Wednesday, April 3, 2024 4 Tips for Staying Motivated
Staying motivated throughout the school year can be difficult for many students. Keeping up with studies and schoolwork, social engagements, and other responsibilities you may have can be tiring and hard to maintain. The balance of school and personal life activities can be difficult. Feelings of burnout can occur when you overwork yourself and can cause feelings of low mood, loss of interest, and difficulty with motivation. Here are some tips for how to continue to motivate yourself in times when it feels difficult.
1. Start by doing first things first.
It may be a good idea to start using a planner if you don’t already. By using a planner, you can designate assignments to specific days and organize your week. Prioritize your most important scholarly task first. By working on your most high-impact tasks first, you can start to take each day one step at a time. For example, starting on assignments that are due first will help you prioritize your time and will give you a sense of relief when you complete them.
2. Remind yourself to recharge.
Remember to maintain a balanced life. Start by breaking down your day to make time for school, extracurriculars, and other commitments, but also make sure to make time for yourself. Whether this means spending time with friends/loved ones or spending time alone, make sure to take time to recharge. Taking time to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, prioritizing your physical and mental health, and making time for fun hobbies and relationships is important for everyone. Resting and recharging will help you maintain energy throughout the remainder of the semester.
3. Support yourself by taking failure in stride.
Remind yourself to maintain focus after a setback. It can be easy to get discouraged if something does not work out as planned. Everything happens for a reason, and failure allows you to learn. An unplanned or unwanted opportunity can help you assess what you can do next time to achieve your goals. Failure is a learning moment for how you can do better next time.
4. Keep your eye on the prize.
If you don’t have a clear purpose and direction, it can be difficult to stay motivated. Think to yourself about the why behind your goals. For example, why did you choose to complete this goal, or why did you decide to pursue your degree? Everyone has a vision for their future. Reminding yourself why the end goal is important to you can help push yourself throughout challenging periods with low motivation.
Adapted from:
nu.edu/blog/eye-on-the-prize-tips-for-staying-motivated-in-college/
villanovau.com/articles/student-learning/tips-for-staying-motivated-in-college/