Apathy refers to a lack of interest in something. I have had an apathetic attitude towards my art degree on and off for the past three years. To overcome it, I focused on ensuring I was healthy and forced myself to put in work until it became a habit. Just like the writing challenge I have set for myself, or learning to like olives by continually eating them, it's essential to learn to love what you hate doing. You probably had great intentions when you set out to do it, but now find yourself twiddling your thumbs. This feeling of apathy can lead to self-destructive behaviours, general depression, and a cycle of awfulness that ultimately leads to rock bottom.

Let's pull ourselves up and start by writing down how we feel at certain parts of the day, what triggers certain emotions, and look for patterns. Once we identify the triggers for these bad feelings or the moments that make us want to give up, we can start implementing coping mechanisms. Regular exercise, especially cardio, works wonders as a coping mechanism. Running, cycling, swimming, or any other form of cardio is excellent for brain function and general well-being. It helps to pull us out of depression.

Another coping mechanism is to stop once you feel yourself drifting away. Take yourself out of that situation, go for a walk in the fresh air, get a glass of water, and sit back down to try and complete the task before going home. If you find yourself reading or watching negative content on the news or social media, stop that. We don’t need to know what’s happening all over the world. It makes us fear the world when, in reality, most people are alright. They'll help others if they need help because it's the right thing to do.

Finally, remember that people are generally alright. Walking around thinking everyone hates you or caring too much about how others perceive you is pointless. No one cares, and if they do, they are probably just very self-conscious, projecting their internal negative feelings onto others.

In summary then

• Apathy is a lack of interest in something and can lead to self-destructive behaviours, general depression, and a cycle of negativity.

• To overcome apathy, we need to learn to love what we hate doing, and focus on positive aspects of the task

• Identifying triggers for bas feelings and implementing coping mechanisms, such as regular exercise and taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed, can help overcome apathy.

• Avoiding negative content on the news and social media can also be helpful for improving mental health and well-being.

• It’s important to remember that people are generally alright, and caring too much about how others perceive us is often unnecessary and unproductive.