Strategies to increase your motivation

It's easier to stick to your studies when you're strongly motivated. This page explains what you can do to stay motivated.

Motivation is not endless stream or a switch you can turn on and off. Neither is it something that you're born with or not born with. Even creative geniuses can find themselves unmotivated. But everyone can harness their own motivation with a simple tool of setting goals. Watch this video below for some tips to help you stay motivated:

Think positively

• Listen to what you say, either to yourself or to others: Do you put yourself down? Are you negative about your chances? (For example: 'I can't do it.' 'I'll never get through all the work.' 'I'm not very good at ....'
• Try changing your talk, and your ‘self-talk’ and give yourself positive messages. (For example: 'I can succeed.' 'I’m good at …', 'I passed my previous assignment so I can pass this one too.')
• Make a list of all the things you’ve completed successfully in the past, include assessments and exams but add other things as well (i.e. got a job, painted the house, learned to cook, etc ). If you succeeded once, you can do it again.Think about how you did it and use those techniques again.
• Form mental images of working towards successful outcome, i.e. studying hard and passing! (It's very important to include the 'working hard' bit: you won't pass if you don't do the assignments or study for the exam!) Keep thinking about this, reinforcing the image.
• Revise with a friend or fellow student (perhaps you could link up with someone you've 'met' through the course page). Then, if one of you is having a bad day, the other can be encouraging and get you motivated again.

The power of positive thinking - Dr Aaron Jarden, senior lecturer in Psychology, Open Polytechnic (opens in a new window)

Set realistic goals

• If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do, try setting some realistic goals.
• Start by dividing large tasks into smaller, more manageable parts. Then set a mini deadline for each of them.
• Accept that whereas an A is great, a pass is really all you need.
• Accept that you can’t do everything and try to work out what is possible.
• Think about your learning – what works for you and what doesn’t. It’s amazing how many students continue to use strategies and techniques that don’t work for them simply because that’s what they’ve always done. If you don’t think the strategies you’ve been using work all that well for you, then try some new strategies.
• If you feel you're not coping, ask for help: ask your lecturer/tutor or ask a learning adviser by calling 0508 650 200; there may be something we can do to help. And ask for help sooner rather than later, then there's a better chance that you can get back on track.

Read the full article: Strategies to increase your motivation