Whether you entered college filled with enthusiasm or your dominant feeling as you walked into your first class was trepidation, it can be hard to maintain motivation throughout the semester. That can be for any number of reasons from struggling with the class material itself to homesickness to simply being ready to move on to the next thing and more. However, staying the course is important. The tips below can help you stay motivated all semester long.
Fake It (Till You Make It)
Sometimes, you just need to do the thing regardless of how you feel about it. When you’re not motivated to write the paper that’s due tomorrow, you can’t wait around until motivation turns up. One of the best ways to deal with this on a regular basis is to act the way that you would if you did feel that surge of energy. Try to do this regularly rather than only when you are up against a terrifying deadline. If you have a paper due in two weeks, make it a habit to work on it for a short block of time every day regardless of how you feel.
Assert Your Independence
Sometimes, motivation can lag because you feel like you’re in a rut. College can be a strange time where you are gaining greater independence but still not fully responsible for yourself the way you will be once you’re out of school, working a job, and earning your own money. You might want to take gradual steps to make yourself more independent. Greater autonomy can increase your sense of motivation because it can remind you that you’re in school to expand your horizons and launch a great career for yourself, and not for anyone else.
One way to increase your autonomy is by starting to manage your own budget. You might want to get a part-time job if you don’t already have one. You could also consider getting a credit card. This can help you learn how to manage one and build your credit history. However, choosing the right card is important, and reviewing a student guide to credit cards can help you with that choice.
Take a Break
Sometimes, when you feel your motivation lagging, your instinct might be to redouble your efforts, but that feeling might be an indication that you’ve been working too hard. Burnout can cause you to lose the ability to complete tasks that you otherwise would have easily finished. Chances are that as a busy college student, you can’t spare much time off, but give yourself an afternoon, an evening or even just a couple of hours of down time away from work and see if you don’t feel better.
See the Big Picture
It can be hard to stay focused when you’re studying for a test in a class you don’t care about but try seeing it as part of a larger goal. Remember that whatever the task is that you’re avoiding, it may be relatively unimportant, but it’s part of your plan to get good grades and graduate so that you can get a great job.
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