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Global Cognition

7 ways to improve your motivation to study (backed by science).

by Winston Sieck updated September 18, 2021

Just about everyone who has ever been in school knows what it feels like to sit in front of the computer, staring at a blank screen. Hoping their term paper would write itself.

Or tried reading a textbook only to find that they have read the same paragraph ten times and still don’t know what they read.

Or decided they would rather clean the clutter out from under their bed than study in the first place.

Bottom line, studying can be kind of a drag. When you have a hundred other things you would rather do and an overwhelming amount of work to do, it is hard to get started and even harder to finish.

Fortunately, there are some simple, scientifically proven ways you can find your motivation and keep it.

What is Motivation to Study?

Motivation comes from a Latin word that literally means “to move.” But what causes someone to be motivated to study has been a hot topic in the world of science.

Researchers believe that your motivation to study can either come from inside you or outside of you. You can be motivated by an internal drive to learn as much possible. Or, you might be motivated to study by an external reward like a good grade, or a great job, or someone promising you a car.

Recently, researchers have discovered that your motivation to study is rooted in lots of factors, many of which we have control over. Rory Lazowski of James Madison University and Chris Hulleman of the University of Virginia analyzed more than 70 studies into what motivates students in schools. They published their paper , “Motivation Interventions in Education: A Meta-Analytic Review, in the journal Review of Educational Research .

Lazowski and Hulleman found that a number of ways to improve motivation consistently yield positive results. Here, I describe seven of the techniques that you can most readily use on your own to power through your own study barriers, and move your learning forward.

1. Set Clear Goals

You may think to yourself, “My goal is to graduate and get a good job and be rich.” While that’s a fine ambition, by itself it probably won’t help you in school day-to-day.

In order to improve your motivation to study, your goals have to be a little closer to home. In fact, setting clear academic goals has been scientifically linked to higher grade point averages than students who set vague goals, like, “I’ll just do the best I can.”

Set a goal to earn an “A” on a particular test in a particular subject. Or, decide to learn everything you can about a concept because it will help you in the real world. Set a deadline for homework that will force you to finish a task before it is due so you can review it before handing it in. Whatever the goal is, be sure it is specific, relevant, and timely.

2. Don’t Just Shoot For Performance, Go For Mastery

There is nothing more frustrating than studying hard for a test only to get a grade that is less than what you were expecting. At that point, lots of students throw their hands in the air and say, “If this is what happens when I study, why study?”

Resist that urge.

The grades you receive on a test are examples of performance goals. If you set a goal to get an “A”, and stop there, you may only study the things that you think will be on the test, but not necessarily the things that will give you mastery of the concept.

Students who consistently strive for mastery , really learning what they are studying, almost always see their grades improve as a result.

Mastery goals also help with your motivation to study. If you want to learn everything there is to know, you are less likely to put off starting that process.

3. Take Responsibility for Your Learning

It’s tempting to blame your grades on other people. The teacher doesn’t like you. They never taught what you were tested on. Your homework assignment doesn’t apply. When you blame others for your performance, you are more likely to do poorly on tests, assignments and projects.

Taking responsibility for your own learning can make a world of difference when it comes to getting yourself motivated to study. Recognizing that you are in charge of what you learn can help you start studying, but it can also keep you going when other distractions threaten to take your attention away.

Next time you are tempted to stop in the middle of an assignment and do something else, pause. Take a breath. Then, say out loud, “No one is going to learn this for me.” You might be surprised at how hearing those words affect your focus.

4. Adopt a Growth Mindset

Some people still believe that you’re either born smart (or not). And there’s not much you can do about it. However, research has shown that successful people tend to believe that intelligence is something you build up over your life. These folks have a growth mindset.

When your intelligence is challenged by hard assignments or difficult concepts, people with a growth mindset tend to think, “I don’t know this yet, but if I work hard, I will learn it.”

Researchers found that believing your brain can get stronger when you tackle hard things not only improves your mastery of what you are learning, it also improves your grades and increases your motivation to study.

The next time you are faced by a blank screen or hard textbook chapter remember, “I don’t know this yet, but if I work hard, I will learn it.”

5. Find the Relevance

If you ever want to annoy your math teacher, tell them algebra has no relevance in the real world. Alternatively, try to figure out how what you are studying relates to your life. Studies have shown that high school students who were asked to write down how their subject matter related to their everyday life saw a significant jump in their GPA.

Before you start studying, try jotting down a few ways this information will come in handy in the future. Making this connection will help you see value in what you are doing and get you started on an assignment or topic.

Sometimes, the connection between what you are learning and how it applies to your life is not easy to see. Try searching the web for applications of your topic to help you see the real-life relevance of what you are learning.

6. Imagine Your Future Self

Imagine what your life will be like in 10 years. Are you successful? Do you have a great career that you love? Are you living in the best city in the world?

Now, imagine how you are going to get there.

Some people automatically connect the school work they are doing now with getting into a good college or training program that will lead to their desired future. Other students have difficulty making that connection.

Having the ability to imagine your future self is a skill that has been shown to improve motivation to study. It has also been linked to higher grades, lower cases of truancy and fewer discipline problems in school.

Next time you are faced with a particularly daunting assignment, close your eyes and picture what you want your life to be like. Then, recognize that in order to have the life you want, you have to do the assignment in front of you.

7. Reaffirm Your Personal Values

What do you value most? What are the two or three most important qualities you can possibly develop? Do you strive to be honest in everything you do? Do you value kindness? Is success the most important value in your life?

Taking a few minutes now and again to reaffirm your values by writing in a journal or meditating about them can help you focus your efforts in other areas of your life.

If you value family over everything, your ability to take care of your family will motivate you to study and do well in school. If you value honesty, you will never feel inclined to cheat on a test, but will work hard to study.

Ultimately, finding the motivation to study is less about going on a treasure hunt and more about changing the way you think about learning. Even implementing a few of these seven tips can help you stay focused and keep going.

Image Credit: PublicDomainPictures

Lazowski, R. A., & Hulleman, C. S. (2016). Motivation interventions in education: A meta-analytic review. Review of Educational research , 86(2), 602-640. DOI: 10.3102/0034654315617832

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About Winston Sieck

Dr. Winston Sieck is a cognitive psychologist working to advance the development of thinking skills. He is founder and president of Global Cognition, and director of Thinker Academy .

Reader Interactions

October 2, 2018 at 4:59 pm

Thanks for sharing this post. I plan to share it with my students this week. We’re implementing some growth mindset and mindfulness practices this year. This will be a good reinforcement of some of those ideas and will provide some new insight as well. I think it will be well-received. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how open they’ve been to these ideas so far. Thanks again.

October 2, 2018 at 5:24 pm

That’s great, Tony. Excellent to hear the success you’re having with these ideas in your class. Thanks for stopping by..

October 25, 2021 at 12:51 pm

Thanks for posting this . I felt it after reading it and I think that if I prepare it today tomarow will be good . From this I’ll stay motivated .

October 2, 2018 at 6:54 pm

Thank greatly for this post. I’m studying at college at 45yrs ,sometimes want to give up studying but you came along with this great post. Great assurance and encouragement for young and old students alike.

Will have to share with my students as well,

kind regards,

clotilda Claudia Harry Solomon islands.

October 2, 2018 at 7:14 pm

Yep, we all need a little motivation boost at any age. Way to keep learning, Clotilda.

November 16, 2018 at 12:08 am

Thanks for providing a resource for our children to grow in knowledge. Seems that no matter what the age, we all struggle with these issues.

November 17, 2018 at 4:39 pm

No doubt, Michael! Managing motivation is a life-long skill we can teach our kids. Good to see you here – thanks for stopping by..

October 6, 2020 at 4:23 am

Thank you so much for motivating, the point you are mentioned such as set goal and go for mastery, be responsibility for learning, etc. all these points are really very helpful and they are very useful for study thank you so much for sharing

February 3, 2021 at 5:18 am

Thank you! Without following all of these steps, it’s hard to have any significant academic success, I think. It helps me not to lose motivation with step-by-step planning: I divide the global goal into several small short-term goals and achieving even minimal results makes me happy and motivates me to try harder. Of course, there are also bad periods, when I feel exhausted and overwhelmed. But a little rest allows me to get back on track.

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How to Get Motivated to Study

Last Updated: April 25, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker . Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego. There are 24 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,608,245 times.

When you have mountains of homework and studying ahead, getting started can seem like an impossible task. We’ll teach you how to get into the right frame of mind before you start studying and shake yourself out of a motivation slump. Read on to learn how to stop procrastinating on studying, focus even when you're tired, and get motivated to do your schoolwork!

Start with your easiest task to get the ball rolling.

• If you write a quick list of your tasks, it’ll lower the effort of making decisions, and you’ll find it easier to shift from one task to the next.

Try the Pomodoro Technique.

• With the Pomodoro Technique, each 25-minute block is called a Pomodoro, and you can set another 5-minute timer for a quick break in between Pomodoros.
• If 25 minutes seems too short, feel free to keep working past the timer; the point is to get you started.

Break down your work into smaller pieces.

• It’s easy to get overwhelmed by a huge amount of homework and seemingly endless assignments. But rather than worrying, “How will I ever finish this assignment?” ask yourself, “How much of this assignment can I accomplish in 2 hours?”
• Instead of trying to read a whole book, set a goal you can accomplish in one sitting. For instance, read 1 chapter or 50 pages at a time. [6] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source
• When prepping for a test , review your lecture notes from just the first week of the semester today, then focus your notes from the second week tomorrow.

Tidy up your workspace.

• Consider making your study space warm and inviting so you look forward to spending time there. Decorate the walls with photos of you and your friends, place a cheerful house plant on your desk, and choose a comfy chair to sit in.

Reward yourself when you complete a task.

• Have a snack , but shy away from snacking on too many sugary treats early on. Nobody likes a sugar crash! Save sweet treats until the last leg of your study marathon to give you a boost.
• If you decide to reward yourself with a quick break from studying, remember that you will eventually have to get back to work. Set a time limit for your break and don't listen to the voice in your head pleading for "just a few more minutes."

Take a break to move around.

• These activities will give you a burst of energy and will improve your mood. Plus they’ll help get your brain into a receptive state, which will make your studying more effective. [10] X Research source
• A little movement can help you build momentum that’ll lead you into a productive study session.

Look up podcasts or videos to shake up your studying.

• Set time limits to help yourself stay on track, and reward yourself by exploring interesting tangents after you’ve met your study goals.

Crank up your favorite study tunes.

• The right music will help relax your mind and sharpen your focus. [12] X Research source
• Try modern takes on classical piano or solo guitar or tune into your favorite movie soundtrack.
• Speed things up with an electro-swing playlist or chill out with a mix of lo-fi beats.
• Search your favorite music app for playlists designed to help you focus on your work, like “Songs for Studying” or “Study Beats.” You can also try "body-doubling" (working alongside someone else who is also working & letting their presence calm you) with the Lo-Fi Girl YouTube stream.

Freshen up and put on some comfortable clothing.

• Make sure your study outfits don’t feel too much like your sleepwear or you might start to doze off.

Work with your friends or a tutor.

• Look for a tutor at your school or consult a private tutoring agency.
• In a study group, each person could volunteer to tackle a different sub-topic, then you could all share your study materials with each other. [14] X Research source
• Reserve a study room, bring snacks, or gamify your studying to make the work more enjoyable.
• Start working well ahead of time in case your peers fail to meet the group goals and to make sure you have time to brush up on certain subjects independently.

Create visual aids for a fun, efficient study tool.

• Rather than skimming vocab words from a PDF or textbook, rewriting the words and definitions in your own handwriting with a fun-colored pen might help you retain the information better.

Use classic study tricks to memorize facts.

Focus on your long-term goals.

• If you’re hoping to attend college or earn a scholarship, think about how each small study session will get you 1 step closer to your dreams.
• Use your long-term goals as motivation to keep pushing yourself.

Set up your computer.

• If you’re easily distracted but need to use a computer as a reading or research tool, consider printing out the material to help you stay on task. [20] X Research source
• If you need to use the computer solely as a word processor or PDF viewer, disconnect it from Wi-Fi or station yourself in a no-Wi-Fi zone so you’re not tempted to go online.
• When computer use isn’t necessary for your studies, turn yours off and stow it away.

Silence or shut off your cell phone.

• Keep your phone out of sight so you won't be tempted to keep taking a sneak peek.

Stay hydrated and keep a snack on hand.

• Avoid studying right after a big meal; you’ll just feel drowsy and will want to relax.
• Don’t put off a meal as a reward, as your aching stomach will be distracting. Make sure you have a snack on hand to fend off your hunger.
• Avoid sugary vending machine snacks, fast food, and pastries; these foods will give you a short energy rush that quickly turns into sleepiness.

Figure out your ideal study environment and methods.

• Think back to past study sessions that went especially well, and others that didn’t go well at all, to assess which factors help and hinder your progress.
• If you’re able to develop a personalized study system, studying will be a lot less stressful for you.

Design a study guide that works for you.

