Motivate Yourself to Study
Edited by Christine Cruz, Lynn, Eng, Nuance
Procrastination - the horrible monster that haunts many students. Even the geeks and the nerds suffer from this. It is the simplest way to destroy plans, and even dreams. In the classroom, teachers already have a hard time motivating students to study, so what can a student do in order to motivate him or herself to read those unending notes? Just thinking about formulas and principles can easily divert our minds to laziness. As a student, it is your responsibility to propel that interest in studying.
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Motivation
From the Latin word "movere", which means to move, motivation is the stimulation of action toward a particular objective where previously there was little or no attraction toward the goal. It refers to "what gets an individual moving toward a particular activity and tasks". It is what makes individuals do what they do (Pintrich, 2003).
- 1In the classroom, teachers try different strategies and techniques in order to light a fire under their students, or to motivate their students during the lesson. These are ways to get the students' attention and interest. Once the students' attention is caught, it is very crucial for a teacher to maintain that attention throughout the discussion until the end. Then, students should still be motivated to study, even if they are not on the premises of the school.Teachers.
- 2Students should understand that motivation plays a vital part in their education. Their willingness to learn can be correlated to their academic performance. The more willing a student is to study, the more chances they have of successful learning. Thus, it is very important for a student to be motivated in studying.Students.
Be Motivated!
Motivation levels are just like a personality. Levels of motivation differ from one person to another. You cannot just say that every student in the class will be motivated the same way - they won't. That's why teachers implement a number of strategies, in order to accommodate as many of the students in the class as possible.
Figure out your motivation. Find the right tools and tricks that will motivate you. You may ask your friends, or even the smartest person in your class about what they usually do to get themselves studying. Then you may try all of them. This may seem a desperate move, but you'll never know what works until you try.
Kinds of Motivation
- 1This refers to behavior that is driven by internal rewards. Intrinsic motivation refers to the reasons why we perform certain activities for inherent satisfaction or pleasure; you might say performing one of these activities in reinforcing in-and-of itself. (Brown, 2007) This motivations causes you to feel good about yourself.Intrinsic Motivation.
- 2This refers to behavior that is driven by external rewards such as money, fame, grades, and praise. Extrinsic motivation refers to our tendency to perform activities for known external rewards, whether they are tangible (e.g., money), or psychological (e.g., praise) in nature. (Brown, 2007)Extrinsic Motivation.
Find Your Motivation
- 1Pressuring yourself to be motivated to study may do more harm than good. Calm down, take a seat, and think deeply. Ask yourself the following questions.Condition Yourself.
- Why do I want to be motivated to study?
- Why do I need to be motivated to study?
- What will I gain if I study?
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Once you understand the reasons you want or need to be motivated to study, cite the things studying will eventually give to you.
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Find Your Sanctuary
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Get Your Timing Right
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- Nocturnal people are active at night. They are not necessarily vampires, but they find themselves at the height of their energy at night. They may also find themselves waking up in at 2 in the morning because their minds are active. This is sometimes the time of the day when people find themselves coming up with great ideas. ##Diurnal people are active during the day. Are you a morning person? Wake up in the morning and study. Your mind is fresh from sleep, and therefore energy is waiting to be wasted. How about the afternoon? After a long day at school, you may be in the mood to study. Your brain is still active, so why not study now?
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Pinpoint Your Most Interesting Subject
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Intrinsic Motivation
- 1In studying, pressuring yourself that you need to study won't do you any good. This is not a pressure cooker. You should study because you want to learn. You must find yourself wanting to study first.Stop with Must, Should, and Need."I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work." -Thomas Alva Edison. "All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child. ... It was like a new world opened to me, ...which I was at last permitted to know in all liberty." -Marie Curie.
- 2Well, getting good grades is good, too, but mastering learning a subject because you are interested in it is better - passionate about it - that's the best. Pushing yourself hard to achieve good grades is another indicator of pressure which won't really do you much good in the end.Set Aside Good Grades."Today my respect for that idiot shot up. Most of us went to college just for a degree. No degree meant no plum job, no pretty wife, no credit card, [and] no social status. But none of this mattered to him, he was in college for the joy of learning, he never cared if he was first or last." -Farhan Qureshi (3 Idiots)
- 3Discouraging yourself this way is obviously damaging. Pessimism is never a good thing. In everything, you must keep a positive attitude, and this includes studying. When you find yourself giving up or being discouraged, say "I can" instead of "I can't".Forget "I Can't"."I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Alva Edison
- 4There's no better way to be interested in something than finding it enjoyable and fun.Find Ways to Have Fun.Create ways to make it fun. Do games and puzzles. Make your studying as much fun as possible by creating quirky ways to study. Be imaginative and creative.
- 5If you're more of an adventurous person, why not make it into a personal challenge?Treat it as a Challenge.Challenging yourself and setting goals will not only encourage you to study, but it will also give you a sense of satisfaction once you have accomplished it.
- 6Be more curious. Stop being ignorant. Ask questions. Look around. Get help.Strike Your Curiosity.Research it. Find something that you want to know. This is a great way to start motivating yourself. For a minute, forget the saying "Curiosity killed the cat."
Extrinsic Motivation
- 1Why not reward yourself after an accomplishment? Do something like treating yourself to a trip to your favorite restaurant or the mall. Eat your favorite food or sweets.Give Yourself a Reward.This will be encouraging in some way. Balance it. "I just say to myself that after this, I'm going to get this and that... like classical conditioning." -Aboyme, 18.
- 2You do not have to be boastful, but it is good to praise yourself once in a while. Be proud of yourself, but don't let it get to your head too much. Having approval and commendation from yourself should come first. When someone praises you, accept it graciously and gratefully. This will definitely boost your motivation more.Praise Your Own Achievements.
- 3Once you are able to finish studying an area or a part, write it down and post it where you can see it.Record Your Accomplishment.This will tell you that you are somehow accomplishing something, thus pushing you further on. Why not create a chart or a table?
- 4When all else fails to motivate you, you have to think of the results of your hard work.Think of the Outcome.Be warned that this may have some bad effects, such as time dragging on and disappointment. Just encourage yourself. Think of a positive outcome.
- 5Some people really become motivated by these things.Think of Fame, Recognition, Status, and Privileges.Because motivation varies from one person to another, some may find these shallow, and if you are one of those people, come up with other goals to help you get motivated. These may just work for you.
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Stay Motivated
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At the end of the day, it will be all up to you whether you are willing to be motivated or not. Studying may be hard work, but it will definitely give you satisfaction. Gaining knowledge is why we study. Motivate yourself and you will soon realize why everyone needs to study.
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
