The Iglu Guide | Blog
How To Stay Motivated While Studying
All students experience times of low motivation when studying in a world full of distractions and pressure to succeed. Focusing your mind when your phone is sitting right beside you can be a real challenge. If this is a familiar thought, the first thing to remember is that you’re certainly not alone. The second thing to know is that you can turn it all around. There’s always a way to restore your personal wellbeing and get yourself back on track. Here are some study tips and 7 strategies that will kick procrastination to the kerb, and give your motivation levels the boost they need.
1. Nurture a growth mindset
It’s easy to have fixed ideas about what we are capable of – and just as easy to feel like we are failing to meet that ambition. A growth mindset is all about seeing the learning experience as part of the opportunity. It’s about resisting the impulse to impose specific and limiting goals upon ourselves, and being open to personal and academic growth. Even when making mistakes, we have to learn to praise ourselves for the effort and perseverance rather than only seeing failure. Such set-backs actually encourage resilience and adaptability, which then lead to self-improvement. Adopting a growth mindset is really helpful for all students. It reinforces the concept of learning as a positive opportunity, something which can be especially inspiring during those low motivational periods.
2. Set clear goals
Goals are a useful way to provide clear direction and give a sense of purpose, but it’s important that they are broken down into smaller parts. Without doing this, the concept can seem overwhelming and contribute to an overriding sense of failure. Start out by thinking about what you want to achieve. That might focus on time management, studying for exams or more longer-term academic goals. Setting both short- and long-term goals is a good way to stay motivated. Each time you tick something off your list, it feels like you are making greater headway towards your bigger goal.
- Use the SMART method to create actionable and achievable goals
- Talk about them to your family and friends for greater accountability
- Stay flexible in case you need to make any changes
- Enjoy renewed confidence and self-esteem – and higher motivation to succeed
3. Stay academically engaged
When the motivation has disappeared and you’re feeling uninspired, withdrawing from any type of academic environment is the much easier option. Libraries, desks and study groups are a reminder of how hard other students are working. But staying academically engaged is a great way to keep yourself feeling motivated and enthusiastic, especially when you do hit a tough period like exams or assessment deadlines. Creating a supportive study environment that can adapt to your needs will help you stay on track.
- Establish a study routine that caters to your individual schedule
- Join a study group if you learn best in a more social environment
- Create a study area in your room that can be left undisturbed
- Experiment with study spaces and see what suits you best – it might be the library, a co-working space or a quiet zone on campus
- Utilise campus resources and study aids if needed
- Take advantage of study workshops and any career or networking events as these shine a light on the future and can help inspire your thoughts
- Try different motivational techniques such as the Pomodoro method (25 mins study, 10 mins break), or listening to music
4. Stay socially engaged
Supportive social networks are key for students to retain motivation – there’s nothing quite like that feeling of all being in it together. And it doesn’t just come from your close group of friends, although that will definitely help! Motivational support comes from all areas of emotional contact, helping to foster that important sense of belonging and connectivity.
- Lean into established friendships to help navigate the academic pressure through shared experiences
- Take advantage of technology to stay in touch with family and old friends – these are the people who know you the best
- Keep up with your clubs and societies as this is a good way to take a break – and will re-energise your thought processes
- Volunteer work and contributing to the local community is a great way to stay inspired and understand the bigger picture
5. Find a balance
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritising your mental health is key to staying motivated. When life gets out of kilter, that’s when it all hits: we start to get run down and stressed, everything spirals, and our motivation hits the floor. Being kind to yourself and tuning into your own personal needs is key to staying positive and achieving your best.
- Eat a balanced diet and incorporate some regular exercise into your routine
- Be sure to get plenty of sleep! This is key to personal happiness and wellbeing
- Take regular breaks – this gives your brain a chance to consolidate information and refresh in time for the next study session
- Get into the fresh air and explore the great Aussie outdoors – fresh oxygen into the brain can improve clarity of thought and enhance your cognitive function making you feel a whole lot better
- Reduce stress with some mindfulness activities such as yoga or meditation, or simply take a daily walk
- Take advantage of university counselling services if you are struggling to regain motivation
6. Recognise your successes
Whilst it’s easy to recognise when we are not working at our hardest, it’s equally as important to recognise everything we achieve along the way, big or small. Reflecting on your progress is an essential behaviour tool as it enables you to acknowledge the positives and adjust your goals where necessary. Rewarding yourself reinforces positive behaviour and encourages you to stay focused which all aids motivation.
7. Remember your ‘why’
Whenever you’re feeling uninspired and demotivated, remember all the reasons you’re there in the first place. Imagine what your future looks like and where your study can take you – and hold on to these thoughts for inspiration. Surround yourself with positive influences and stay focused on your own academic and personal journey. Try not to get side tracked by any unnecessary comparisons. Setting personal goals, creating a study environment and maintaining social connections are all useful tools that will help keep you inspired, motivated and on track for the future – wherever it takes you.
