After spending your entire childhood and most of your teenage years in school, you may feel a little burned out. That's completely understandable. School can be demanding.
Now you may be headed to college, or perhaps you're already a seasoned student with two or three years of university behind you. Whatever your situation, it's easy to lose motivation without even realizing it if you don't have a plan.
That's why it's important to find your motivation, turn it into action and sustain it over the long term. By doing so, you may find yourself feeling more engaged as you work, study and enjoy college life.
Below are three steps to becoming and staying motivated during college.
1. Know Your Purpose
It's difficult to stay motivated if you don't know why you're doing something. Whether you're in college to learn new skills, become more competitive in the job market or explore new ways of thinking, you're there for a reason.
Identify and remember your "why" for earning a degree. What are your long-term goals? How is your education helping you move closer to them? By connecting your daily work to your purpose and celebrating your progress along the way, you can build lasting motivation one step at a time.
2. Create Habits
We all know how it feels to set a New Year's resolution. At first, we feel excited and committed to achieving what we set out to do. After 30 days, however, only about 25% of people remain committed to their resolutions, and only about 10% ultimately achieve their yearly goal.¹
One reason many people fall short is that a resolution focuses on an outcome, such as losing weight, landing a dream job or getting better grades. Without a system in place, those goals can be difficult to achieve. Habits help you focus on the daily and weekly actions that lead to long-term success.
Create a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Small, consistent efforts are far more effective than occasional marathon study sessions. Motivation comes and goes, but strong habits will help you stay on track and turn your motivation into action.
3. Protect Your Well-Being
Even if you find your motivation and act on it consistently, you won't be able to sustain it without taking care of your physical, mental and emotional health. Practicing self-care can reduce stress, lower your risk of chronic illness and help you recharge.²
Take care of yourself through proper nutrition, regular exercise and adequate rest. Maintain your energy by taking breaks and setting healthy boundaries. Turn to others for help and support when you need it. Remember that struggling is a normal part of life, and it's okay to say no so you don't stretch yourself too thin.
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