What does it actually mean to be lazy? Does it mean not finishing assignments? Showing up late to a work shift? Pushing snooze for the 5th time?

The concept of laziness varies from culture to culture. When I say culture, I don’t mean different countries necessarily. I mean the values, beliefs, and assumptions that you share with other people.

Depending on what kind of home or town you grew up in, you may feel lazy if you’re not constantly busy with activity. If you’re not pushing 110% or excelling in every area of your life, you may think you’re being lazy. The reality is probably incredibly different.

To the college freshman who truly tries to do well but often feels guilty:

You're probably not being lazy. The fact is you’re probably unmotivated. You’re unmotivated to care about your grades. You’re unmotivated to socialize. You’re unmotivated to exercise. Etc.

Also to this college freshman: I completely get you. Why? I am wired similarly, and only years after college am I starting to find the balance between work/school and rest. So before you mentally beat yourself up, know that you’re not weird or unusual for having this struggle.

I’m no psychologist, but I can tell you that most of the time when a student feels lazy he or she is more likely to be lacking motivation.

In the weeks leading up to break, you probably feel particularly unmotivated. You just want to be home on break, and you feel as if you are dragging your exhausted, worn-out brain to the finish line.

How can you find the motivation to get to break? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Take more mental breaks.

Time management is a struggle for most college freshmen, but many articles or blog posts focused on this topic often forget to share this important point: your schedule should include time for relaxing too. If your schedule is full of all work (homework and actual work work), you’re accelerating toward the burnout.

Don’t get me wrong: your daily schedule should be full of homework to complete and work shifts to fill. However, your daily schedule also needs to include breaks throughout the day.

Continually pushing through when you’re tired, hungry, or have a headache is not a good habit to establish. There will be times when you need to push through these aches and pains, but this should be the exception, not the norm.

If you don’t plan for these small breaks, they probably won’t happen or if they do they will last hours rather than minutes.

I encourage you to sit down right now, and make yourself commit to planning at least three small mental breaks for tomorrow. You’ll be amazed how much more motivated you feel.

2. Find a study buddy.

Especially if you know you’re motivated by social activities, this tip can be golden. Studying alone doesn’t work for everybody. Studying alone in a quiet library may actually cause you to sleep more than study, so consider adding some accountability in the form of a study partner.

Be strategic about who you choose. If you choose a very close friend, the temptation to talk, text, and goof off will be higher. If you choose an acquaintance (like a classmate or someone who lives close to you in the dorm), you’re more likely to stay focused.

Today, contact one acquaintance and ask that person to study with you for a specific hour this week. You will feel more motivated to get your homework done.

3. Plan small adventures.

One of my biggest regrets about my college years was that I didn’t really get to know my college town. I attended college in a pretty area of the country, but because I didn’t have a vehicle I made excuses.

Freshman year I didn’t go off campus often, and I hardly socialized on campus. This is usually not the problem for college freshmen, but if you identify with me I encourage you to keep reading.

Planning small adventures can help break up the monotony of your rigorous and sometimes overly structured college schedule. Small adventures don’t have to be expensive or take up your entire weekend, but they provide some spontaneity to your week.

If your college is located downtown, consider checking out a new coffee shop or downtown public library. If your college is located near hiking or other outside activities, plan a small outing for a Saturday morning. If your college has several campus locations, consider visiting another satellite campus. If your college hosts art events or athletic competitions, make plans to attend one.

Look at your campus’s calendar of events or your dorm bulletin board and see what events are coming in the weeks leading up to break. You’ll be amazed how much energy you can get from taking the time to have a small adventure.

4. Go outdoors.

There’s something about actually being outside: the air, the sunlight, etc. Assuming you’re not experiencing a downpour of rain, you should make a point to spend some time outdoors each day.

In all honesty, I didn’t use to be an outdoors person. But as a young adult, I started to realize how taking even a few minutes outdoors helped me relax. My anxieties about grades and other requirements seemed to melt away when I allowed myself to have a few moments of alone time outside.

You likely don’t have time to take pleasure walks, so consider using this time to accomplish other tasks you need to get done, like exercising or eating a meal. You will be amazed how these little breaks can help boost your energy.

5. Encourage another student.

Often the biggest hurdle for the unmotivated student is shifting his or her focus. Instead of being consumed by your never-ending to-do list, consider how you can reach out to someone else. Because if you feeling stressed, other freshmen are likely feeling this way too.

Sending a note, buying a coffee, or bringing dinner to a friend not only gives you a constructive direction to focus your attention but helps that student too.

Don’t get me wrong helping others shouldn’t be motivated by personal benefit, but giving to others often benefits the giver too.

Now you know: if you are trying, you’re more likely to be unmotivated than lazy. Take some time this week take mental breaks, study with an acquaintance, go on a small adventure, go outdoors, and encourage another student. Getting through the tough parts of the semester often looks like taking some time for yourself.