• If the textbook’s section heading reads, “Anthropomorphic Themes in Fairy Tales,” your study question could be, “Can I describe the use of anthropomorphic themes in fairy tales?”
• Look online for study guide templates and examples as a starting point.

Try freewriting or journaling to identify why you procrastinate.

• If it helps to vent to a friend, just make sure they’re willing to listen and you’re not going to distract them from their own studies.

Be kind to yourself about your procrastination habits.

• Avoid comparing yourself to other classmates who seem to be doing well. Everyone learns and works differently, so focus on your own needs and capabilities!
• Using positive self-talk helps create a growth mindset that can help you overcome difficulties.

Give yourself time limits.

• Telling yourself, "I'll have to study sometime this week" will encourage procrastination, but “I’m going to study from 6 PM to 9 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday” will help you stick to your plan. [32] X Research source
• Try sticking to a regular schedule, but feel free to break your usual routine if you need to shake things up. For instance, get a good night’s sleep and set your alarm for 7:00 AM to study on Sunday morning. It might be easier to get up and get started right away since you’ve planned it in advance.
• The more specific and intentional you can be about scheduling out your study tasks, the more success you’ll have with your studies and time management .

Study Schedule Template

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Expert Q&A

Reader Videos

• Make an effort to take good notes during class and keep them in an organized notebook or binder. Use these to help you with homework, projects, and upcoming exams. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or professor. Visit during their office hours or ask if you can set up a time to speak with them about the subject. Make sure you ask questions in-class, too. If you ask questions, it will show that you’re motivated and want to do well in their class. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
• Sometimes it can be about changing your perspective - try framing your thoughts as you get to study, rather than you have to study. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Sometimes, motivation can come after you've already started studying. If you don't feel like studying, just try doing it for five minutes, and check in with how you're feeling after that.
• Be sure to get a good night's sleep to help you retain the information you’ve studied. Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://graduate.rice.edu/news/six-strategies-staying-motivated-during-covid-19-pandemic
• ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
• ↑ https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1901
• ↑ https://www.educationcorner.com/habits-of-successful-students.html
• ↑ https://help.open.ac.uk/study-goals
• ↑ ​​ https://hbr.org/2020/08/your-to-do-list-is-in-fact-too-long
• ↑ https://www.edology.com/blog/study-and-careers-advice/effective-study-space/
• ↑ https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters
• ↑ https://healthybrains.org/pillar-physical/
• ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/tips-studying-motivation.html
• ↑ https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/best-study-music-and-benefits/
• ↑ https://www.imc.edu.au/news-archive/8-benefits-of-studying-with-friends
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5256450/
• ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02522/full
• ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/memory-techniques/
• ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201204/attention-alert-study-distraction-reveals-some
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5648953/
• ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2019/08/healthy-snacks-to-power-studying/
• ↑ https://www.educationcorner.com/study-location.html
• ↑ https://www.herzing.edu/blog/how-create-successful-study-guide
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/procrastination/
• ↑ https://www.stetson.edu/administration/academic-success/media/STUDY%20SCHEDULE.pdf
• ↑ http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/time-manage.htm

About This Article

If you’re having trouble getting motivated to study, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted, and turn your phone on silent or place it out of sight so you won’t be tempted to look at it. Set concrete goals for each study session, like learning how to solve a specific math problem or reading and comprehending a complete chapter in your textbook. Reward yourself with a snack or a break when you meet your goal. For tips on making a study schedule, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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10 ways to generate study motivation

10 February 2020

If you have exams and essay deadlines piling up but you just can't seem to focus - here are 10 ways you can help yourself get motivated!

This is the time of the year when courseworks and dissertations are due and for some of you, exam time is looming. Sometimes having to do all that studying and catching up with reading feels like a drag. It can be overwhelming because together with the studying can come a wave of questions where you doubt yourself on a personal level with thoughts such as:

" ‘Do I even understand these readings?’… ‘Am I going to be able to write something interesting and relevant?’…  ‘Am I going to do the right thing?’… ‘Am I good enough to do this?’… ‘Others seem to be more on top of things than I am’… ‘What if I do badly?’...  

These thoughts are subtle, but can lead to difficult feelings that interfere with motivation. So try out these 10 ways that you could help yourself to generate that motivation!

• Acknowledge your resistance and difficult feelings with motivation. It may be helpful to write these feelings or thoughts down and then leave these on the side so you can then study.
• Do not run away. Avoiding work can make you feel deflated. This is emotionally more draining than having to go through the frustration of reading for your paper.
• Do not blame yourself for procrastinating now and then. Try to become aware of the habit and gently make yourself to go back to the task sooner rather than later. 
• Try to understand your studying style better. What will make it easier for you to work? We are all prone to pleasant experiences and it is natural that we tend to avoid uncomfortable, dry chores and duties.  So try to make your study experience as interesting as possible.
• Don’t question your abilities.  Don’t put yourself down by comparing yourself to others.
• Visualise yourself starting. Make yourself sit down and work even if this is for just 20 minutes. See starting as a parallel process like a plane on a runway. You may start slow but you will still take off! 
• Focus on the task at hand and prioritise the most important tasks.  Avoid multitasking.
• Communicate to others any difficulties and/or what you intend to do. This can help you engage with the process and identify the important tasks. Communication / externalisation can help you to commit with immediate goals and you could also find out others points of view and tips. 
• Take a time limited approach in which you schedule your tasks.  Ask yourself  ‘how much can I achieve in the next 2 hours?’ instead of ‘Can I complete all tasks?’ In this way you do not get as easily overwhelmed by the volume of study you need to do.  

By Zoi Kontakou, Counselling Psychologist in UCL Student Support and Wellbeing 

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to do homework: 15 expert tips and tricks.

Coursework/GPA

Everyone struggles with homework sometimes, but if getting your homework done has become a chronic issue for you, then you may need a little extra help. That’s why we’ve written this article all about how to do homework. Once you’re finished reading it, you’ll know how to do homework (and have tons of new ways to motivate yourself to do homework)!

We’ve broken this article down into a few major sections. You’ll find:

• A diagnostic test to help you figure out why you’re struggling with homework
• A discussion of the four major homework problems students face, along with expert tips for addressing them
• A bonus section with tips for how to do homework fast

By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to tackle whatever homework assignments your teachers throw at you .

So let’s get started!

How to Do Homework: Figure Out Your Struggles 

Sometimes it feels like everything is standing between you and getting your homework done. But the truth is, most people only have one or two major roadblocks that are keeping them from getting their homework done well and on time. 

The best way to figure out how to get motivated to do homework starts with pinpointing the issues that are affecting your ability to get your assignments done. That’s why we’ve developed a short quiz to help you identify the areas where you’re struggling. 

Take the quiz below and record your answers on your phone or on a scrap piece of paper. Keep in mind there are no wrong answers! 

1. You’ve just been assigned an essay in your English class that’s due at the end of the week. What’s the first thing you do?

A. Keep it in mind, even though you won’t start it until the day before it’s due  B. Open up your planner. You’ve got to figure out when you’ll write your paper since you have band practice, a speech tournament, and your little sister’s dance recital this week, too.  C. Groan out loud. Another essay? You could barely get yourself to write the last one!  D. Start thinking about your essay topic, which makes you think about your art project that’s due the same day, which reminds you that your favorite artist might have just posted to Instagram...so you better check your feed right now. 

2. Your mom asked you to pick up your room before she gets home from work. You’ve just gotten home from school. You decide you’ll tackle your chores: 

A. Five minutes before your mom walks through the front door. As long as it gets done, who cares when you start?  B. As soon as you get home from your shift at the local grocery store.  C. After you give yourself a 15-minute pep talk about how you need to get to work.  D. You won’t get it done. Between texts from your friends, trying to watch your favorite Netflix show, and playing with your dog, you just lost track of time! 

3. You’ve signed up to wash dogs at the Humane Society to help earn money for your senior class trip. You: 

A. Show up ten minutes late. You put off leaving your house until the last minute, then got stuck in unexpected traffic on the way to the shelter.  B. Have to call and cancel at the last minute. You forgot you’d already agreed to babysit your cousin and bake cupcakes for tomorrow’s bake sale.  C. Actually arrive fifteen minutes early with extra brushes and bandanas you picked up at the store. You’re passionate about animals, so you’re excited to help out! D. Show up on time, but only get three dogs washed. You couldn’t help it: you just kept getting distracted by how cute they were!

4. You have an hour of downtime, so you decide you’re going to watch an episode of The Great British Baking Show. You: 

A. Scroll through your social media feeds for twenty minutes before hitting play, which means you’re not able to finish the whole episode. Ugh! You really wanted to see who was sent home!  B. Watch fifteen minutes until you remember you’re supposed to pick up your sister from band practice before heading to your part-time job. No GBBO for you!  C. You finish one episode, then decide to watch another even though you’ve got SAT studying to do. It’s just more fun to watch people make scones.  D. Start the episode, but only catch bits and pieces of it because you’re reading Twitter, cleaning out your backpack, and eating a snack at the same time.

5. Your teacher asks you to stay after class because you’ve missed turning in two homework assignments in a row. When she asks you what’s wrong, you say: 

A. You planned to do your assignments during lunch, but you ran out of time. You decided it would be better to turn in nothing at all than submit unfinished work.  B. You really wanted to get the assignments done, but between your extracurriculars, family commitments, and your part-time job, your homework fell through the cracks.  C. You have a hard time psyching yourself to tackle the assignments. You just can’t seem to find the motivation to work on them once you get home.  D. You tried to do them, but you had a hard time focusing. By the time you realized you hadn’t gotten anything done, it was already time to turn them in. 

Like we said earlier, there are no right or wrong answers to this quiz (though your results will be better if you answered as honestly as possible). Here’s how your answers break down: 

• If your answers were mostly As, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is procrastination. 
• If your answers were mostly Bs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is time management. 
• If your answers were mostly Cs, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is motivation. 
• If your answers were mostly Ds, then your biggest struggle with doing homework is getting distracted. 

Now that you’ve identified why you’re having a hard time getting your homework done, we can help you figure out how to fix it! Scroll down to find your core problem area to learn more about how you can start to address it. 

And one more thing: you’re really struggling with homework, it’s a good idea to read through every section below. You may find some additional tips that will help make homework less intimidating. 

How to Do Homework When You’re a Procrastinator  

Merriam Webster defines “procrastinate” as “to put off intentionally and habitually.” In other words, procrastination is when you choose to do something at the last minute on a regular basis. If you’ve ever found yourself pulling an all-nighter, trying to finish an assignment between periods, or sprinting to turn in a paper minutes before a deadline, you’ve experienced the effects of procrastination. 

If you’re a chronic procrastinator, you’re in good company. In fact, one study found that 70% to 95% of undergraduate students procrastinate when it comes to doing their homework. Unfortunately, procrastination can negatively impact your grades. Researchers have found that procrastination can lower your grade on an assignment by as much as five points ...which might not sound serious until you realize that can mean the difference between a B- and a C+. 

Procrastination can also negatively affect your health by increasing your stress levels , which can lead to other health conditions like insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even heart conditions. Getting a handle on procrastination can not only improve your grades, it can make you feel better, too! 

The big thing to understand about procrastination is that it’s not the result of laziness. Laziness is defined as being “disinclined to activity or exertion.” In other words, being lazy is all about doing nothing. But a s this Psychology Today article explains , procrastinators don’t put things off because they don’t want to work. Instead, procrastinators tend to postpone tasks they don’t want to do in favor of tasks that they perceive as either more important or more fun. Put another way, procrastinators want to do things...as long as it’s not their homework! 

3 Tips f or Conquering Procrastination 

Because putting off doing homework is a common problem, there are lots of good tactics for addressing procrastination. Keep reading for our three expert tips that will get your homework habits back on track in no time. 

#1: Create a Reward System

Like we mentioned earlier, procrastination happens when you prioritize other activities over getting your homework done. Many times, this happens because homework...well, just isn’t enjoyable. But you can add some fun back into the process by rewarding yourself for getting your work done. 

Here’s what we mean: let’s say you decide that every time you get your homework done before the day it’s due, you’ll give yourself a point. For every five points you earn, you’ll treat yourself to your favorite dessert: a chocolate cupcake! Now you have an extra (delicious!) incentive to motivate you to leave procrastination in the dust. 

If you’re not into cupcakes, don’t worry. Your reward can be anything that motivates you . Maybe it’s hanging out with your best friend or an extra ten minutes of video game time. As long as you’re choosing something that makes homework worth doing, you’ll be successful. 

#2: Have a Homework Accountability Partner 

If you’re having trouble getting yourself to start your homework ahead of time, it may be a good idea to call in reinforcements . Find a friend or classmate you can trust and explain to them that you’re trying to change your homework habits. Ask them if they’d be willing to text you to make sure you’re doing your homework and check in with you once a week to see if you’re meeting your anti-procrastination goals. 

