Study motivation

Skipping seminars to stay in bed? Slacking off to the point of doing nothing? Here's how to avoid sleepwalking through your degree course and get motivated.

Developing an unhealthy interest in your neighbours is a sure sign of procrastination.

How can I motivate myself?

Get the degree work done properly, and you can kick back with a clear conscience. Here’s how you get yourself started.

• Create the space
  Wherever you live, be it halls of residence or shared accommodation, establish a work area. Even if you don’t have a desk, restricting a small area just for learning will help create boundaries between work and play.
• Ditch the distraction
  Consider your working environment and cut out anything that tempts you from the task at hand, such as TV – or even music. If you just can’t work in silence, go for tunes without vocals.
• Establish a work schedule
  Break up the slog into more manageable sessions. So, if you’re faced with six hours worth of work, for example, why not split it into three two-hour sessions? You’ll feel like you’ve achieved something faster which is a buzz that’ll keep you going.
• Create regular breaks and rewards
  There’s nothing like the prospect of a treat to keep you focused, so be sure to pepper your sessions with them. Five minutes free time every hour, for example, will help to maintain that spark and drive. Use the opportunity to leave your working environment, get some fresh air, or do something rewarding. If you’re organised enough you can keep the weekends free too, so you can look forward to a night out on Friday.
• Study effectively
  There’s no point reading a textbook if you know you’re not taking it in. Think about how you learn best and try different things, read our article on revision tips for more ideas.

Why do I procrastinate?

If you’re hoping to give yourself a kick up the arse, begin by understanding why you’ve lost momentum in the first place. Only you can decide what’s behind your work-shy attitude, but here are some of the main offenders:

• Lack of focus – any long-term goals, like graduating, don’t register
• Lack of interest – your coursework leaves you cold
• Lack of drive – you’re not good at working under your own steam

Other factors can include stress, depression, the break-up of a relationship, or problems with drink or drugs. The key is to highlight what’s holding you back in order to take steps to overcome the situation.

Share the problem

There’s no shame in admitting you’ve been slacking. In many ways, it takes courage to admit the only time you get your head down is when it hits the pillow. What’s more, people will want to help. Whether it’s a good friend, a course tutor or your student welfare officer, they can help you get back on track. But first, of course, you have to want to help yourself.