Back

2 October 2023

Staying motivated and focused

By Brainline

Staying motivated and focused

As time is slowly creeping towards the end of the school year, most people are starting to lose their motivation and experience a “slump”. This decline of motivation is especially true for those learning online, as many students and parents find it increasingly difficult to stay focused, engaged and organised.

However, with important tasks and events scheduled for the end of the year, it is important to stay motivated and ensure you achieve your goals. Therefore, it can be helpful to identify the signs of decreased motivation and know how to regain your focus for the rest of the year.

Signs of decreased motivation

• You struggle to stay productive.
• You increasingly procrastinate tasks.
• You regularly skip class or when you do attend, you find it difficult to concentrate.
• The quality of your work is decreasing.
• You feel increasingly bored.
• You struggle to prioritise and manage your time.
• You struggle to see the value of subject content and the importance of working hard.

Tips for renewing motivation

1. Identify contributing factors

Knowing what contributes to your negative feelings can help you identify how to renew your motivation. Not getting enough rest, feeling overworked or overwhelmed, not having any goals, or not having a set routing might be possible contributors.

 

1. Revisit your goals

It is important to know the why to your doing. If you want to end the year on a high note, it is important to know what you want to achieve and why you want to achieve specific things. This is where goal setting becomes important and you can still set goals for yourself towards the end of the year. If you have set certain goals for yourself in the beginning of the year, it might be useful to revisit them and adapt them where necessary now that the year has progressed.

 

1. Reflect on your accomplishments

During the rush of the school year, people tend to start focusing on all the challenges they face and the disappointments they have experienced. This leads to feeling overwhelmed and decreases motivation. Therefore, it is important to reflect and celebrate what you have accomplished during this time. This will shift your perspective from the negative to the positive and may help you stay motivated for the second half of the year.

 

1. Change your routine

Having a set routine is important for motivation. However, when your motivation starts to decrease, it might be necessary to reshuffle your daily activities to form a new routine. A new approach to your tasks might provide you with a new perspective and a renewed energy for the rest of the year.

 

1. Get enough rest

Setting out enough time to rest may seem counterproductive, especially when you have several deadlines and activities which require your attention. However, a lack of motivation might a symptom of exhaustion and burnout. Getting enough rest will help you stay focused when working on tasks and assist with increasing motivation. Make sure to schedule enough time for rest and prioritise sleep.

 

1. Exercise

Getting enough exercise will increase your concentration as well as release endorphins, which will make you feel more motivated. Exercise is also assists with stress release. Make sure you to schedule time during the week to create an exercise habit. You can easily search for videos on YouTube or download a fitness app so that you can exercise at home.

 

1. Self-care

It is important to work and study hard during the year, however if you do not set out time to relax and take care of yourself, you might burn out and feel demotivated. Make sure you allow yourself time to recharge so that you are able to work productively the next day. Find an activity that you find relaxing and start setting time out in your schedule to relax. You will find that you will have more energy, can work more focused, and are able to achieve your year-end goals.
 

1. Use your support network

If you feel overwhelmed, remember you never have to do this on your own. Make sure to contact friends and family when you feel negative or demotivated. Use your social network as a resource if you need additional support. They can also provide you with encouragement to stay motivated and focused for the rest of the year.

At Brainline we are passionate about our learners and their well-being. Visit us on www.brainline.com for more information.

Article supplied by Brainline directly to eduweb.africa  - Copyright protected ©