Sharing your goals can make them feel more real, and an accountability partner can help hold you responsible for your decisions. For example, let’s say you’re tempted to put off your science lab write-up until the morning before it’s due. But you know that your accountability partner is going to text you about it tomorrow...and you don’t want to fess up that you haven’t started your assignment. A homework accountability partner can give you the extra support and incentive you need to keep your homework habits on track. 

#3: Create Your Own Due Dates 

If you’re a life-long procrastinator, you might find that changing the habit is harder than you expected. In that case, you might try using procrastination to your advantage! If you just can’t seem to stop doing your work at the last minute, try setting your own due dates for assignments that range from a day to a week before the assignment is actually due. 

Here’s what we mean. Let’s say you have a math worksheet that’s been assigned on Tuesday and is due on Friday. In your planner, you can write down the due date as Thursday instead. You may still put off your homework assignment until the last minute...but in this case, the “last minute” is a day before the assignment’s real due date . This little hack can trick your procrastination-addicted brain into planning ahead! 

If you feel like Kevin Hart in this meme, then our tips for doing homework when you're busy are for you. 

How to Do Homework When You’re too Busy

If you’re aiming to go to a top-tier college , you’re going to have a full plate. Because college admissions is getting more competitive, it’s important that you’re maintaining your grades , studying hard for your standardized tests , and participating in extracurriculars so your application stands out. A packed schedule can get even more hectic once you add family obligations or a part-time job to the mix. 

If you feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions at once, you’re not alone. Recent research has found that stress—and more severe stress-related conditions like anxiety and depression— are a major problem for high school students . In fact, one study from the American Psychological Association found that during the school year, students’ stress levels are higher than those of the adults around them. 

For students, homework is a major contributor to their overall stress levels . Many high schoolers have multiple hours of homework every night , and figuring out how to fit it into an already-packed schedule can seem impossible. 

3 Tips for Fitting Homework Into Your Busy Schedule

While it might feel like you have literally no time left in your schedule, there are still ways to make sure you’re able to get your homework done and meet your other commitments. Here are our expert homework tips for even the busiest of students. 

#1: Make a Prioritized To-Do List 

You probably already have a to-do list to keep yourself on track. The next step is to prioritize the items on your to-do list so you can see what items need your attention right away. 

Here’s how it works: at the beginning of each day, sit down and make a list of all the items you need to get done before you go to bed. This includes your homework, but it should also take into account any practices, chores, events, or job shifts you may have. Once you get everything listed out, it’s time to prioritize them using the labels A, B, and C. Here’s what those labels mean:

• A Tasks : tasks that have to get done—like showing up at work or turning in an assignment—get an A. 
• B Tasks : these are tasks that you would like to get done by the end of the day but aren’t as time sensitive. For example, studying for a test you have next week could be a B-level task. It’s still important, but it doesn’t have to be done right away.
• C Tasks: these are tasks that aren’t very important and/or have no real consequences if you don’t get them done immediately. For instance, if you’re hoping to clean out your closet but it’s not an assigned chore from your parents, you could label that to-do item with a C.

Prioritizing your to-do list helps you visualize which items need your immediate attention, and which items you can leave for later. A prioritized to-do list ensures that you’re spending your time efficiently and effectively, which helps you make room in your schedule for homework. So even though you might really want to start making decorations for Homecoming (a B task), you’ll know that finishing your reading log (an A task) is more important. 

#2: Use a Planner With Time Labels

Your planner is probably packed with notes, events, and assignments already. (And if you’re not using a planner, it’s time to start!) But planners can do more for you than just remind you when an assignment is due. If you’re using a planner with time labels, it can help you visualize how you need to spend your day.

A planner with time labels breaks your day down into chunks, and you assign tasks to each chunk of time. For example, you can make a note of your class schedule with assignments, block out time to study, and make sure you know when you need to be at practice. Once you know which tasks take priority, you can add them to any empty spaces in your day. 

Planning out how you spend your time not only helps you use it wisely, it can help you feel less overwhelmed, too . We’re big fans of planners that include a task list ( like this one ) or have room for notes ( like this one ). 

#3: Set Reminders on Your Phone 

If you need a little extra nudge to make sure you’re getting your homework done on time, it’s a good idea to set some reminders on your phone. You don’t need a fancy app, either. You can use your alarm app to have it go off at specific times throughout the day to remind you to do your homework. This works especially well if you have a set homework time scheduled. So if you’ve decided you’re doing homework at 6:00 pm, you can set an alarm to remind you to bust out your books and get to work. 

If you use your phone as your planner, you may have the option to add alerts, emails, or notifications to scheduled events . Many calendar apps, including the one that comes with your phone, have built-in reminders that you can customize to meet your needs. So if you block off time to do your homework from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, you can set a reminder that will pop up on your phone when it’s time to get started. 

This dog isn't judging your lack of motivation...but your teacher might. Keep reading for tips to help you motivate yourself to do your homework.

How to Do Homework When You’re Unmotivated 

At first glance, it may seem like procrastination and being unmotivated are the same thing. After all, both of these issues usually result in you putting off your homework until the very last minute. 

But there’s one key difference: many procrastinators are working, they’re just prioritizing work differently. They know they’re going to start their homework...they’re just going to do it later. 

Conversely, people who are unmotivated to do homework just can’t find the willpower to tackle their assignments. Procrastinators know they’ll at least attempt the homework at the last minute, whereas people who are unmotivated struggle with convincing themselves to do it at a ll. For procrastinators, the stress comes from the inevitable time crunch. For unmotivated people, the stress comes from trying to convince themselves to do something they don’t want to do in the first place. 

Here are some common reasons students are unmotivated in doing homework : 

• Assignments are too easy, too hard, or seemingly pointless 
• Students aren’t interested in (or passionate about) the subject matter
• Students are intimidated by the work and/or feels like they don’t understand the assignment 
• Homework isn’t fun, and students would rather spend their time on things that they enjoy 

To sum it up: people who lack motivation to do their homework are more likely to not do it at all, or to spend more time worrying about doing their homework than...well, actually doing it.

3 Tips for How to Get Motivated to Do Homework

The key to getting homework done when you’re unmotivated is to figure out what does motivate you, then apply those things to homework. It sounds tricky...but it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it! Here are our three expert tips for motivating yourself to do your homework. 

#1: Use Incremental Incentives

When you’re not motivated, it’s important to give yourself small rewards to stay focused on finishing the task at hand. The trick is to keep the incentives small and to reward yourself often. For example, maybe you’re reading a good book in your free time. For every ten minutes you spend on your homework, you get to read five pages of your book. Like we mentioned earlier, make sure you’re choosing a reward that works for you! 

So why does this technique work? Using small rewards more often allows you to experience small wins for getting your work done. Every time you make it to one of your tiny reward points, you get to celebrate your success, which gives your brain a boost of dopamine . Dopamine helps you stay motivated and also creates a feeling of satisfaction when you complete your homework !  

#2: Form a Homework Group 

If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, it’s okay to turn to others for support. Creating a homework group can help with this. Bring together a group of your friends or classmates, and pick one time a week where you meet and work on homework together. You don’t have to be in the same class, or even taking the same subjects— the goal is to encourage one another to start (and finish!) your assignments. 

Another added benefit of a homework group is that you can help one another if you’re struggling to understand the material covered in your classes. This is especially helpful if your lack of motivation comes from being intimidated by your assignments. Asking your friends for help may feel less scary than talking to your teacher...and once you get a handle on the material, your homework may become less frightening, too. 

#3: Change Up Your Environment 

If you find that you’re totally unmotivated, it may help if you find a new place to do your homework. For example, if you’ve been struggling to get your homework done at home, try spending an extra hour in the library after school instead. The change of scenery can limit your distractions and give you the energy you need to get your work done. 

If you’re stuck doing homework at home, you can still use this tip. For instance, maybe you’ve always done your homework sitting on your bed. Try relocating somewhere else, like your kitchen table, for a few weeks. You may find that setting up a new “homework spot” in your house gives you a motivational lift and helps you get your work done. 

Social media can be a huge problem when it comes to doing homework. We have advice for helping you unplug and regain focus.

How to Do Homework When You’re Easily Distracted

We live in an always-on world, and there are tons of things clamoring for our attention. From friends and family to pop culture and social media, it seems like there’s always something (or someone!) distracting us from the things we need to do.

The 24/7 world we live in has affected our ability to focus on tasks for prolonged periods of time. Research has shown that over the past decade, an average person’s attention span has gone from 12 seconds to eight seconds . And when we do lose focus, i t takes people a long time to get back on task . One study found that it can take as long as 23 minutes to get back to work once we’ve been distracte d. No wonder it can take hours to get your homework done! 

3 Tips to Improve Your Focus

If you have a hard time focusing when you’re doing your homework, it’s a good idea to try and eliminate as many distractions as possible. Here are three expert tips for blocking out the noise so you can focus on getting your homework done. 

#1: Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Pick a place where you’ll do your homework every day, and make it as distraction-free as possible. Try to find a location where there won’t be tons of noise, and limit your access to screens while you’re doing your homework. Put together a focus-oriented playlist (or choose one on your favorite streaming service), and put your headphones on while you work. 

You may find that other people, like your friends and family, are your biggest distraction. If that’s the case, try setting up some homework boundaries. Let them know when you’ll be working on homework every day, and ask them if they’ll help you keep a quiet environment. They’ll be happy to lend a hand! 

#2: Limit Your Access to Technology 

We know, we know...this tip isn’t fun, but it does work. For homework that doesn’t require a computer, like handouts or worksheets, it’s best to put all your technology away . Turn off your television, put your phone and laptop in your backpack, and silence notifications on any wearable tech you may be sporting. If you listen to music while you work, that’s fine...but make sure you have a playlist set up so you’re not shuffling through songs once you get started on your homework. 

If your homework requires your laptop or tablet, it can be harder to limit your access to distractions. But it’s not impossible! T here are apps you can download that will block certain websites while you’re working so that you’re not tempted to scroll through Twitter or check your Facebook feed. Silence notifications and text messages on your computer, and don’t open your email account unless you absolutely have to. And if you don’t need access to the internet to complete your assignments, turn off your WiFi. Cutting out the online chatter is a great way to make sure you’re getting your homework done. 

#3: Set a Timer (the Pomodoro Technique)

Have you ever heard of the Pomodoro technique ? It’s a productivity hack that uses a timer to help you focus!

Here’s how it works: first, set a timer for 25 minutes. This is going to be your work time. During this 25 minutes, all you can do is work on whatever homework assignment you have in front of you. No email, no text messaging, no phone calls—just homework. When that timer goes off, you get to take a 5 minute break. Every time you go through one of these cycles, it’s called a “pomodoro.” For every four pomodoros you complete, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.

The pomodoro technique works through a combination of boundary setting and rewards. First, it gives you a finite amount of time to focus, so you know that you only have to work really hard for 25 minutes. Once you’ve done that, you’re rewarded with a short break where you can do whatever you want. Additionally, tracking how many pomodoros you complete can help you see how long you’re really working on your homework. (Once you start using our focus tips, you may find it doesn’t take as long as you thought!)

Two Bonus Tips for How to Do Homework Fast

Even if you’re doing everything right, there will be times when you just need to get your homework done as fast as possible. (Why do teachers always have projects due in the same week? The world may never know.)

The problem with speeding through homework is that it’s easy to make mistakes. While turning in an assignment is always better than not submitting anything at all, you want to make sure that you’re not compromising quality for speed. Simply put, the goal is to get your homework done quickly and still make a good grade on the assignment! 

Here are our two bonus tips for getting a decent grade on your homework assignments , even when you’re in a time crunch. 

#1: Do the Easy Parts First 

This is especially true if you’re working on a handout with multiple questions. Before you start working on the assignment, read through all the questions and problems. As you do, make a mark beside the questions you think are “easy” to answer . 

Once you’ve finished going through the whole assignment, you can answer these questions first. Getting the easy questions out of the way as quickly as possible lets you spend more time on the trickier portions of your homework, which will maximize your assignment grade. 

(Quick note: this is also a good strategy to use on timed assignments and tests, like the SAT and the ACT !) 

#2: Pay Attention in Class 

Homework gets a lot easier when you’re actively learning the material. Teachers aren’t giving you homework because they’re mean or trying to ruin your weekend... it’s because they want you to really understand the course material. Homework is designed to reinforce what you’re already learning in class so you’ll be ready to tackle harder concepts later.

When you pay attention in class, ask questions, and take good notes, you’re absorbing the information you’ll need to succeed on your homework assignments. (You’re stuck in class anyway, so you might as well make the most of it!) Not only will paying attention in class make your homework less confusing, it will also help it go much faster, too.

What’s Next?

If you’re looking to improve your productivity beyond homework, a good place to begin is with time management. After all, we only have so much time in a day...so it’s important to get the most out of it! To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best time management techniques that you can start using today.

You may have read this article because homework struggles have been affecting your GPA. Now that you’re on the path to homework success, it’s time to start being proactive about raising your grades. This article teaches you everything you need to know about raising your GPA so you can

Now you know how to get motivated to do homework...but what about your study habits? Studying is just as critical to getting good grades, and ultimately getting into a good college . We can teach you how to study bette r in high school. (We’ve also got tons of resources to help you study for your ACT and SAT exams , too!)

