If you’re like me, classes starting back up again probably came as a wave of relief. Finally, a sense of normalcy! We get to attend classes, have some-what normal human interaction and live our lives in an almost pre-COVID state (minus the face-masks and social distancing orders). The “normalcy” we have obtained in the form of mainly online classes however, can make it hard to try and find the motivation to attend class, do our assignments and excel at school. If you’re looking for ways to get motivated (and stay motivated) this semester, here are a couple of foolproof ways to get the ball rolling.
One way to get motivated for this semester is to set certain goals and standards for yourself. After the first week or two of classes, take 10 minutes out of your day to set some goals for the semester. These goals can cover a broad range of topics from academic ones such as obtaining a certain overall GPA or making dean’s list to personal ones such as working out 3-4 days a week or to make time during one day of the week to practice self-care. Setting goals is important to achieving the things you want in life, without goals, there would be practically no way to motivate yourself. In this never-ending loop, we seem to be living in currently, setting attainable (and some far-fetched) goals for ourselves can help get us out of this funk and give us a sense of normalcy.
Another possible way to motivate ourselves is by planning. Keeping a highly-detailed, color-coordinated calendar or planner allows us to keep track of every task we need to accomplish in a given day, week or month. A planner or calendar creates a visual aid to help you see which tasks you have, allowing you to map out and prioritize your most important ones to complete them first. Planning is an important tool to keep you motivated because it allows you to see the things you need to do, so once you complete one, you feel a sense of accomplishment that motivates you to continue working hard!
One way that I motivate myself to start (and finish) things such as remedial tasks and assignments is by rewarding myself once I’ve completed said task/assignment. By rewarding yourself after completing even the most simple task like doing the dishes, you motivate yourself to keep on completing your tasks and achieving your goals. Treat yourself to an episode of your favorite show after submitting an assignment or eat a piece of candy when you finish a project. Rewarding yourself with these forms of positive reinforcement will instill the good habits needed to help you stay motivated and succeed this semester.
All-in-all, in order to succeed throughout this unprecedented semester, keeping yourself motivated is the key to your success. Make goals, stick to your plans and reward yourself once you attain your goals to stay on track. Whatever this semester may throw at you, just know that you got this. Stay focused and keep your head in the game; you’ll be able to accomplish anything!