Study motivation

Feeling underwhelmed by the prospect of a session in the library is not a sign of laziness. In most cases it means you feel unclear about what you're doing, or overwhelmed by your workload. If that rings a familiar bell, here's how to kick-start yourself into action.

"Rewards are also a vital part of motivating yourself."

Being motivated means finding the driving force that pushes you to work and study in order to achieve your goals and raise your game. The ability to motivate yourself is a crucial skill if you want to study effectively.

Why do I feel a lack of motivation compared to other people?

Highly motivated people are driven because they have very clear goals that they focus on, which enable them study with enthusiasm. If you don't feel this way, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have clear goals?

Remind yourself why you are studying in the first place - what you're working on might be boring, but will it lead to greater things? Ask yourself what you hope to achieve in the long-term (the next year), the mid-term (in the next month) and the short-term (in the next week). Goal setting should inspire you to get studying: if not, you might need to think about the bigger picture and decide what you really want to do.

Do I feel confident about what I'm supposed to be doing?

Tutors – and friends – can give you a clear idea of what you need to be doing and why. Once you understand where to begin and which direction to go in your motivation to study will start to grow.

Am I interested enough in what I'm studying?

This is more common than you think and tends to crop up once you're studying alone and aren't being driven by teachers/tutors and the stimulus of a class situation. Try to remind yourself of your future goals and use these to motivate yourself. If that doesn't work, get interested in the subject you're studying. Question it, get inside the subject, read around it and try to be curious about it so that you feel fired up and more motivated to study.

Am I daunted by my workload?

A mountain of work can be very demotivating. However, this can be overcome by creating a concise study schedule that breaks down your workload into achievable chunks so you don't feel afraid of what's ahead of you each day.

Am I stressed? Or depressed?

Life factors can often be behind a lack of motivation. See your student welfare counsellor or your GP if you're feeling depressed or in need of emotional support.

What else can I use to motivate myself?

Rewards are also a vital part of motivating yourself. Allow yourself a small reward, such as watching TV or going to the gym, as a daily motivator once you get through one day of studying. Promise yourself a larger reward when you get to the end of the week, and a bigger one, still, when you're finally done with all your work. This way, if the lure of your goals doesn't motivate you enough, the carrot at the end of the stick should push you to go that little bit further.

By Anita Naik

Think about what's demotivating you daily: lack of sleep or background noise, for example, or friends who call and make you panic about your workload. It's vital to know who and what stops you from studying so you can combat it.
Research shows students who have a quiet place/area to study away from distractions are more able to motivate themselves to study harder. If there is no space at home, don't just lie on the bed (which your mind associates with sleeping) but find a place in the library (local libraries also have designated rooms for private study).
Experiment with study techniques to find out what works for you. Go to how-to-study.com; learnthings.co.uk (for GCSE level) or Connexions for study tips.
Feeling unmotivated might mean you're suffering from burnout. Make sure you schedule regular fun breaks to recharge your motivation batteries.
We often talk ourselves out of things by being negative about our abilities. Try giving yourself the same pep talk you would give to an unmotivated friend in a similar situation – you wouldn't be so harsh on them, would you?

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