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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6 ways to build motivation to do your schoolwork now that you’re forced to learn online at home

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Even in normal circumstances, it can be hard to get motivated to do your schoolwork . But these are not normal circumstances.

The switch to remote instruction caused by COVID-19 has been unsettling. Patterns have changed. Habits have been disrupted . Remote classes are simply different from classes that involve face-to-face instruction.

As a researcher who looks at what it takes to get through college , I have a few tips that could maximize your motivation and productivity when you’re at home going to school online.

1. Guard your time

You do not need large amounts of time to be productive. Instead, be intentional and focused in short blocks where you can work without interruption. Protect these open times by setting up your workspace to minimize distraction – including silencing notifications on your cellphone or laptop. Communicate your boundaries to friends and family and make sure to identify times when work and socialization can happen.

2. Determine how much work is needed

Write down the work you need to accomplish, because there is a limit to how much information you can recall and process at one time. Examine the remaining projects, including research and written assignments, and estimate the amount and type of effort that each requires. Identify any tests and quizzes that are scheduled and determine what preparation is necessary.

3. Break large projects into smaller ones

Breaking big projects into smaller and more manageable tasks allows you to achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness .

Your assigned tasks should follow a logical sequence. Some tasks are basic, like locating articles in the online library for a research paper. Others, like proofreading, are best left to do later in the process. Work steadily, and record your progress as you do, because you get more done when you can actually see the progress you’re making.

4. Set goals

When you set specific and difficult goals for your work and make them public in some way , it can boost your performance and enhance your motivation .

Setting generic, vague or easy goals is less helpful. Set goals related to effort. For example, plan to spend three hours one day studying for a certain class. Also, set goals related to the completion of specific tasks or products. For instance, give yourself a deadline to read and take notes on a specific article for a certain paper you must write.

Further, make time in your plan to deal with any interruptions and challenges that may occur. For example, when my 7-year-old gets bored or needs some attention and interrupts me in my work, I plan to spend 20-30 minutes doing something with her. We take a walk or a bike ride, or create some art. Then I can return to work. I even set a timer to keep myself honest.

5. Identify the rewards

It pays to clarify the rewards at stake this semester – whether those rewards are internal, such as the feeling of accomplishment that comes from understanding a difficult concept well, or external, such as getting a good grade.

Many universities are adopting pass/fail grading systems in the short term, so the external reward course grades provide will likely be different. Learning is what matters now. Focus on the course learning outcomes and make sure that you’re meeting them, because these skills will be the ones required of you as you progress toward your degree.

6. Be flexible and go easy on yourself

This is an unprecedented crisis, and we are all scrambling to make it work. You didn’t expect to spend these months at home, learning online. Some days won’t go as planed - and that’s alright. Forgive yourself when you don’t do your best, then move forward and overcome the setbacks .

When the pandemic passes

Eventually, this pandemic will be over. Face-to-face classes will start again, and this semester will be but a memory. The good habits you build and the strategies follow now to manage to learn and work independently will bear dividends in the future.

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16 Study Motivation Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

Study for two minutes. Check Instagram. Study for two minutes. Browse Netflix. Study for two minutes. Check email. Study for two minutes. Get lost in TikTok indefinitely.

If this sounds like your typical study session, you’re certainly not alone. You need a little help to kick your motivation into high gear, especially if you have a test coming up.

Maybe coming here is your next form of procrastination. If so, at least you’re on the right page. If nothing else, it’s a good distraction from studying, and you might find something useful to up your study game.

Not every study motivation strategy works for everyone, but there’s something out there that will work for you. We’ve compiled a list of study motivation ideas to try when you need to buckle down and get it done.

Browse our ideas below and try out a few of them. Some will work well in isolation, others work well when combined, and some may work for you today but not tomorrow.

1. Website and app blockers

The internet can be a great tool to help you with your studies, but distractions, too, are always a click away. You could say this is a matter of discipline, but sadly, the odds aren’t in your favor.

Some of the greatest minds of our generation work around the clock to “increase engagement,” which means getting you to spend every waking moment scrolling and liking things . This is where distraction-blocking software comes into the picture.

These are “classic” study motivation tools because they work by literally taking away what is distracting you (assuming your distraction is digital). So, these are a great option if you need just a little help with your self-control.

There are quite a few blockers available for your phone and your computer. Some popular ones include Freedom , Cold Turkey Blocker , LeechBlock NG , RescueTime , SelfControl , AppBlock , and PawBlock .

They all work similarly: they block whatever websites/apps you want them to block for the time you specify. But make sure you choose a website blocker that you cannot bypass.

This is an ideal option for you if you sound like the person described at the beginning of this article. So, take a minute to think about what websites or apps tend to suck up most of your time and block them while you study.

If this sounds insanely difficult, begin with short blocks of time and work your way up.

2. The Pomodoro technique

At its core, the Pomodoro Technique is very simple: Study for 25 minutes, take a break for 5-10 minutes, repeat the cycle four times, take a longer break, and repeat again:

The technique effectively improves productivity due to its structured approach that combines focused work intervals with regular breaks.

There are different variations of this technique. Sometimes, shorter study intervals or repeating the cycle three times may work best before taking a longer break. You can always customize what works best for you.

Knowing the end is in sight and a break is coming up makes studying for longer periods of time easier.

To help you keep track of time and avoid constantly checking the clock, set a timer for both your study sessions and your breaks. You can also use online Pomodoro time trackers that automatically remind you about the intervals.

Make the most of your breaks by getting up and engaging in a physical activity, such as a walk or stretch, that gets your blood pumping. If you use your breaks to watch 10 minutes of a TV show, you probably won’t be very motivated to jump back in.

The Pomodoro Technique also works well with website and app blockers. Some blockers, such as FocusMe and Session , make using this technique simple and offer a Pomodoro timer as an embedded feature.

3. Create your own reward system

According to psychology theory, some people are motivated to do things because of their internal desires and wishes, while others are motivated by external rewards (also known as incentive theory ):

So, if you belong to the latter, external rewards are a good way to keep yourself motivated.

You could, for instance, link something that you really want – a box of cookies, a break to go for a run, a trip to the movies, etc. as a reward for completing a study session. Maybe you buy some cookies and allow yourself to eat them only when you’ve studied for an hour.

Rewards can be designed with varying depths.

For example, you could see a new movie once you’ve studied for three hours or mastered 20 terms. Or you pick up some candy and pop one in your mouth whenever you get a correct answer. You could also make your favorite snack but eat only when studying.

Creating shorter reward intervals (like candy) works best when you struggle with focus. Once you get in the groove or find more motivation, you can work up to more delayed gratification.

To maintain pressure and encourage yourself to do well, try creating a reward you can only receive if you do well in the exam or the course.

Have your parents participate—it can be very helpful. For instance, if you get an A, maybe your parents can take you to your favorite restaurant or an amusement park if you get a B.

To be effective, a reward system must be practical and customized to your needs.

There is no point in setting up a reward for an A grade when you know an A is next to impossible. Similarly, don’t reward yourself with a trip to the mall if you don’t like shopping or spending money leads to stress.

4. Schedule your day

In high school, I was more motivated to study during the days when I had a practice or a game scheduled, but on days with no plans, I was easily tempted to procrastinate.

Often, the more free time you have, the easier it is to waste it. But when you have a lot going on and know you won’t have much time to study, it forces you to become laser-focused.

Research indicates that effective time management is crucial to academic success and reduces anxiety levels among students. The approach helps prioritize essential tasks, manage deadlines effectively, and dedicate focused time to each activity, leading to improved academic performance.

By creating a structured schedule, students are less likely to put off tasks because once on the calendar, they are easy to visualize. The work becomes more concrete, and what must be completed becomes clear.

5. Structured procrastination

Yes, you read that right—you can use procrastination to your advantage.

Discovered by Stanford University professor John Perry, structured procrastination is an amazing strategy that converts procrastinators into effective people who are respected and admired for what they can accomplish and the good use they make of time.

The key idea is that procrastination doesn’t mean doing nothing. Procrastinators often do small tasks to avoid the more important ones. However, if the important task were to become a way of avoiding something even more important, the procrastinator would gladly do it.

For structured procrastination to work, think of tasks that you see as more important or difficult than studying and put them at the top of your to-do list. Your procrastinating mind will automatically tell you to avoid them and get busy with studying instead!

6. Find the perfect study spot

In college, I often studied in a comfy chair in the lobby of an infrequently used building. I was comfortable, distractions were minimal, and the place encouraged me to get my work done.

In high school, I loved to study outside in our backyard. I liked getting some fresh air after being stuck in school all day.

Finding the perfect spot to study can sometimes be the key to effective studying. A good study spot improves concentration, productivity, and learning outcomes.

So, choose a spot you absolutely love. It could be your favorite chair or lying outside in a hammock. Or you could create a cozy space in the corner of your bedroom.

Wherever it is, make it your designated study space and use it only for studying. The more you love to be there, the better; you’ll be motivated to study because you will love to go to your favorite spot!

7. Just get started

Oftentimes, starting a task is more difficult than the task itself. Once you sit down and start, you will likely get into the groove.

So, make no excuses. Just sit down and start studying. If you think this tip might work for you, then study.

Literally, right now, stop reading this article and study!

8. Form a study group

If you’re a social person, studying can be difficult because of solitary silence. Having a study group can motivate you .

Your study group could even consist of your parents or a friend who isn’t in the same class. When you go stir-crazy from being quiet and alone, they can help quiz you or keep you company.

You could also get your teacher or professor involved in this one. They want to help you and are unlikely to say no if you ask. Check with them if you and a few friends can come in early, stay late, or hang out during a study hall period to study.

Being in the presence of your teacher will motivate you to study, with the added bonus of having an expert in the room. If you’re putting off studying because the material is confusing and overwhelming, this strategy is bound to help.

As a teacher, I never turned down students who asked for extra help or wanted to study in my classroom. When students would form study groups in my classroom, I was right there to answer any questions and make their study session more productive. I also often gave extra tips or explanations I didn’t give during class.

9. Go to the library or a Café

When you sit down to study and find yourself checking social media, it’s easy to become envious of everyone having a good time. It’s also easy to start thinking you’re the only person in the world studying right now.

This changes when others surround you. At a café or the library, you’ll find a lot of other people reading, studying, and working quietly. Seeing someone else model good study behavior is encouraging.

But how do you decide whether to go to the library or the café? Here are some pros and cons of each:

During college, the library was my go-to study spot when I couldn’t find it in myself to study. When I got there and saw everyone working hard, I felt like I would be a distraction or feel out of place if I didn’t sit quietly and study.

10. Get lost in music

Many people find that music helps them concentrate while studying. It can offer many benefits , including improved mood, increased motivation, boosted concentration, improved memory and brain function, and better fatigue management.

Research has shown that listening to music can stimulate the same brain regions as other activities you enjoy. Therefore, using your favorite tunes as a reward can be motivating to acquire new knowledge.

Music also helps reduce stress and promotes a positive mindset, which improves mood. Studies suggest that a good mood generally improves learning outcomes . Thus, you will likely have more success studying and learning new material.

However, music affects individuals differently.

For some, it can be distracting and negatively impact working memory and reading comprehension. So, choose your music carefully. If you still struggle, consider white noise or other audio options.

I’m easily distracted when studying or working. If I hear a conversation or somebody has the TV on, it’s very difficult for me to study. To overcome this, I use headphones, which help me quickly forget distractions and concentrate on the task at hand.

11. Post some study motivation quotes

It’s easy to lose track of our passion and goals and become overwhelmed by the challenges we face. Sometimes, the constant pressure to perform can get the best of you.

Motivational quotes can be a powerful tool for staying focused and motivated during these moments of doubt and uncertainty. They can bring back that lost passion and motivation.

Find quotes that motivate you to study (or make up your own) and post them in your room, desk, study spot, or notebook. Here are a few you might find motivating:

12. Create a clean workspace

Having a clean and organized space helps your mind be clear and organized. It can reduce stress levels, promote a feeling of calmness and clarity, improve focus and concentration, help prioritize tasks, and boost energy levels.

It might seem strange or silly, but clearing clutter can help you think more clearly. Make it a point to keep your workplace in order during short breaks or when you want to procrastinate a bit longer.

When your space is cluttered, your mind is subconsciously making mental notes of everything else you need to do and what you need to clean up. Sometimes, I don’t even realize how cluttered my workspace is until I clean it up and can suddenly start thinking more clearly.

Cleaning applies to your notes, too. If you take sloppy notes that are unorganized and hard to read, you won’t want to sit down and decipher what you wrote. That’s like asking your brain to do a lot of work even before getting into actual studying.

Take time to type or rewrite your notes, and you will notice that studying won’t feel overwhelming. Here are some quick ways to organize your notes:

• Use a binder to separate and organize worksheets
• Make flashcards
• Organize your notes with a graphic organizer
• Color code your notes with pens or highlighters

You can also read more about how to take notes in this dedicated article on note-taking.

