What To Do When You Lose Motivation
3 years ago
What To Do When You Lose Motivation
You’ve fallen into an endless pit of flashcards, practice exams and late-night coffees, and you simply want it all to stop! The year is nearly over, but you just can’t find it in you to read another line of Shakespeare or do one more trigonometry question. If you’re feeling this way, we can guarantee that you’re not alone.
At RESN, we understand that while we start Year 12 all bright eyed and bushy tailed, it’s easy to lose that motivation. Here are our top five tricks, tried and tested to get you back on track and across the finish line!
Shake Things Up
We all know that studying for literally hours a day can quickly become extremely monotonous and boring, making it difficult to stay on track and motivated for your upcoming exams. One of the best things you can do when you feel that boredom creeping in is to hit the refresh button and shake things up.
If you’re in the habit of studying in the morning, try out working more in the evening, and vice versa – there are heaps of great benefits to studying at both times of day.
Trying out a new study technique can also be a great way to freshen up your routine. Take The Pomodoro Technique for example, where you study in bursts with small breaks between. This might be what you need to keep study feeling manageable and rewarding, rather than dull and overwhelming.
Trying a new study space can also be a fantastic way to restore lost motivation and get back into studying. Consider taking a trip to a different library in your area (if they’re open), find a shady spot under a tree, or even work at the kitchen table instead of your bedroom.
These simple changes can give you a totally new outlook and drive; being in a new environment has actually been proven to enhance your studying capabilities.
Take a break
We know that taking a break during exam season can feel truly criminal, but it’s often exactly what you need to feel refreshed and spark up that waning motivation.
Be kind to yourself and give yourself time to relax and recharge; it’s the best way to avoid exam burnout. Whether it’s a five minute break to grab a snack or meditate to get you back in the zone or a whole episode of your favourite show, allow yourself the time for enjoyment, and your study will feel a whole lot less overwhelming.
Think about what’s holding you back
When you’re lacking in motivation, sometimes it can help to actually think and identify what exactly it is that’s holding you back.
Is there a certain section of content that you’re struggling to understand and just want to avoid? A certain Maths formula or English theme that you just can’t seem to get into? Why are you procrastinating?
Once you identify these problems and address them, through speaking to your teachers or asking help from a handy RESN tutor you’ll be back into the swing of things in no time.
Break down your workload
After figuring out what you need to address and work on in preparing for your exams, breaking down your workload can really help to keep you working hard in the final weeks.
Try breaking down the content of your subjects into sections and focusing on each of those in distinct study periods, rather than trying to cover everything at once.
Spend a day focusing on one text, a single area of science or one kind of problem in maths. That way, what may feel like a mountain of study becomes much more manageable and easier to get through, keeping you motivated.
Remind yourself what your studying for
One of the best ways to keep yourself driven and focused throughout your exam period is to remember why you’re studying. Having visual cues in your space, for example, above your desk, will keep you focussed and motivated.
Maybe it’s your goal final score, pictures of your dream university or even just the feeling of freedom you’ll have when all of this is done. Making something like a vision board can sound silly, but it’s the perfect way to remind yourself of why you’re working so hard!
Maintaining motivation in Year 12 is a tricky feat, given it’s likely the most intense year you’ll have experienced. But don’t feel disheartened, and give these tricks a crack. We have faith that they’ll help you to keep achieving your best right up until the end. Only a few more weeks to go!
Happy studying, and good luck!
Words by Lucy Waterson