—Jellina D., University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
If I had a magic wand, I’d brandish it near the end of each term and wish all my students a sprinkle of inspiration to get them through finals and summer classes without giving up. Far too many get a few weeks or days away from finishing and quit. With a little planning, though, you can beat those end-of-term, beginning-of-summer-class blues to keep going when the going gets tough:
Keep the prize in your eye.
Okay, so that may be a less elegant way of saying “Keep your eye on the prize.” Staying motivated calls for envisioning the finish line. If graduating with a degree or getting that perfect job is your ultimate goal, then take a moment to think about how it’ll feel when you get there. It feels good, right? Return to that feeling when you’re feeling stressed or unmotivated and reflect on how the current task (e.g., studying for a specific exam) will help you achieve your goal.
Find an accountability partner.
One of the best strategies for achieving a goal is to find someone who will be your accountability partner. This is someone (a friend or a mentor) you provide a regular progress report to. Sometimes just knowing you have to check in with someone will motivate you to get something done.
Reward yourself.
Life is too short not to celebrate. You finished that 10-page research paper? Watch a movie with a friend. Get all your studying done for Monday’s test by Saturday afternoon? Take a nature hike and reenergize yourself. Balancing task completion with rewards can give you the break you need to feel better about digging back into your work.
Take care of yourself.
Nothing zaps your energy and motivation like suffering with an illness. When my own motivation lags, a short nap or a good night’s rest are often enough to boost my mood and attitude. A brisk walk around the block or a pick-up badminton game can do the trick as well.
If all else fails to get you motivated, talking with an advisor or counselor on campus may help you identify what’s causing your dip in motivation and other steps you can take to finish strong.
