College Means Nothing If You're Not Waking Up Motivated Every Day | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

College Means Nothing If You're Not Waking Up Motivated Every Day

I watch myself for even the little successes.

9
Student

It's really easy to give up hope. It's really easy to just accept that you can't do something. It's extremely easy to use these excuses to avoid doing work. I use them all the time... But a little less frequently than before.

I'm into my second year at college and coming in a few weeks ago, I told myself that I really need to step up my game. I did alright in my first year but if I wanted to further my career, I really needed to put in more time and effort. Its been about four weeks since school started and I have to say that my work ethic is a good ways better than last year. Do I still have a long way to go? Hell yes! But am I making progress? 100%.

The biggest challenge for me was not panicking the minute I didn't understand something. I always did that, still do that. But what I've started doing is first getting all my notes done on time. Trust me on this, getting behind on notes is a nightmare! It takes hours to catch up on the notes and then you fall behind on your other work and have to catch up on that. So please, just stay on top of your notes. A few hours a day keeps the stress away.

The second thing to do is write down a study plan: what you hope to accomplish in one day. For me, it isn't about accomplishing everything I write down in that day, usually because I write down 10 things to finish in three hours. But it serves as a guide of what work I need to get done this week. It also helps me prioritize my work so I know what to get done first.

Also, to stay motivated to work, I go to a place where more people are doing work. I stay away from comfort as much as possible because once I get comfortable, my brain automatically tells me to sleep or relax and watch Netflix. I usually go to the library or a study lounge to get work done and avoid going to my room. Seeing others work makes me want to work, too. It's like a competition because I try to not use my phone for a longer period of time than the random person sitting next to me. This keeps me from procrastinating too much.

Lastly, seeing progress really helps me want to continue working. I watch myself for even the little successes. Just yesterday, I got really anxious about this hard biology topic and then took a step back to notice what I was doing at the moment; I was taking notes for today's lecture, a lecture that I hadn't had yet. This meant I was ahead of the game. It made me feel better because I saw myself putting in effort and I know that effort and hard work always pays off.

These little tips, tricks, and pieces of advice will help you at least start feeling more motivated and get more work done.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187884
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13419
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456755
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25948
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments