During the pandemic, I think everyone faced a lack of motivation that they never realised. Especially when working at home it was hard for people to separate their daily lives from their working life. This resulted in students especially finding it hard to teach themselves their specific courses from the comfort of their own homes.
Personally, during lockdown with other uncertainties causing numerous people pressures and experiences that they thought they would never go through, university work was one of the last things on my mind. When I had to get back into the swing of work – attending lectures, zoom meetings, and producing essays as well as my dissertation – this became a real challenge.
When speaking to my university friends, everyone was encountering the same feeling of tiredness and lack of motivation. Everyone will experience this at one point during school, university, or even in the workplace. Knowing that you are not alone in this feeling is comforting. Here are some tips and tricks to help if or when this occurs.
Tips and Tricks
Firstly, if this is possible, always work from a desk or table instead of from the comfort of your bed. Separating your work life from your relaxation space will help distinguish and balance your work and social life. Studies have shown that if you work from your bed you are less likely to sleep well due to associating the room with the stress and pressures of a work environment.
Secondly, creating a timetable can help you to be as productive as possible. This doesn’t mean working 12 hours a day. Do short bursts of work for an hour, and then reward yourself with a break, a walk or a snack. Additionally having a set time of day where you close your books and relax, even if you have not achieved as much as you originally wanted to, is vital.
Thirdly, and one of my favourite tips when I’m feeling a little less motivated than I should, includes writing a daily to-do list in the morning. As you wake up, make your bed the first thing, then create a tick list of things that you want to achieve in that day. Nothing can be too small. But having the feeling of checking off certain things that you wish to accomplish can make you feel motivated for the next day.
You Are Not Alone
Lack of motivation can be a horrible feeling and can make you feel quite down. Yet if you try to tackle this with as much power, exercise, forward-thinking, and planning, it can change for the better. Although this sounds potentially draining, it’s worth giving it a try to see if this can help you feel more motivated on the days that you feel a little slow. There is no pressure if this doesn’t work straight away. Sometimes things such as a to-do list can show the real benefits after a few weeks, when you’ve got into a proper routine again.
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