13. Start with something easy

Some topics can be difficult and boring, which is exactly why you don’t want to do them. Quite understandably, pushing yourself to study such topics is not easy.

Reviewing the terms you already know is a good way to begin such topics. You may then complete a simple or even mindless studying task, like organizing your notes on the subject, and gradually make progress.

Remember that every small action adds up. These simpler tasks give you the momentum you need to keep going. This can also give you confidence if you’re putting off studying because you don’t think you know anything.

14. Remember your why

Think about why you need to study and why you want to do well in your course.

• Do you need to pass to graduate?
• Is this course relevant to the field you’re looking to enter?
• Do you love the subject even though it’s difficult?
• Do you want to make your family proud?
• Do you want to prove to yourself that you can do it?

Remembering your why serves as your point of reference and guides your actions and decisions. It helps you stay motivated and keep pushing even during those hard moments.

Revisit your why whenever you don’t feel like studying. It also helps to post your why somewhere so that you’ll see it often.

15. Break it down

Your study topics can be vast, and approaching them all at once can be overwhelming. You may not even know where to begin.

Think about everything you must do to study the entire topic and write them down. Then, break it down into small chunks so you can learn them one at a time.

Don’t try to focus on it all at once; instead, think about what you can do in this moment. As you complete each one, check it off or cross it out.

Seeing your list get smaller will motivate you to learn further.

16. Smart Multitask

Multitasking doesn’t always work when studying, but combining a mindless activity with study can be effective.

For instance, you could incorporate chores into study breaks, exercise while engaging in academic activities, maybe go for a walk when reviewing flashcards, or ride a stationary bike when reading your textbook.

You could even recruit a friend or parent for help. Shoot some hoops, but have them ask you a question between each shot, for example.

Sometimes, I used to go stir-crazy when I had a lot of tests or exams coming up, so I would take my notes to the gym and look over them while on the treadmill or stationary bike. This made studying a little less boring and also saved me some time.

Try a few strategies out

With so many strategies and tips, there’s bound to be at least one that works for you. Test a few out and see if they make a difference.

Remember – these strategies can also be combined to work well.

Studying can be challenging and not always fun, but these techniques can help you stay motivated and make it more manageable.

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Tips for Staying Motivated Ahead of College

Learn about yourself and your options., 1. prioritize assignments.

The key to success in school is staying focused on your coursework. Make a list to get an overall picture of your workload before you start to tackle any of it. Then, make a plan.

It's best to prioritize your more challenging and time-consuming assignments. Although it’s tempting to work on the simplest tasks first, you'll be able to manage your schedule better if you start with the ones that take more time and effort to accomplish.

To determine what your priorities are, rank your assignments in order of importance. Then, rearrange your time and devote more energy toward those assignments that have the greatest impact on your overall coursework and your grades. For more involved projects, you'll need to plot out work time over several weeks.

For example, even though all homework assignments are important, studying for a midterm exam takes priority over writing a paragraph for English class. As you complete each task, think of it as another step on your way to success in college.

However, don't let a task fall through the cracks just because it seems "less important." Remember that all assignments must be completed regardless of the impact on your grades.

By tackling your more difficult and time-consuming studies first, you’ll find yourself feeling more motivated to complete the easier assignments that lie ahead. Think of it as descending from the peak of a mountain rather than struggling to scale one.

2. Set Attainable Goals in Smaller Chunks

If you're having trouble writing a 25-page paper for class because it seems like such a big task, stop focusing on that final page count. Break the paper down into its subsections, and focus on each one individually.

It’s much easier to stay motivated and stop procrastinating by setting goals in smaller, more attainable chunks. It’s also a lot easier on your mental health.

3. Create New Challenges

Changing your approach can help you stay interested in what you’re doing. Some high school assignments tend to feel formulaic after a while, and you may end up feeling like you’re just going through the motions. This can cause you to feel demotivated and drained. Change things up to challenge yourself.

For example, if last semester you wrote a narrative piece in your creative writing class, maybe try writing a poem this time. If you wrote a book report on a biography last time around, try picking another subject you haven’t tackled, such as history.

If your eyes are hurting from staring at your math textbook all night, go online and try to find videos from lively instructors who take another approach to solving math problems.

4. Find a Social Support Network

You are surrounded by people who want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! Mentors can be teachers, family friends, or even your school counselors. They are there to help you reach your goals and can help you create a study plan that works for you.

Try reaching out to your friends and peers in school as well, and see if you can all bring together a focused study group. Sometimes, it can even be healthy to vent your frustrations to others as a way of clearing your head.

5. Acknowledge Your Accomplishments

Praising yourself for the things you’ve accomplished is a great way to spark motivation. Give yourself a quick reward when you complete an assignment or task. Perhaps you can turn your phone off and only turn it back on once you’ve completed your work. Or reward yourself by taking a walk or getting a snack—whatever works for you. Then move on to the next project.

How can I make studying fun?

There are many ways to make studying fun. For one, you can reward yourself every time you attain a study goal. Did you memorize all of your biology notecards? Time for a slice of pizza. Did you finally hammer down that complicated math equation? Call your friend to talk about it and celebrate.

Probably the most fun way to study is by forming a study group with your friends and classmates. You can bounce ideas off each other and help each other better understand concepts. But be warned: This can be a double-edged sword. If your group doesn’t create a focused and concrete plan for the study session beforehand, you may end up procrastinating more than studying.

How can I stay motivated to complete homework?

Break down your study goals into smaller, more attainable chunks. Instead of panicking over the final page count for a long essay, take on each subtopic in the essay individually, and overcome them one by one.

Another way to stay motivated to complete your homework is to tie a carrot to the end of the stick, so to speak. For example, you can tell yourself, “Once I finish this assignment, and only when I’ve finished this assignment, I can hang out with my friends or play video games.”

Of course, you can also motivate yourself to complete your homework by thinking about how your accomplishment will positively benefit your future. You can think along the lines of, “If I stop procrastinating on this homework assignment and finish it now, I’ll get a better grade in class. If I get a better grade in class, my overall GPA will be higher, and I will look better on my college applications!”

Why do students lose interest in high school?

Students tend to lose interest and motivation in high school for many reasons, including feeling that they're not in a supportive environment, feeling that they’re just going through the motions, or simply feeling burnt out from everything they're doing in their busy lives.

The best way to combat all these negative emotions is to re-spark your love of learning and your motivation to do well. Refer to our five tips for staying motivated in high school when you need help fighting back against discouraging feelings.

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• How to Study When You’ve Lost Motivation: 8 Sharp Tips to Get Back on Track

We asked a former Oxford Royale student ( Oxford Summer Courses alumni) about their approach to managing motivation:

In my opinion, two evils conspire to make revision-time miserable: the first is the stress of approaching exams, and the sense that there is an overwhelming amount of information to learn in an ever-dwindling period of time. Even spending time with friends, intended for relaxation, can just be a reminder of the exams you’ll be sitting together and the work you ought to be doing. The second is the boredom; the feeling of oppression that comes with the knowledge that the next week, or month, or six weeks, will be consumed entirely with the business of studying.

Of course, there will be days when revision is actually quite enjoyable – when you feel like you’re achieving a lot every day, piecing the different parts of your subjects together, and finally understanding things that have eluded you for months. But equally, the majority of us have just as many bad days, when we’re studying a particularly difficult topic, progress is slow or we just can’t focus. And on those days, the classic study tips seem totally redundant: personally, being ‘helpfully’ advised to make flash-cards or take regular breaks while struggling to understand the very first thing about differentiation has in the past made me feel positively murderous.

So, here are some quirky study tips, new ideas to boost your concentration and motivation as a last resort, when everything seems impossible and you’re dangerously close to just giving up and watching old episodes of Breaking Bad all afternoon. Of course, they won’t all work for you, but trying new things never hurts, especially when everything seems lost.

Remember, sometimes it can be helpful to have some group of peers to study with. I was fortunate enough to develop my group while at a UK summer school rather than studying everything on your own.

Concentrating and remembering

An old teacher of mine swore by a very particular (and in my opinion, totally mad) study habit. She said that if you read something through three times, then at the end of the third time, you would know all of the information it contains perfectly. For her, it worked – she could sit quietly reading a chapter of a textbook, and then after the third time through, answer pretty much any question about it. For me, this is the worst possible way to revise. My concentration span is that of a particularly dim goldfish. I can sit for hours, re-reading the same piece of text up to five, six, or seven times, without ever once taking in what it says. Sure, my eyes will be drifting over the words, but my mind will be elsewhere entirely – thinking about what I’m going to have for lunch, what happened on last night’s Made in Chelsea, what I’m going to revise next, or even how terrified I am about the exam. And even if I do manage to remember the general gist of the passage, by the next day any specific details have totally disappeared. If I’m going to have any chance of taking something in and remembering it for longer than ten minutes, I have to make learning an active process. Here are some ideas to do this:

Set yourself questions

In subjects like History, English, Religious Studies, Psychology, or Biology, where you’ve got to read and learn long swathes of text, make learning active by turning information into questions. Break a text down into chunks of one page, or roughly 500 words each, and for each part, write out five questions that you would ask if you were an examiner testing students on that part. Next, write out the answers. Take your time over this process – your questions should be careful and well thought-out, isolating the most important elements of a topic. You could even put your questions on flash cards, and use them to revise from in the future.

Teach each other

In groups of two, three, or four, break a subject (or some of a subject) down into parts, each go off and learn a part thoroughly, and then come back together and teach each other what you’ve learned. The ‘teacher’ could prepare a slide-show and a handout, explain how to answer past paper questions, and ask the other members of the group to work through some questions together. This method of revision works brilliantly for a few reasons: first, it’s active, forcing you to confront problems rather than skipping over them, and transform information into a form someone else will understand; second, it’s fun, and social, giving you a break from the solitary confines of your spot in the library. It can be adjusted to suit pretty much any subject: in Economics or History, you could each take an essay question, prepare a model answer and discuss it with the group; in a literature exam, you could provide readings and summaries of books or poems; in Maths or a science, teach a whole topic.

Ditch the books altogether

Some students do exceedingly well in exams without ever making revision notes or even reading through their books – instead, revision for them is a process of going through every past paper in existence, and answering all the questions there. Next, get hold of a mark scheme, read through the exemplary answers contained there, and work out how you’ve scored and where you’ve gone wrong. I used to use this method in subjects like Maths and Chemistry. My first efforts were always a total disaster, with scores in the forties and fifties – but I found it astonishing how many questions were repeated in slightly altered form from paper to paper, and how much I improved each time. What’s more, each time I would read through the answers on the mark scheme, I was learning information in the same way as I would from a text book, building confidence and becoming familiar with the particular demands of the paper – but it was easier to concentrate than if I’d used notes, because I was always comparing the answers there to my own efforts. What’s more, in my experience, if you puzzle over something and get it wrong, you’re likely to remember how to do it properly. Of course, with this system of revision it’s crucial to be alert to changes in the syllabus, and there is always a risk of missing out something important – but it’s a great way of livening up revision and can always be combined with other methods to make it more thorough. N.B. When practising, remember to keep to the amount of time you’ll have in an exam.

Try something new

There are radio shows and podcasts on basically everything these days. I revised for my Shakespeare exam at university by listening to a really useful podcast on iTunes – and a quick search confirms there are hundreds more geared towards IB, A-level, and GCSE exams. Don’t feel confined to those specifically for your course, though – you can learn new and interesting information that might boost your grade and give your exam an edge simply by searching for a topic you’re interested in. Downloading and listening to these will give you a fresh perspective, or a new way of understanding a topic – and in addition, is a more low-key method of revising – something you can do while you’re walking to school, sitting on the tube or relaxing in the evening.

Make something

I know a student who put everything she needed to know about Photosynthesis for IB Biology into a brilliant (but incredibly geeky) rap. And another student who made extravagant and actually quite beautiful posters, writing all the information she wanted to remember about World War Two on different parts of a map of Europe. If you’re especially creative, or learn well from seeing, speaking or doing, you can adapt this to suit how you learn – making acronyms, rhymes or posters – or even acting things out to remember them better.

Staying focused and motivated

Try working at a totally new time.

This is one for really desperate times, not to be used all year round: as you will see when you read on, if overused its natural conclusion is a descent into madness. When I’m having an essay crisis, or an exam is looming and I don’t feel prepared, I totally change my routine, and wake up at 3.30am to work or revise. I have real problems focusing in the evening – I find working after 6pm miserable and oppressive, and know that I work very slowly and inefficiently at that time. However, if I go to bed really early (say, 9pm), when I wake up in the small hours of the morning (and once I’ve had a very strong coffee) my brain is refreshed, and I can get loads done before the day has even properly started. What’s more, there are no possible distractions at that time of day – nothing to do, no one to meet for coffees, and Facebook slows to the merest of trickles. Plus, the feeling of intense smugness that being up and working while the rest of the world sleeps will only make you more productive. If you’re not a morning person, this one might not work for you – instead, try giving yourself a lie in, and then staying up a few hours later at night. And of course, make up the time you’ve missed in bed elsewhere.

