Lets get Motivated!

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Motivation is a tough nut to crack especially in modern times. The short attention spans created by technology and mobile phones, video games, movies, tv shows, and so many others are just so much more appealing than sitting around doing schoolwork. So the question is how does one get motivated and stay motivated?

1. Figure out why you are unmotivated

A great first step for diving into motivation is to figure out why you’re unmotivated. “What tends to happen is we notice that we’re not feeling inspired or motivated, but we’re not looking at what the root causes are.”  Licensed psychotherapist and psychoanalyst Babita Spinelli  said in an article by Wondermind.

So first things first is to stop and think for a moment. Has there been a big change in your life? Is there any stressors causing this? Or maybe it’s as simple as drowning in the never ending pool of TikTok or social media. Locating the root of the problem is the most important step to overcoming this challenge.

2. Find something enjoyable to do

Finding something you like doing or creating an enjoyable routine can really help with motivation. Whether that means you wake up earlier to go on a walk, or study at a local cafe just for a change of scenery. Small changes like that can help trick your mind into becoming motivated.

Another option is to find something you enjoy doing in your schoolwork. Say you’re struggling with keeping up and you fall behind. In those assignments identify something that is enjoyable about it. Maybe you don’t like writing essays but you get to write an essay abour your favorite topic therefore making the work more enjoyable.

3. Have Support

Having a reliable support system is important to maintaining motivation. In an article on Zen Habits, author Leo Babauta states “When I decided to quit smoking, I joined an online forum and that helped tremendously. And of course, my wife Eva helped every step of the way. I couldn’t have done these goals without her, or without the others who supported me. Find your support network, either in the real world or online, or both. how he overcame is lack of motivation.”

He stresses the importance of a good support system, someone or multiple someones who will always push you towards your goals and help you when you fall.

4. Be kind to yourself

Don’t be hard on yourself. Everyone goes through a motivational slump multiple times in their lives. It is completely normal and natural to have issues like this. Give yourself some grace with your struggles and talk about it with a friend or family member.

5. Seek Advice from other sources

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice! This YouTube video by Therapy in a Nutshell gives great advice.