Some people are very career-oriented and can manage to attend to their studies with a nearly single-minded focus. For those of us who are not like that (i.e. everyone else), staying motivated throughout college, or even a semester, feels almost like fighting a losing battle. (It’s the story of my life, actually.)
Last semester, however, I managed to keep my motivation at healthy levels. I’m not gonna lie and say I never felt like skipping class or sleeping in. But I managed to curb these impulses in favor of, say, actually showing up to class, even if I didn’t actually do the readings (baby steps, ok?). In any case, here are some habits I found helped me stay motivated:
1. Set a goal
At times, it’s hard to be motivated if you feel you’re not working towards anything. I propose setting monthly, weekly, or even daily goals to keep yourself centered. If you feel close to a goal, you’ll actually work; otherwise, you might feel like everything you do is pointless or meaningless. So, just set some goals for yourself. Be it not skipping class for three weeks or reducing the time spent on social media daily, make sure to strive for something that’s well within manageability. It can be as simple as having an agenda where you write down all your assignments. Check off all the completed ones, and it’ll give you a sense of productivity and accomplishment.
2. Tell your friends
Friends can help you stay motivated by either reminding you of your goals or having study dates. Not everything needs to be super serious, so y’all can have a fun study session at Starbucks or something. A word of caution, though: make sure you actually study on these outings, as opposed to solely doing whatever else you normally do with your friends.
3. Mental pep talks
There are days when you just don’t wanna get up for that 7 am class and are cursing your past self for enrolling in the first place. But, just take a minute to think about what it would mean for your future self. Think about all the work you’d have to do with makeup for skipping class or having to come up with a credible excuse (the one you haven’t used before) for your absence. Sometimes a few minutes of sleep aren’t worth all that hassle.
4. Take some time for yourself
There are times you just need to take a day to pamper yourself and relax. College and life as a young adult can be stressing in and of itself. So make sure to unwind from time to time and relax. Trust me, you’ll be able to function properly. Be it getting your hair and nails done, taking a nap, listening to music, find something that helps you relieve some of the stress. I think it really helps clear your plate.
5. Reward yourself
Maybe the feeling of accomplishment isn’t enough for you, so reward yourself every time you complete an assignment on time. Now, I don’t know what works as an incentive for everyone. But I know that for me it is reading a nice book without the anxiety of looming responsibilities. Maybe you can reward yourself with chocolate (that would work for me, too), going to the movies, or watching the newest season of whatever series is all the rave now. The point is to find something that works as a counterweight to your work. So, try to recompense yourself for all the hard work and sweat and tears.
These are some of the habits that have helped me stay motivated with my studies. I don’t always do everything with days in advance, but I do get it done. And that’s the point, isn’t it? Even if my methods are more than a little unorthodox, and I have self-destructive tendencies. Just remember, college can be very stressful, but you don’t need to add any more stress by feeling like there is a certain way of doing things. Find what works for you, and get it done.