Break it down

Now, many of you will undoubtedly be sick to death of being told to plan your revision. I personally don’t hold much love for study timetables: in my experience, they inevitably end up sitting over your desk, evilly mocking your ineptitude with each day that you get further and further behind the targets you set three weeks ago. On the other hand, though, without a sense of when everything will get learned, it’s easy to feel totally at sea with revision, with a creeping sense that you might not be learning things quickly or well enough, or that you may have missed something out. Unfortunately, then, they can be something of a necessary evil. However, one tip will make sure you keep pace with your timetable, and realise if you’ve set unrealistic goals, while also increasing your motivation and helping you stay in the library for that crucial extra few hours. Each day, break your revision down into chunks- say, at least ten. Once you’ve completed one chunk, give yourself a little reward: I have a friend who will buy a bag of Maltesers, and eat two after each chunk; another who watches one video on YouTube; a third who checks his Facebook for five minutes and a fourth who spends a few minutes punching a punch-bag! Make it a rule that before you leave the library at the end of the day, you’ve got to have completed the ten small tasks you have set yourself.

Plan daily exercise in groups

Annoyingly, for those of us who prefer an afternoon on the sofa with a movie to a walk or a game of tennis, it’s been proven a hundred times over: regular exercise boosts concentration. What’s more, whole days, weeks or even months spent in the library, working towards a single goal, with no distractions or social interaction are very bad for morale, efficiency and concentration. A great way to break revision up, see some human faces and get moving is to plan to do something active and fun once a day with friends. When I was revising for my IB, a group of us used to go swimming for an hour every day before dinner. This was a great social event (and a good chance to moan about all the work we were doing!), which gave us all something to plan our days around, and a chance to get outside and generally stay sane.

Have you got any unusual study tips that have helped you through desperate times?

Images: Man Climbing Mountain

Suggestions

How To Stay Motivated With College Coursework

We all have ups and downs, and it’s quite common to experience moments of feeling utterly unmotivated to do your schoolwork even if you love to study. It’s not easy to cope with the stress of getting a task done on time when you have so many assignments to complete at the same time. But you shouldn’t get discouraged. Here are a few easy tips that could increase your motivation and productivity when doing your assignments, even on your toughest days.

Set Achievable Goals

When you set specific and manageable goals for your studying and make them public in some way, it can increase your overall performance and boost your motivation. But you should remember that a vague goal won’t help you a lot. So you should set goals with milestones.

First, you should create a to-do list of tasks that you have to complete during a week or even a month and set specific deadlines for completing each assignment. This way, you can relieve yourself from the stressful feeling of not meeting deadlines. But keep in mind that your goals should be manageable, specific, time-bound, achievable and measurable.

Break Large College Projects Into Smaller Ones

When you have a list of assignments to do during a week or a day, you should start with the most difficult one. That will help you stay motivated. If you begin with the easiest task, you may start to procrastinate and postpone the longer and harder assignments.

It’s not easy to complete a big assignment such as a term paper that requires a lot of effort and keep the same level of determination. No wonder that some students procrastinate and are unable to meet deadlines for lengthy projects. Then, they even start thinking about getting help and finding “ someone to do my assignment .”

The trick is to break your time-consuming assignment into smaller steps. For example, if you have to write a research paper, you can break it down into several different steps like:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Doing online research
• Creating a thesis statement
• Making an outline
• Writing an introduction and conclusion
• Writing research paper sections
• Creating a references list
• Revising the first draft
• Editing and proofreading

Don’t try to complete all these steps at once — that’s impossible, and you will just set yourself up for disappointment. Instead, you should focus on a single step at a time, allowing yourself a sense of accomplishment, and your project won’t seem so daunting.

Reward Yourself

Numerous studies reveal that if you give yourself a reward for doing your work, you will enjoy the effort even more. You should reward yourself each time you hit your goal, and your brain will soon learn that effective study results in good things.

Rewards will help you enhance motivation, making you feel like you have accomplished something. Your reward doesn’t necessarily have to be something huge, but it should be something positive that will motivate you. For example, you can reward yourself with a longer break after you finish a big challenging project — or you can hang out with your friends, watch your favorite TV show, go for a massage or read a book you always wanted to get stuck in.

Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health

You can’t be motivated to work hard if you feel tired, distressed or anxious. Take care of yourself and develop healthy lifestyle habits — exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, get a good night’s sleep, stay hydrated and find time to rest and relax.

Your mental health is also important, so you should always be kind to yourself. It’s okay if some days won’t go as you planned. Don’t criticize yourself when things get tough, and avoid thinking, “I can’t do this.” Forgive yourself if you didn’t do your best. You will be able to overcome the setbacks another time.

When you feel down and not confident in your abilities, make a list of your achievements and a list of things you are grateful for. It will help improve your state of mind and increase your motivation to succeed. It’s also important to celebrate all your accomplishments, even if they are small.

If you take care of your body and your mind, you’ll feel more energized to cope with everyday challenges and be more motivated to work hard and succeed.

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Daniel Reed

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Self-Motivation and the Online Learner: How to Stay Motivated When You Go to College Online

Ask anyone who’s pursuing a college degree online and they will tell you that the work is rigorous, requires excellent time-management skills, and involves a significant amount of discipline.

Still, more than 6 million Americans take at least one college class online, according to the National Center for Education Statistics , and nearly 3 million of those go to college exclusively online.

That’s because, despite the substantial amount of motivation needed to be successful, online learning has numerous benefits. The convenience and flexibility allow you to study any time and just about anywhere you have an internet connection. This makes it an ideal solution for working adults and those with family obligations.

If you’re taking classes online and need a little help in the self-discipline department, keep reading. We’re highlighting several tips for staying motivated while you go to college online.

Develop the Mindset that YOU are in Charge of Your Education

Turns out, Ford was right. Decades later, studies by Stanford University professor Albert Bandura and others established that students who believed in their own abilities were more successful academically than those who did not.

One of the best ways to develop an empowering mindset is to practice positive self-talk. The idea is to talk to yourself in confident, affirming ways. Psychology Today , NPR , and University of Pennsylvania all cite studies supporting the idea that positive thinking helps create success.

Need help getting started? Tell yourself:

• I am excited to attend college online and earn my degree. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I am rising to the challenge.
• No one is going to do this for me, and that’s OK—I can do a great job with my coursework by working hard and being diligent.
• It’s not easy, but I can balance work, school, and life. I’m doing it!

Do These 3 Things Regularly

Log in. This is the first step to success. You can’t look for course updates, contribute to class discussions, or complete assignments if you don’t at least log in to your online classroom. Get in the habit of doing so regularly.

Communicate with your teachers. Any reputable online school will encourage students to communicate with faculty and provide several ways to do so, such as email, discussion boards, chat room office hours, and even text messaging (for some teachers).

Ask for help when you need it. Open communication helps you develop a rapport with teachers and pave the way if you have questions down the line. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Faculty and staff want to help you succeed.

Block Off Times for Studying Each Week

Create a reasonable study schedule and stick to it. Look at your commitments at the onset of each week and determine your obligations for coursework/study time, work, and family for that week. Block off time to meet each obligation and schedule this time as appointments on your calendar, and then keep your appointments.

Having a consistent workspace is a good idea, too.

Use Time Management Techniques

• Identify your time wasters (social media, texting, purposeless web browsing) and vow not to participate when you should be studying.
• Do one thing at a time; research shows that multitasking slows you down and may even lower your IQ temporarily.
• Break large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Need a little more help in this area? Get more time management tips for college students . Or, watch the TED-Ed video, in which bestselling author Brian Christian provides time management insights gleaned from computer science.

Focus on Your Long-Term Goal…

Remember why you’re doing this: the degree, the greater career opportunities, the ability to take life in the direction you want to go. Write down your reasons, too. There’s a neuroscientific explanation as to why writing down your reasons actually helps you achieve your goals.

…But Also Set Short-Term Goals and Reward Yourself for Meeting Them

Passed Intro to Biology? Wrapped up that big project with an A? Celebrate with something that makes you feel good. Rewarding yourself helps keep you motivated.

Connect With Other Students

Class discussion boards, Facebook groups, and other online tools and resources help you connect with a community of like-minded online learners. You can share your common struggles, get new perspectives, and support each other.

How Do You Stay Motivated?

If it’s working, keep doing it!

Purdue Global is dedicated to helping you achieve your career goals. Learn about our academic support and the numerous career resources we offer.

About the Author

Purdue Global

Earn a degree you're proud of and employers respect at Purdue Global, Purdue's online university for working adults. Accredited and online, Purdue Global gives you the flexibility and support you need to come back and move your career forward. Choose from 175+ programs, all backed by the power of Purdue.

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Stunning Motivation

Get motivated to achieve your goals and dreams

10 Ways How to Find Motivation to Do Your Coursework

Coursework remains one of the most challenging things students face. Most often, the issue is not the difficult assignment but the study motivation to kick-start the process.

Finding your motivation in doing coursework can be tricky, especially if you are struggling in the class or don’t enjoy the subject matter.

If you feel this way, you are not alone! There are many high school and college students who are also struggling. However, the key is to find the best working option and stick to it. Interestingly, you can inspire yourself in several short and long-term ways. Thus, here are 10 ways to motivate yourself.

1. Figure out Why You’re Procrastinating

We all have moments when we procrastinate, but if you find that you are chronically putting things off. It can be frustrating and cause stress in your life and school work. So, why do you procrastinate, and what can you do?

There are a few reasons why people procrastinate . It could be that you are perfectionistic and feel afraid of making mistakes. Or it could be that you are overwhelmed by a piece of work and don’t know where to start. It could also be that you are not interested in the task. Whatever the reason, you should do all you can to overcome procrastination and stay motivated. 

2. Take Time for Yourself 

We all know the feeling – you are stuck in a rut, unmotivated, and bogged down by day-to-day tasks. It is pretty challenging to break out of this mindset, but luckily, there is a way. 

By setting aside some time each day, you can boost your motivation. It is an excellent method that  motivates you to study  and get out of your funk. Self-care is essential for maintaining mental health and can come in many forms. 

Spend time on a relaxing activity; take short walks, read something interesting, meditate, and do things that take your thoughts off school work for a while. The Pomodoro technique is a good option, which allows you to schedule short breaks between studies.

3. Create Your Reward System 

Creating a reward system is excellent for boosting motivation and staying on track with your goals. It works by setting targets, rewarding yourself for each step you complete, and helping you finish your task sooner.

See it this way: if you were working towards a goal and knew that you get a reward for reaching a milestone, wouldn’t you be more inspired to keep going?

4. Try to Understand Your Studying Style Better 

In this information age, there are many ways to learn and study. So, how can you find a study experience that works best for you? The answer lies in understanding your learning style. Observe how you understand and remember information, and experiment with different methods to pick the best.

5. Create a Detailed Timeline with Specific Deadlines

Coursework is time-limited, and it is crucial to work within that time frame. Creating a detailed timeline can also help you  stop procrastination  and stay motivated. First, you should gather all the information needed for the assignment, break them into smaller tasks, and set deadlines for each step. Such action gives a sense of urgency that keeps you on track.

6. Create a Clean Workspace 

Keeping a clean and organized workspace is vital for your productivity and mental health. So, look for ways to declutter your desk; remove items you don’t need for your coursework and put away things that don’t belong on your desk.

You can also invest in storage solutions to keep some of your stuff. Also, perform a quick dusting to keep your desk free from dirt. Such an action would help you create a blank slate that you can work with.

7. Focus on the Task At Hand 

With various distractions like social media and dry chores, it can be challenging to concentrate on your study. Instead of multitasking, prioritize your tasks from the essential options and eliminate distractions.

Also, try finding a serene environment that wouldn’t interrupt your study; a library could help. Folks who find focusing challenging can set timers and take short breaks at intervals.

8. Complete One Task before Kick-starting On the Next

To be productive, it is crucial to take on a parallel process and finish one assignment before moving on to the next. This act would prevent you from getting overwhelmed and keep you focused on completing your projects.

Of course, there are periods when you need to start new tasks before finishing old ones. But if you can, try to avoid this whenever possible.

9. Try Out a Few Strategies

Some various strategies and tricks can earn you some homework motivation. However, trying out as many as possible is crucial, as a combination of a few practical strategies should help you succeed. Studying can be quite tasking, but helpful learning techniques can make the entire session more bearable.

10. Expand Your Comfort Zone

Is there any work in life that is ever easy? No. This is the same for learning, as there are some struggles involved. But you can seek assistance from professionals like  Paperell.net  to help you get through your coursework. Students can get their work or assignments uploaded on this platform and have it reviewed by experts to help them develop solutions.

Even with such assistance, you must also put in some work. Staying away from your comfort zone can be scary, but it is essential for growth in your academic adventure. So, set goals, build your support network, boost your abilities, and leap.

