• Question: What are your top tips for staying motivated at uni?

    Asked by anon-353141 on 6 Mar 2023.
    • Photo: Eileen Xu

      Eileen Xu answered on 6 Mar 2023:

      I love this question because staying motivated at uni looks so different for everyone! I found staying motivated hard at times (and still do), but setting deadlines for myself helps with making sure things get done. For me, it also helped to follow my own rhythm – that meant if I was having a day where I really couldn’t motivate myself or focus, I didn’t force it. It’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself and to focus on things outside of studying too, sometimes you just need a mental break!

      And of course, planning to get yourself a little treat after completing a task really helps too 🙂

    • Photo: Greta Defeyter

      Greta Defeyter answered on 6 Mar 2023:

      I stay motivated by thinking about the bigger goal. When I have to meet deadlines to submit papers, write book chapters, or mark students work, I always break tasks down into smaller sections and make myself work until I have reached each mini deadline. I then get up and walk about, make a cup of tea, feed my cat. Anything that gives me a mini break 🙂

    • Photo: Emily McDougal

      Emily McDougal answered on 7 Mar 2023: last edited 7 Mar 2023 8:21 am

      For me, motivation is strongly linked to mental stimulation. Both too much and too little can negatively impact my motivation, so finding a balance is key. Sometimes that is out of my control, particularly at busier times of the year. I cope with this by planning ahead as much as possible, so that I know a busy time is coming up and I can manage that by getting a head start or setting myself specific times to do certain tasks. If I’m feeling understimulated, I’ll try to spend some time doing something that tickles my brain like engaging in an activity I really enjoy.

    • Photo: Stephen Jackson

      Stephen Jackson answered on 7 Mar 2023:

      If you chose to study a subject at university (e.g., Psychology) then you most probably found it interesting. I find that the more you understand a subject then the more fascinating it becomes (at least that is my experience studying Psychology). What can seem quite a dry or even boring topic can become quite fascinating once you delve deeper and become aware of the unanswered questions that await to be solved. So, to answer the question. Fully engage with the material. Enjoy the learning process! And definitely don’t just view university study as a means to passing an exam.

    • Photo: Katie Allen

      Katie Allen answered on 7 Mar 2023:

      It can be difficult to stay motivated sometimes because there is always going to be something you don’t really like that you have to study but I try to find the little bit of everything that I do find interesting to keep me motivated if it isn’t my favourite topic. I might not like the whole of that topic too much but there will be a small part of it I find interesting and can use to keep me motivated to learn more.

    • Photo: Joanne Cummings

      Joanne Cummings answered on 7 Mar 2023:

      Find the passion and it’ll keep you motivated. Of course day to day, motivation levels will sometimes decrease and sometimes increase (that’s life) but if you find something that you’re passionate about, motivation will always be there.

    • Photo: Birsu Kandemirci

      Birsu Kandemirci answered on 7 Mar 2023:

      This is easier said than done, but for me the key aspect would be to think very hard and find the field that you are excited about which will naturally help you stay motivated. But I also understand that this might be pressure and we don’t always make the best decisions straight away. For this reason, I admire students who change subjects once they discovered they weren’t in the right area. This is never a waste of time, instead an excellent fix to a problem that can otherwise impact their entire career. So, there is no “perfect” path to staying motivated that fits for all, it has a lot to do with being kind to yourself and checking the reasons behind finding it hard to stay focused or motivated.

    • Photo: Hannah Fawcett

      Hannah Fawcett answered on 7 Mar 2023:

      1. The more you put in to university, the more you get out. It really is the case that the easiest way to stay motivated is to throw yourself into things fully. University is about more than just the academics too – getting a good group of friends who will motivate rather than distract you, and joining clubs and societies to make the most of your university experience.
      2. Ask for help – if something is tricky, ask for guidance. If you ignore it you’ll fall more behind and struggle to engage and motivate yourself. Help will always be given at university for those that ask.
      3. Make sure you select the right course for you. Motivation is harder in something that your heart isn’t in

    • Photo: Imogen Green

      Imogen Green answered on 8 Mar 2023:

      One of the most helpful things I have learned is that motivation often comes from action. So you can’t really rely on motivation alone to keep you progressing with your work, because motivation naturally goes up and down. However, if you take action, such as starting your work, you will sometimes find that your motivation will increase once you get started!

    • Photo: Kirsten Russell

      Kirsten Russell answered on 15 Mar 2023:

      I think picking a subject that you are really interested in or passionate about is important for motivation. When thinking about motivation on a daily basis, it is helpful to break big projects or assignments down into smaller tasks. Working towards these smaller tasks means that you are making progress, but do not get overwhelmed. It is important to have a good work-life balance, and take regular breaks too.

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