Motivation is tricky. It’s not that you don’t want to write that essay. But your friends have invited you to the pub. And your fingernails are getting long. You can’t start writing with long nails, can you?
Deep down, of course, you know these things are less important than the essay. Yet somehow this isn’t the same as feeling motivated to focus on your work. Worry not, though! We’ve come up with five top motivation tips to keep you going while you’re studying.
When starting a new project, it can be difficult to get past the tyranny of the blank page. That blinking cursor, taunting you. And so much white space still to fill… it can be intimidating.
At this early stage, then, it can make sense to focus on preparation. So, if you find yourself unable to start writing, try creating an essay plan or compiling a list of sources instead.
Likewise, longer assignments can seem like they will never end. But nobody writes a 20,000-word thesis in one sitting. Instead, challenge yourself to write a few hundred words every day.
One obstacle to motivation when writing is frustration. We’ve all been there. We type furiously for an hour, read it back once and then reach for ‘Delete’. But wait! Don’t touch that key yet!
The first draft of an essay is never perfect. But you can revise or cut material you’re not satisfied with when you get to redrafting. And as long as you stay on topic, it is far better to write something that you will rework later than to spend hours perfecting a single paragraph.
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As sophisticated as we like to think we are, with our bow ties and organised team sports, we humans are still essentially animals. Thus, we can convince ourselves to work harder by promising ourselves treats! If it helps, you can think about your brain as being like a dog doing tricks for biscuits.
For example, it can help if you set a reward for meeting important study landmarks. Finished the first draft of that chapter? Maybe you’ve earned an afternoon off. Need to get your final draft done by the weekend? The thought of going to that party might be the perfect motivation…
Optimising productivity is all about knowing your work habits. On the one hand, you should work out when (and where) you’re most productive and build your routine around that. On the other hand, you should be aware of bad study habits, too, like wasting time on social media. This will allow you to take the necessary precautions, such as blocking distracting websites.
Finally, don’t punish yourself if your motivation levels are low. Sometimes, the right words just won’t come, no matter how hard you try. And assuming you’ve left enough time before the deadline, it is better to take a break and refresh yourself before you try again later.
You can use this time to do household chores, take a walk, or just have a nap. The point is to stop thinking about your essay for a little while, after which you can return to writing.
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