Motivation Issues - HELP!!!

[strawberries]

Hi all,

I really can't seem to get work done, especially today.
I have SACs approaching in the following weeks and this still won't motivate me to do well.
I'm even behind in all of my subjects.

Out of 7 days a week, I probably only do work on at most 3 days, but usually 1-2 and I only do about 5 hours of homework or studying and stuff a week. Usually I do most of the studying across 1 or 2 days. If I study a lot one day I probably won't study the next etc.

Even wanting high scores doesn't motivate me.
Even telling me the fact that I won't get into uni if I don't work now doesn't motivate me.
Even my strict Asian parents scolding me all the time doesn't motivate me.

I even did 2 3/4s last year, and in one of them, I was quite disappointed and I knew it was because I didn't work hard enough at the start of the year. Even after that happening last year, I still can't even begin anything and it's only early March.

I keep saying I should get started asap, and that is what I wished I did last year. But I keep procrastinating.

It's not because I don't like my subjects or anything.

And the thing is, although I 'want' to do well, I can't even begin working and I do know that if you want something you obviously have to try for it, and try pretty hard too.

Be as harsh as you like if you're gonna reply.

Thanks for reading, I need serious help
Does anyone know what I can do?!?!

[sjayne]

I had this problem in year 12 and honestly I still do.

You have to make sure that when you do study that you are doing it effectively. 5 hours a week might not sound like much compared to what other people are doing but if you are studying well then you will be okay.

Some people can use study timetables but that never worked for me. Instead I use to write down everything I had to get done and work out what I wanted to do each night. Sometimes this meant an hours studying and sometimes four, I didn't always complete everything but I did what I could. Breaking things down makes everything much more manageable. What I suggest is that instead of attempting to do everything at once you do a little bit each day and if some days that's only half an hour, it's better than nothing.

If you are still struggling then maybe give talking to your teachers a try. There's a difference between being lazy and not being able to get things done because you're stresssed/overwhelmed or really just not motivated. They might be able to stay back after school once a week or something and help you. Before sacs I used to have to stay in the library after school because that was the only way I could get any work done.

[Apink!]

Hi!

What works for me is going into my room, cut off wifi, get rid of my phone and laptop and start studying. I make sure to put them away really far away from me (not just across the room) so that if I were to get them, I would have to walk for a long time (and I hate exercise lol so it works for me).

Also, I put like a reward conditioning on me. For example, I would say that I do this practice exam, then I will get something in return, like a piece of chocolate or something (but don't reward yourself with something that will waste time, like I will go one my phone because you will just waste like an hour).

Also, get a really big calender and plan everything on it and make sure to follow it and tick it off if you do. If you do this for a long time, you really hate to cross it off when you don't work, so it's a little motivation to keep on track and stuff

I hope this helps!

[heids]

I found that breaking things down into little, doable, very clearly marked out steps and writing a to-do list helped: like, 'read pages 16-24 in the Biology textbook and write a one sentence summary of each paragraph'; 'do questions 1-4 of exercise 6B and mark them', etc.  Being very specific and list-y really helps, as each little task is easy to complete.  You know exactly what you're doing, and get to put a big tick next to each thing!

Give yourself little-kid stickers after ticking a certain number of things - it's fun ; and bigger rewards after a certain number of stickers.

Also, there's some valuable stuff in the Motivation Corner!

Alternatively, decide it doesn't matter at all, do almost nothing, but don't feel guilty.

[strawberries]

Thanks guys for replying

@sjayne: I've talked to my teachers but there's nothing they can really do since they are doing their best and it's MY OWN fault I'm not working hard enough. They just keep telling me to keep reading over and over. I've tried staying in the library too but my school library closes really early on some days, and plus I can't get much work done! my own fault though

@Apink!: in today's modern world teachers just keep posting information and powerpoints online so it's hard to get away from the computer. I decreased my use of social networking for the past 6 months, but still nothing works. My parents won't cut the wifi cos they or my sister will need to use it. And personally, I don't like the idea of rewards because they just don't work for me either.

But thanks guys for replying! I will try my best to do harder, I guess

NOTE: Today I've spent the whole day lying in bed. Not even tired or anything. I don't know what's wrong

[MonsieurHulot]

You can play around with motivation techniques, wasting time, or you can just sit down and do the work. You don't need to be motivated, you just need to be disciplined.

You might occasionally reach a point where all the planets align, the picture of your dream uni is nicely stuck on the wall, and your cup of water is just the right temperature, and you can study perfectly.
Or you can stop worrying about everything being right, and actually do what you have to do. You might not enjoy it, but you'll have done what you needed to do.

[Billion]

If you're concerned that your motivation drought may not be just a mental thing, it may be a good idea to consult your GP for a blood test.

If you're feeling lethargic, it may be due to some kind of deficiency in a nutrient, in which your GP can prescribe tablets or a new diet to help boost your energy levels.

