <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
6. Check in with your degree fit <\/h4>\n\n\n\n