Scarlett's Blog

Ways to stay motivated (and reasons why)

Blog entry for April 5

I know we're all getting to the end of our semester, and the end of our degrees, and it can be really hard to stay focused on school. But now is one of the most important times for us to stay focused!

First, remember why you're studying. Is it just to finish your degree, to get a scholarship, to be able to go to grad school later, to have an awesome GPA to put on your resume, or something else?

The next thing I do is find a good place I can work, make sure you have all your supplies, get settled in (if you have a routine), and then chart out all the work you need to do, when it needs to be done by, and prioritize.

Let's face it, there aren't many of us who read every line of every textbook and do each practice question our profs assign. Or even have the time if we wanted to! So for me, it's about prioritizing.

But now, when graduation is so close, it's hard to remember that we still need to get our work done and complete the semester. We're not done yet!

To keep myself motivated, I like to set specific goals and depending on how much I dread the task, specific rewards, whether it's "if I finish this paper by the end of tonight, I will take tomorrow off to have a day to myself without any work" or anything  you need to motivate yourself. I also find studying or working with friends can be a great way to stay on track (as long as they are focused and not distracting you).

Lastly, make sure you're taking time off. Stay positive, and don't get worn out. Studying every day and every night won't work. Even if you are a superhero and can keep up a crazy schedule, with no sleep or time off, you probably won't be getting as much out of your studies compared to if you take some down time.

So, keep your goals in mind, and don't stress yourself out.  We are almost done. Think of how many projects and tests you've finished in your degree, and then compare it to how few you have left.  Only 2 weeks of classes left!

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