It’s towards the end of the term/semester, and you are finally settling in to start your coursework. But as soon as you open your project, your mind starts to wander; you keep surfing your phone and being unproductive. Does this sound familiar? 

You can try a few things if you need help getting motivated. It would be best to remain self-aware; try to break the tasks into smaller steps, making them less daunting. This article holds 10 tips that can help keep you and your friends as a student stay motivated and stick to their study plans.

By Shawn Lim

Hi there, this is Shawn. I inspire people to achieve their goals and dreams and to reach for higher success in life. If you want to learn more about me, kindly go to the About page. By the way, have you downloaded your FREE copy of The 90-90-1 Rule ? Don't forget to do so. Cheers. :)

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The road to success: strategies for achieving your goal, gut-brain connection: how your diet influences your mental health, reasons why you should invest in your career development.

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Students have varying motivations for taking a course

The range of motivators that influence our students to take a course are nearly as numerous as the number of students who enroll. For some, enrollment reflects an intrinsic interest in the topic. For others, it is a require course. For still others it is the only class option that fits their schedule. Some think it will be an easy A. And for some students, they enroll because other friends are also taking the course and it offers an opportunity to see each other and interact. The factors motivating our students have a powerful influence on the type, intensity and quality of work they demonstrate in our courses. Understanding these factors can help us better support our students’ learning.

Assess and identify the motivations that students bring to the course.

Include examples from multiple disciplines., allow some freedom/control in topics., allow some freedom/control in the grading scheme..

Remember, not all students have the same interest and motivation as you. Indeed, you probably represent the extreme in terms of interest and motivation in your field. Knowing why students enroll in your course can help you choose examples, readings, demonstrations and applications that cover the range of motivators influencing your students. Assessing not only prior knowledge but students attitudes about your topic and their motivation for being in your class, can provide valuable information.

If students see how concepts and ideas apply in their own domains, they are more likely to realize the relevance of the material. Relevance is a key determinant of motivation.

Choice allows students to direct their attention and focus their efforts toward specific areas of interest.  You can introduce choice at the individual- or the class-level provided that it supports the learning objectives of your course.  For instance, you can allow students to choose topics for papers or projects.  Alternatively, some instructors leave some days in the syllabus as TBA (to be announced) and allow students to choose the topic(s) for discussion.

If appropriate, give students an opportunity to differentially weigh various aspects of the course. For instance, certain students may decide to weigh class participation more heavily than others. Alternatively, others may weigh exam scores more heavily that homework assignments. This choice allows students to concentrate their efforts in aspects of the course that they find most interesting. While this strategy can and has indeed been used successfully on campus, several factors determine its success. The variation in weight is usually restricted (e.g., participation might count from 5% to 15% of the total grade). This is because all the possible individualized schemes must be able to assess the common learning objectives for the course. Also, students should identify their weighting distribution at the beginning of the semester and not post-hoc. Finally, the students must have adequate intellectual maturity (i.e., graduate or at least upper-division) to use this strategy productively.

This site supplements our 1-on-1 teaching consultations. CONTACT US to talk with an Eberly colleague in person!

8.1 Setting Goals and Staying Motivated

Questions to Consider:

• How do I set motivational goals?
• What are SMART goals?
• What’s the importance of an action plan?
• How do I keep to my plan?

Motivation often means the difference between success and failure. That applies to school, to specific tasks, and to life in general. One of the most effective ways to keep motivated is to set goals.

Goals can be big or small. A goal can range from I am going to write one extra page tonight , to I am going to work to get an A in this course , all the way to I am going to graduate in the top of my class so I can start my career with a really good position . The great thing about goals is that they can include and influence a number of other things that all work toward a much bigger picture. For example, if your goal is to get an A in a certain course, all the reading, studying, and every assignment you do for that course contributes to the larger goal. You have motivation to do each of those things and to do them well.

Setting goals is something that is frequently talked about, but it is often treated as something abstract. Like time management, goal setting is best done with careful thought and planning. This next section will explain how you can apply tested techniques to goal setting and what the benefits of each can be.

Set Goals That Motivate You

The first thing to know about goal setting is that a goal is a specific end result you desire. If the goal is not something you are really interested in, there is little motivational drive to achieve it. Think back to when you were much younger and some well-meaning adult set a goal for you—something that didn’t really appeal to you at all. How motivated were you to achieve the goal? More than likely, if you were successful at all in meeting the goal, it was because you were motivated by earning the approval of someone or receiving a possible reward, or you were concerned with avoiding something adverse that might happen if you did not do what you were told. From an honest perspective in that situation, your real goal was based on something else, not the meeting of the goal set for you. To get the most from the goals you set, make sure they are things that you are interested in achieving.

That is not to say you shouldn’t set goals that are supported by other motivations (e.g., If I finish studying by Friday, I can go out on Saturday), but the idea is to be intellectually honest with your goals.

Set SMART Goals

Goals should also be SMART. In this case, the word smart is not only a clever description of the type of goal, but it is also an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The reason these are all desirable traits for your goals is because they not only help you plan how to meet the goal, but they can also contribute to your decision-making processes during the planning stage.

What does it mean to create SMART goals?

• Specific—For a goal to be specific, it must be defined enough to actually determine the goal. A goal of get a good job when I graduate is too general. It doesn’t define what a good job is. In fact, it doesn’t even necessarily include a job in your chosen profession. A more specific goal would be something like be hired as a nurse in a place of employment where it is enjoyable to work and that has room for promotion.
• Measurable—The concept of measurable is one that is often overlooked when setting goals. What this means is that the goal should have clearly defined outcomes that are detailed enough to measure and can be used for planning of how you will achieve the goal. For example, setting a goal of doing well in school is a bit undefined, but making a goal of graduating with a GPA above 3.0 is measurable and something you can work with. If your goal is measurable, you can know ahead of time how many points you will have to earn on a specific assignment to stay in that range or how many points you will need to make up in the next assignment if you do not do as well as you planned.
• Attainable— Attainable or achievable goals means they are reasonable and within your ability to accomplish. While a goal of make an extra one million dollars by the end of the week is something that would be nice to achieve, the odds that you could make that happen in a single week are not very realistic.
• Relevant—For goal setting, relevant means it applies to the situation. In relation to college, a goal of getting a horse to ride is not very relevant, but getting dependable transportation is something that would contribute to your success in school.
• Time-bound—Time-bound means you set a specific time frame to achieve the goal. I will get my paper written by Wednesday is time-bound. You know when you have to meet the goal. I will get my paper written sometime soon does not help you plan how and when you will accomplish the goal.

In the following table you can see some examples of goals that do and do not follow the SMART system. As you read each one, think about what elements make them SMART or how you might change those that are not.

Long-Term Goals

Once you have learned how to set goals that are specific and measurable, consider developing both long-term and short-term goals. Long-term goals are future goals that often take years to complete. An example of a long-term goal might be to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree within four years. Another example might be purchasing a home or running a marathon. While this chapter focuses on academic and career planning, long-term goals are not exclusive to these areas of your life. You might set long-term goals related to fitness, wellness, spirituality, and relationships, among many others. When you set a long-term goal in any aspect of your life, you are demonstrating a commitment to dedicate time and effort toward making progress in that area. Because of this commitment, it is important that your long-term goals are aligned with your values.

Short-Term Goals

Setting short-term goals helps you consider the necessary steps you’ll need to take, but it also helps to chunk a larger effort into smaller, more manageable tasks. Even when your long-term goals are SMART, it’s easier to stay focused and you’ll become less overwhelmed in the process of completing short-term goals.

You might assume that short-term and long-term goals are different goals that vary in the length of time they take to complete. Given this assumption, you might give the example of a long-term goal of learning how to create an app and a short-term goal of remembering to pay your cell phone bill this weekend. These are valid goals, but they don’t exactly demonstrate the intention of short- and long-term goals for the purposes of effective planning.

Instead of just being bound by the difference of time, short-term goals are the action steps that take less time to complete than a long-term goal, but that help you work toward your long-term goals. To determine your best degree option, it might make sense to do some research to determine what kind of career you’re most interested in pursuing. Or, if you recall that short-term goal of paying your cell phone bill this weekend, perhaps this short-term goal is related to a longer-term goal of learning how to better manage your budgeting and finances.

Setting Long- and Short-Term Goals

Consider this scenario: While meeting with an academic advisor at his college to discuss his change of major, Sunil was tasked with setting long- and short-term goals aligned with that major. He selected a degree plan in business administration, sharing with his advisor his intention to work in business and hopefully human relations in particular. His advisor discussed with him how he could set short-term goals that would help his progress on that plan. Sunil wondered if he should be as specific as setting short-term goals week by week or for the successful completion of every homework assignment or exam. His advisor shared that he could certainly break his goals down into that level of specificity if it helped him to stay focused, but recommended that he start by outlining how many credits or courses he would hope to complete. Sunil drafted his goals and planned to meet again with his advisor in another week to discuss.

Sunil worried that his list of short-term goals looked more like a checklist of tasks than anything. His advisor reassured him, sharing that short-term goals can absolutely look like a checklist of tasks because their purpose is to break the long-term goal down into manageable chunks that are easier to focus on and complete. His advisor then recommended that Sunil add to his plan an additional note at the end of every other semester to “check in” with his advisor to make certain that he was on track.

Planning for Adjustments

You will recall from the SMART goals goal-setting model that goals should be both measurable and attainable. Far too often, however, we set goals with the best of intentions but then fail to keep track of our progress or adjust our short-term goals if they’re not helping us to progress as quickly as we’d like. When setting goals, the most successful planners also consider when they will evaluate their progress. At that time, perhaps after each short-term goal should have been met, they may reflect on the following:

• If so, celebrate!
• If not, you may want to additionally consider:

If not, reconsider the steps you need to take to meet your long-term goal. If you’ve gotten off track or if you’ve learned that other steps must be taken, set new short-term goals with timelines appropriate to each step. You may also want to seek some additional advice from others who have successfully met long-term goals that are similar to your own.

• If your goals are still relevant to your interests and values, then continue on your path, seeking advice and support as needed to stay on track.
• If your goals are no longer relevant or aligned with your values, give careful consideration to setting new goals.

While departing from your original goals may seem like a failure, taking the time to reflect on goals before you set them aside to develop new ones is a success. Pivoting from one goal to new, better-fitting goal involves increased self-awareness and increased knowledge about the processes surrounding your specific goal (such as the details of a college transfer, for example). With careful reflection and information seeking, your change in plans may even demonstrate learning and increased maturity!

Application

Take a moment to practice setting long- and short-term goals. Your short-term goal should help you progress toward your long-term goal. Include a plan for when and how you will know if you’re on track or if you need to adjust your goals to match new priorities.

Keep in mind that values and goals may change over time as you meet new people, your life circumstances change, and you gain more wisdom or self-awareness. In addition to setting goals and tracking your progress, you should also periodically reflect on your goals to ensure their consistency with your values.

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In a world that never pauses, where every moment is a battle against time and every corner is filled with distractions, the quest for continuous learning within our teams is more crucial than ever.

As the digital age accelerates, driven by the relentless pace of artificial intelligence, the stakes for keeping our skills sharp and our knowledge fresh have never been higher.

The challenge for those of us leading the charge in training is not just to keep pace but to inspire our teams to embrace the journey of lifelong learning.

Imagine a future where adaptability and continuous skill enhancement are not just valued but are the cornerstones of professional survival. The World Economic Forum paints a vivid picture of this future, predicting that by 2025, a staggering 50% of the global workforce will need to pivot their skills to stay relevant. McKinsey amplifies this message, indicating that a vast majority of companies are already feeling the skill gap pinch or foresee it on the horizon.

This looming skills revolution underscores the critical importance of proactive and dynamic training strategies that prepare us not only for today’s challenges but for tomorrow’s unknowns.

However, fostering a culture of continuous learning is often met with resistance. All too frequently, training is perceived as a mere formality rather than a stepping stone to personal and professional growth. Our primary challenge lies in redefining ongoing education from being a burdensome task to an essential investment in our future.

At the heart of this transformation is the power of motivation. It’s about kindling the fire within, turning passive participants into eager learners who actively seek knowledge and growth.

Here, we outline strategies to not only meet but exceed the basic requirements of training, fostering an environment where learning is a continuous, engaging, and vital part of our daily work life. L

1) Offer More Opportunities for Professional Development

Offering opportunities for professional development isn't just a tactic to boost job satisfaction; it's a crucial component in creating a work environment where employees feel valued and recognized.

The feeling of being stuck can lead to frustration and a decreased commitment to the organization. However, when employees see a clear path to growth and career advancement, their motivation to engage in training activities, such as eLearning courses, significantly increases.

Providing training that is relevant to an employee's role and specific needs does more than help them achieve their professional goals; it sends a powerful message that the company genuinely cares about their well-being and development. This sense of mutual support fosters a strong motivation and loyalty towards the company.

Conducting professional development surveys is a valuable tool for better understanding employees' career aspirations and the areas they wish to improve. This information is crucial for designing training programs that are not only relevant and engaging but also aligned with the organization's strategic goals.

