But something compelled me to put down down the junk food and throw on my gym shoes to face the great outdoors on a jog. That compelling force was my loyal readers on WSPN, but you may know it as “motivation.”

Whatever challenge you need motivation for throughout the school week, here are 10 things you can look forward to when you wake up in the morning:

1. Fall: The air finally has that crisp, autumn feel and the smell of fond memories. You might feel sad when you wake up for school, but at least you can cozy up in a warm sweater while you decorate pumpkins, plan for Halloween and munch on candy corn.

2. “New Girl”: I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t agree that Jess’s misadventures are just about the funniest televised masterpieces right now. On Tuesday nights, I hustle to study all my school work, so I can study Schmidt’s swagger in peace.

3. The Patriots: If it were summer, I’d tell you to turn off the sportscast because the Sox weren’t motivating anybody, but it’s the beginning of football season, and we can all rally around the Pats! Use them as fitness role models, as well as motivation to make it all the way to Sunday.

4. Shopping: I’ll admit, not all of us are huge fans of binge shopping in Forever 21 like me. If you are, then you know that one of the places you reap the rewards of working out is in the store dressing room. If you aren’t a fan of binge shopping, then let buying new things to fuel a favorite hobby, like photography or playing a new video game, excite you throughout the week.

5. “Game of Thrones”: “Game of Thrones” or any other book you love to read can act as your motivation! When I have a particularly large amount of homework, the thought of reading “Game of Thrones” before I go to bed keeps me going. I know that Daenerys Targaryen would never give up, so I won’t either! (Did I lose anyone with that reference? Keep going, I’m coming back to the real world….) Let a good book help you embark on an adventure and romance you from the troubles of the real world.

6. Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts: Caffeine = artificial motivation. Don’t fight it.

7. The weekend: The week can’t have an “end” unless it has a beginning and a middle! Plan something fun every weekend that doesn’t have to do with school. Moderation over deprivation is a parallel to balancing work and play; it applies to life as much as food.

8. Your team: Whether you play a sport, act or belong to a club, most of us have an activity to look forward to during the week. For me, Muses renew my energy when Thursdays get me down in the dumps (seriously, why does that day exist? It has no point!) All of our teams succeed based on our personal motivation, and as the Muses have taught me, the teams often provide you with that motivation.

9. Going to the gym: Okay, at times we need motivation to get to the gym. But, I wouldn’t be the author of Zen & M’s if I didn’t mention it! Think of the gym as one of the few places during the school day where you can move. We’re confined to a chair all day, and our brains are overloaded with information. At the gym, you can turn it all off and burn off some of that stress. Also, don’t be surprised when you’re motivated by the confidence sculpted muscles will bring you.

10. Trying something new sometimes: The best way to stay motivated and avoid falling into a rut is to switch up your routine. Recently, one of my friends convinced me to try out for Mock Trial, and the challenge of preparing myself reanimated me. The effort I put into a new challenge bled into the rest of my work, and it made it easier to focus on my obligations. If all else fails to keep you motivated, maybe all you need is to take a step outside the box to shake up the the norm.