For example, an iron deficiency can lead to low energy levels, tiredness, headaches etc.

Otherwise, I hope you find some source of motivation, and good luck!

[scarletmoon]

Thanks guys for replying

@sjayne: I've talked to my teachers but there's nothing they can really do since they are doing their best and it's MY OWN fault I'm not working hard enough. They just keep telling me to keep reading over and over. I've tried staying in the library too but my school library closes really early on some days, and plus I can't get much work done! my own fault though

@Apink!: in today's modern world teachers just keep posting information and powerpoints online so it's hard to get away from the computer. I decreased my use of social networking for the past 6 months, but still nothing works. My parents won't cut the wifi cos they or my sister will need to use it. And personally, I don't like the idea of rewards because they just don't work for me either.

But thanks guys for replying! I will try my best to do harder, I guess

NOTE: Today I've spent the whole day lying in bed. Not even tired or anything. I don't know what's wrong

Install Norton family protection (I think that's what it's called lol) and block all social networking sites and any website that distracts you. Get your parents to do that so can't go back and unblock the sites (do this on just your laptop not the family one)

[scarletmoon]

Something else that works for me is to imagine myself receiving a really low sac score and imagining how terrible and guilty I would feel that i didnt study earlier  and that usually "scares" me into doing work haha 😃

[heids]

I have to agree with MonsieurHulot - just DO.  You don't have to be motivated - you just have to say, "I am going to get up right now - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 - up and out of bed.  Now I am going to take out the maths book and do Exercise 6B."  And do it.

That actually picks up your motivation quite a bit, promise.  Thinking about how you can't get round to anything only makes you worse.  Just start doing.  YOU CAN DO IT!

[strawberries]

If you're concerned that your motivation drought may not be just a mental thing, it may be a good idea to consult your GP for a blood test.

If you're feeling lethargic, it may be due to some kind of deficiency in a nutrient, in which your GP can prescribe tablets or a new diet to help boost your energy levels.

For example, an iron deficiency can lead to low energy levels, tiredness, headaches etc.

Otherwise, I hope you find some source of motivation, and good luck!

Thank you. But yeah I'm not tired or anything, if someone invited me to go out right now I definitely would, it's just that I can't be 'bothered' to do work

Install Norton family protection (I think that's what it's called lol) and block all social networking sites and any website that distracts you. Get your parents to do that so can't go back and unblock the sites (do this on just your laptop not the family one)

Yeah I said I decreased my use of social networking sites. I don't really get distracted, but I 'try' to distract myself due to my inability to do work.

Something else that works for me is to imagine myself receiving a really low sac score and imagining how terrible and guilty I would feel that i didnt study earlier  and that usually "scares" me into doing work haha 😃

Haha I've tried that but it doesn't hit me until I finish the SAC

Thanks guys for replying!

[KingDrogba]

Hey,

I'm doing year 12 atm as well so i can relate,

What i find helps, make a list everyday for what you want to get done, it sounds kind of stupid but every time you tick something off you get a great feeling of accomplishment and that acts as motivation in itself.

Don't listen to people saying put your laptop and phone away from you, keep them close, but have some control, to 45 minutes of study then spend 5 minutes to scroll through Facebook or Instagram. Reward yourself basically, because that can keep you working.

Also don't set massive long terms goals because you said they don't do anything for you, set a short term goal maybe everyday, even if its to do 2 hours of study a night, it might help you get motivated.

Hope this helps

[cosine]

Just give up, you don't need year 12. It's a useless program and won't help you reach a good career. There must be some alternative right?


Did you disagree with what I just said? If you did, then there must be some source of motivation within you. Think about it, your future (sort of, I guess) depends on what you did yesterday, what you did today and what you will do tomorrow. It is this one year, only 235 days left, that your career depends on. Please, for me, for your own good, pick up your game and do not let VCE get to your head, but rather get to VCE's head, and make the system regret that they ever signed you up!

Come on, your signature "Dream - Believe - Achieve"

First of all, have a dream, have a goal. When you do, believe in it and more importantly believe in you. Now, it is only a matter of time, until you achieve it. 

[vobinhood]

1. Go to the local library.
2. Stay there until you finish your set tasks for the day.
3. Walk out and feel accomplished.
4. Repeat.

This is literally me 5 days a week.

[grannysmith]

1. Go to the local library.
2. Stay there until you finish your set tasks for the day.
3. Walk out and feel accomplished.
4. Repeat.

This is literally me 5 days a week.

Teach me the ways, master.


With maths/science subjects, I find completing practice questions beneficial as I actually end up /doing/ something. Conversely, if I'm just reading the textbook for example, I don't find that I'm 'actively' learning. Point is, you have to discover methods through which you will a) enjoy doing the work and most importantly, b) trick yourself into doing the work. I depend most on the latter.