Actionable tip: Implement a "Learning Passport" program for each employee. This passport could be a personalized record mapping out the employee's learning journey, from current skills to future development goals, including recommended eLearning courses, workshops, and mentorship experiences needed to achieve these objectives. By regularly reviewing these passports during professional development meetings, both leaders and employees can closely monitor progress, celebrate achievements, and adjust the plan as needed.

2) Mobile Learning: The Right Information in the Right Place

The effectiveness of a training program hinges not just on its content, but on its accessibility as well . In a world where mobility is crucial and mobile devices have become extensions of ourselves, tailoring learning to fit the digital lifestyle of employees is key.

If your teams are always on the go or prefer the flexibility of learning at different times and in different places, it's essential that the design of your training program reflects this reality.

Ensuring that training is compatible and accessible on any device not only broadens the reach of your program but also shows an understanding of your employees' needs and preferences. This, in turn, can significantly boost their interest and engagement in the proposed learning activities.

Actionable tip: Carry out a brief yet focused survey to gather information on your employees' learning preferences, including content types, preferred formats, and device availability. Use this information to create a customized "Mobile Learning Library" filled with a variety of educational resources tailored to these insights. This library should be easily accessible via a mobile app or an online portal optimized for mobile use, allowing employees to access learning content whenever and wherever suits them best. Additionally, consider setting up personalized notifications or reminders that encourage employees to regularly dedicate time to their professional development, thus fostering a habit of continuous learning.

Recommended read: The Basics of Motivational eLearning Design

3) Diversify Learning

Diversifying learning is a powerful strategy to encourage a continuous and dynamic professional development environment.

By offering a wide range of learning formats and methods, you can cater to the diverse preferences and needs of your team , thereby increasing their motivation and engagement with the training process. This strategy not only enriches the learning experience but also makes it easier to accommodate various learning paces and styles, maximizing development opportunities for every individual.

Actionable tip: Create an online repository that serves as a comprehensive hub for learning resources. This repository could include a variety of learning experiences, from virtual mentoring and microlearning to microcredentials, monthly challenges, and webinars. By centralizing these resources, you make it easier for employees to access a range of learning opportunities, allowing them to choose those that best fit their individual needs and interests. To maximize the usage and impact of this repository, implement a "Personalized Notification and Recommendation System" that alerts employees to new resources added to the repository and encourages them to explore the options.

4) Reward Your Employees

Rewarding employees for their participation and achievements in training activities is an effective strategy to boost engagement and acknowledge their hard work and dedication. Tangible rewards, paired with recognition of the impact that learning has on their professional development, can be powerful motivators both in the short and long term.

Beyond offering prizes and accolades for specific achievements, like earning top grades or completing training ahead of schedule, it's crucial to communicate how these activities contribute to the employees' professional growth. This might include developing new skills that prepare them for leadership roles, enhancing their current performance, or even opening up new opportunities within the company.

Actionable Tip: Implement a "Learning Points Program." Under this program, employees would accumulate points for every training activity they complete, participation in webinars, collaborative projects, or any other learning initiative. These points could then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, ranging from gift cards and recognition certificates to unique experiences, such as dining at a top restaurant, additional days off, or contributions towards personal development projects like attending conferences or workshops outside the company.

5) Focus on Two Elements: Utility and Urgency

Highlighting the immediate benefits of training is an effective strategy to boost employee motivation, especially for those who might not see the value of long-term professional development or who are at different stages in their careers.

By emphasizing how training can simplify and enhance their daily work, you provide them with tangible and directly applicable reasons to commit to learning.

It's crucial to clearly communicate and demonstrate through practical examples how the skills gained from training will positively impact employees' everyday tasks. This can range from streamlining processes to enhancing decision-making autonomy, benefiting operational efficiency and increasing job satisfaction by reducing dependencies and wait times.

Actionable Tip: Create a series of "Training Success Stories" where employees from various departments share their experiences on how training has helped them in their day-to-day work. These stories can be presented in multiple formats, such as short videos, articles on the company intranet, or presentations at team meetings. Ensure you include a variety of testimonials covering a wide range of roles within the organization so that every employee can identify with at least one of the stories.

Also read: What Do Modern Learners Actually Want From Your eLearning Courses?

6) Encourage Flexibility

Encouraging flexibility in training programs is essential to meet the needs and expectations of a modern workforce that values autonomy and accessibility in their learning.

Moving from a "push" training model, where training is scheduled and directed by the organization at specific times, to a "pull" model, which allows employees to access information and learning when they need it, is key to increasing motivation for continuous learning.

This "pull" approach acknowledges that employees have different learning styles, work paces, and personal commitments, giving them the chance to customize their learning experience. By having control over when and how they learn, employees are more likely to actively seek out training opportunities that align with their professional interests and needs, thus enhancing their engagement and motivation to learn continuously.

Actionable Tip : Implement an online learning platform that uses artificial intelligence to recommend courses and training materials based on each employee's work activities, interests, and learning patterns. This technology can not only guide employees to the content most relevant to them but can also dynamically adjust to their progress and changing preferences, ensuring that learning is always relevant and engaging. Additionally, introduce digital badges and reward systems that recognize progress and achievements through this self-directed training, validating and celebrating their commitment to continuous learning.

Read more:  The Anatomy of a Modern eLearning Course

Also read: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Self-Directed Learning at the Workplace

7) Offer Support and Feedback in the Virtual Learning Environment

Incorporating continuous and real-time feedback during eLearning courses is a powerful strategy to keep employees motivated and engaged with their learning. This approach, especially when supported by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), provides participants with a more interactive and personalized learning experience, ensuring they receive guidance and support exactly when they need it.

Actionable Tip : Introduce an "Intelligent Learning Assistant" for your eLearning courses. This AI-powered assistant should be able to:

Identify Specific Challenges : Recognize when an employee is struggling with a particular concept and offer additional resources, such as video tutorials, supplementary readings, or practice exercises focused on that area.

Provide Immediate Feedback: After each activity or assessment, the system should analyze the responses and offer specific feedback on what the employee did well and what they can improve.

Howeve r, it's also crucial to foster human interaction - integrate live Q&A sessions and offer the option to request personalized tutoring sessions with instructors or mentors. This allows employees to delve deeper into complex topics and strengthens the learning community.

8) Create Immersive and Interactive eLearning Experiences s

The secret to keeping employees consistently motivated and engaged with online learning lies in crafting eLearning experiences that are not just interactive but deeply immersive. By incorporating real-life scenarios, interactive assessments, and practices that mimic real work experiences, a stronger connection between learning and its practical application is achieved.

Actionable Tip: To ensure the creation of these rich and dynamic learning environments, consider using advanced eLearning authoring tools like SHIFT. This AI-powered eLearning platform specializes in transforming traditional content into highly interactive and immersive learning experiences.

SHIFT stands out for its ability to:

Automate Course Design: Allowing training teams to focus on content while the platform handles the interactive and engaging presentation.

Streamline Content Creation: Simplifying and speeding up the course development process, enabling teams to quickly adapt to changing training needs.

Incorporating SHIFT into your training strategy not only boosts your employees' motivation and involvement but also ensures that learning is relevant, challenging, and directly applicable to their daily roles. This, in turn, creates a virtuous cycle of learning and continuous improvement, crucial for personal and professional growth in today's dynamic work environment.

To successfully navigate a dynamic and uncertain work environment, we've explored eight strategies that promise not only to foster a continuous learning environment but also to organically integrate this process into the daily workflow, ensuring active and sustained employee engagement.

From offering more professional development opportunities to creating immersive and interactive eLearning courses, each strategy is aligned with a common goal: to ignite employees' intrinsic motivation to learn and grow throughout their careers.

As leaders and learning architects within our organizations, we face the challenge of nurturing a culture that values and promotes continuous learning as a fundamental pillar for both individual and collective success. On this journey, the tools and strategies we choose must not only meet the immediate needs of our teams but also inspire them to envision and reach their fullest potential.

Let's reflect together:

How can we further personalize our learning strategies to address the unique aspirations and challenges of each employee?

In what ways can we more deeply integrate learning into the daily workflow, making skill development a continuous and natural experience?

How can we leverage technology, especially artificial intelligence, to make learning more accessible, relevant, and motivating?

What innovative ways can we find to recognize and celebrate learning achievements, thus strengthening commitment and loyalty to the organization?

• Silvia Rojas

Topics: corporate training

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A Guide to Motivating Yourself at Work

• Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar

Feeling burned out? Use these tips from our authors.

Sixty percent of employees feel emotionally detached from their jobs and 50% report feeling stressed on a daily basis, according to a recent global survey from Gallup. While your first instinct may be to quit your job, it might not be the most sustainable option. Know that you have the agency to create better working conditions for yourself.

• Understand the impact of your work. Take the time to learn how our work contributes to the larger mission of our organization can help us reenter a more positive state of mind.
• Once you know the impact of your work, pick one area or project and overdeliver. A better way to stay engaged and grow in your role is to identify and prioritize the tasks that will be most recognized by your manager and organization.
• Build habits that help you move through the stressful moments. Practice flourishing or connect to your sense of purpose in life and appreciate your accomplishments even during life’s challenging moments.
• Amplify the parts of your job that you do enjoy. Try job crafting. That is redesign your daily tasks to focus on your strengths.
• Figure out what gives you meaning outside work. Work is not the only place we should seek to thrive. Our interests, goals, and aspirations outside of our jobs can be just as meaningful.

My first job was a dream come true. I was working at a news organization, reporting on some of the most important stories in the world. In the beginning, my work gave me a real sense of purpose — I was reporting on stories that mattered. But slowly, my satisfaction faded. I started dreading the long hours. My pay barely covered my living expenses. The more time went by, the more my tasks began to feel monotonous. Six months in, I was entirely disillusioned and demotivated.

• RR Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar is an associate editor at Ascend.

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Spanish, bilingual course from WSU Extension creates climate ambassadors

To reach thousands of northwestern Washington residents who do not speak English fluently but may want to protect the environment, Washington State University Extension is offering new educational programs in Spanish including the “Promotores del Clima” program — climate ambassadors.

“We’re taking this step to offer bilingual and Spanish programming to support underserved populations in Washington state,” said Patricia Townsend, associate professor based at Snohomish County Extension. “The learning and volunteer impacts are greater when we incorporate the voices of those we serve.”

Townsend is using funding from a National Science Foundation Advancing Informal STEM Learning grant to support the climate ambassadors program and other similar outreach. She has run additional bilingual programs since 2016, when she helped initiate the “Promotores de Energía” (energy ambassadors). The climate ambassadors programming stems from those earlier initiatives.

Though Townsend procures the grants, she recognizes that she would not be effective at delivering educational content for the course.

“I’ve learned that even if I spoke fluent Spanish, I’m not the right person to deliver this programming,” she said. “It’s important to have educators who grew up in the culture.”

Townsend instead leans on WSU Extension Lead Educator Cristina Ocaña Gallegos. A WSU alumna with a bachelor’s in plant biotechnology and master’s in crop science, she currently works at the  Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center  as a research technician in plant pathology.

Ocaña Gallegos meets with the climate ambassadors at the WSU Everett campus for three hours each Saturday, lecturing and facilitating guest speakers such as  Biological Systems Engineering Department Chair Manuel Garcia-Pérez , who will present this month.

“We’ve learned from past surveys that many people feel powerless in the face of climate change,” Ocaña Gallegos said. “This course empowers participants to dive into the science, engage in teamwork, and reach out to their communities to make a difference.”

Through interactive and hands-on workshops, participants are trained to educate Latine or Hispanic families and communities how to care for the environment. One particularly memorable and experiential portion of the course includes layering an unlucky volunteer in six blankets, each representing the most common greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. At the end of the course, participants deliver and present a final project.

“One group of women educated on fast fashion – what it is and the impacts stemming from it,” said Ocaña Gallegos. “Someone else wrote a beautifully illustrated book for young children that raises awareness about the changing climate.”

Ocaña Gallegos and Townsend have found that the programming tends to appeal to all. One course included three generations of the same family, from the grandfather to the teens.

“We couldn’t have recruited this diverse body of participants without the support of our partners, particularly the  Latino Educational Training Institute  (LETI), who helped us to get the word out,” said Townsend.

The current group of climate ambassadors will relay their knowledge and partake in science-based environmental outreach with educational games like  Climate Change Lotería , developed by the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at University of Washington. They also host booths at summer events including the LETI  Latino Expo , educating peers on the many effects and causes of modern-day climate change.

“People walk away with a deeper understanding of the science behind climate change, and they’re energized to spread the word and take steps to reduce their own impacts,” Ocaña Gallegos said. “It’s why we started the program, and it’s rewarding to see these results.”

Further information

Get involved with Promotores del Clima or learn more by reaching out to Associate Professor Patricia Townsend. Another program in Spanish, the  Promotores del medio Ambiente  (ambassadors of the environment), will resume in fall 2024.

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