How to get motivated

Ergh. It's almost the end of A2's and I've lost all motivation. At the beginning of the year I was working really hard and constantly revising, but since the January exams I haven't even been able to just read a handout, I can't concentrate long enough, and revision is getting so boring.

I really want to do well, but I don't know how to get my motivation back. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any revision tips to make it easier?

Reply 1

chocmonster

1

i went through exactly the same thing last year with my A2s, but i just kept focusing on uni and the fact that i did not waste the last 14 years of my life in education to get average grades. oh, and the fact that once they are done they are done FOREVER!

just do little bits at a time and it wont seem like such a huge chore

good luck :smile:

Reply 2

hhhhhhhhhhppppp

2

I'm going through exactly the same thing with my A2s at the moment (maybe it happens to everyone?!). I have sooo much work to do, but I just can't be bothered. Nothing motivates me at all to work. I've even stopped paying attention in my lessons and stuff. But now I've had a rest over half-term, I'm hoping that I'll be more motivated when I get back

Reply 3

Crimson Black

13

Same, but remember, once they're done they're done... just a few more months! You can do it! :biggrin:

Reply 4

sexysax

14

Yeah it happens to everyone. I would take a break for a few days, go out , do fun things and just relax. Then come back to your work with a more relaxed frame of mind. Think of why you are doing this work - you want to get in to uni.

Reply 5

brimstone

7

chocmonster

once they are done they are done FOREVER!

Not true. You can always redo them! :p:

Reply 6

mc_hamster

1

Yeah I had that (as did most people) at the end of college. I stopped actually going in because I really couldn't be bothered. But amasingly I still passed with 3 distinctions, I have no idea how. So it will probably work out fine.

Reply 7

envious

Yea, I think it is pretty common and if you think about it totally predicatable. Afterall, there are so many important exams packed into such a short period that after a while it's hard to get motivated in the same way you do for your GCSEs or even SATS.

I guess focusing on the future and uni does help to a degree but then it can also take your mind from the present which is important. I always found that imagining failing really inspired me to work :redface:

I guess it's because when I thought about it, I could also imagine the huge feeling of disappointment I'd get from not acheiving my potential and that sucked sufficently and made me work again :cool:

Reply 8

jadeee

1

im going through exactly the same thing i have just worked this whole half term and not even bothered to look at my books or anything and im worrie because the exams will be bak roung b4 we no it. maybe loads of ppl feel the same, im hoping to feel a bit better after the half term is over!?

Reply 9

strange

OP

thanks for the inspiration :smile:

I remember I didn't actually do any work last year, didn't even show up to my lessons three quarters of the year (obviously got chucked from that school), but over the summer I realised that I wanted to achieve something with my life.

Even though I didn't actually attend lessons I still got decent grades for my As, so I'm hoping I haven't ruined too much by slacking for a month :s-smilie:

Reply 10

Aired

1

Think about what will happen if you don't get the grades you need/want.

Reply 11

deaks

U need a goal mate? For example you need to think once I see this through and get my grades il reap the rewards. If you need particular grades for uni let that be your motivation. Then it is worthwhile putting the effort in cos in the end ul be at uni doing what you dreamed of doing. Be a winner, not a quitter!

Reply 12

mipmapped

13

Take a few days off.

You're almost there.

Reply 13

3.14159265

13

strange

Ergh. It's almost the end of A2's and I've lost all motivation. At the beginning of the year I was working really hard and constantly revising, but since the January exams I haven't even been able to just read a handout, I can't concentrate long enough, and revision is getting so boring.

I really want to do well, but I don't know how to get my motivation back. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone have any revision tips to make it easier?

EXACTLY THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO ME!!

i worked really hard for the january exams but after that ive just not done anything. Its really annoying!! half term has just gone.

Reply 14

Anonymous #1

I feel exactly the same too! I can't get motivated to do any work!! ahhh, it's really annoying!
I'm planning to do loads of exercise with my revision over easter to get some more energy!

Reply 15

Anonymous #2

I've done no work all year. Need to get 3 A's. Bring it on easter you stupid ass bunny.

Reply 16

Jelkin

17

The way it worked for me - I, like you, got bored and unmotivated and slacked off a lot. Then, just before my exams, I panicked and crammed like never before. Got great results!

This may not work for everyone, but it's pretty much the way I live. Not healthy though.

Reply 17

dede

11

I'm having problems with motivation now too, but at this point it actually doesn't matter for me as I have no exams - working at school at all is just a matter of integrity for me.

But last year and last semester, when it really really really mattered, the way I would get myself to work was to tell myself that I would just sit down and work really hard and really concentrate for just 5 minutes - it's not hard to get yourself convinced to work for 5 minutes! And then I would kind of get into the swing of things and keep working. Also, think of the satisfaction of looking at the stack of work you've done! Sooo satisfying.

Reply 18

Sophdoph

1

Have a break..are you on Easter hols soon? If so, put your work totally aside and do nothing for a couple of days. Relax, do fun things, chill out. Having a rest will clear your head and hopefully put some motivation back into you. Otherwise set up a reward scheme for work, like if you do 1hrs work you can watch Neighbours etc. Pin up your uni offer letter somewhere you see a lot to keep focused on it.

Reply 19

Katmarauder

This happened to me too, and I ended up cramming 8 modules of work into some ridiculously short space of time (about 2 weeks or something), motivated by sheer panic. Don't do this! I ended up worrying all the way to results day and it spoiled my summer.

I agree with what's been said before about having a total break for a few days, set rewards for good work and focussing on your goals.

I did the following stuff at different points over the 2 years of A-levels and it seemed to work:

<Long post warning, and apologies if I'm stating the obvious>

Stress can demotivate, so have a look at exactly what marks you need to get from each module to achieve the grades you want and write it down. It might be less than you think. Go through the syllabus and see what you're confident about - that might make the marks you still need to get seem easier to attain.

Try 'revision lite' for a few days, making it as simple and low-effort as possible. For example, try writing 1 A4 side of short answer questions for yourself based on facts you need to know, go and do something of fixed duration for about an hour (Such as getting washed and dressed, or having lunch, or a walk round wherever you live, and definately not going on the internet or TV), and then answer your questions. After that, write another set and repeat. Works well for things like Chemistry.
If it's something like maths, replace your own questions with short answer questions from the textbook.
Repeat this cycle from, say, when you get up till 5pm, then quit and do whatever you want until bedtime.
Obviously this sort of revision cycle only works if you're not in college that day.
It's not the most comprehensive revision method, but it might help you get back into working.

You could try starting the day with whatever is most daunting to get it out of the way. Alternatively, you could start the day with easy things to get you into the right frame of mind. Try both, see what works.

Set a realistic amount to do for the day and make sure you do it. If you achieve the goal once, you'll feel more motivated to do it again tomorrow. Only focus on what you've decided to do for the day rather than the whole big chunk of work you have to do in total.

Do your first bit of revision at the very start of the day. Once the first bit is over with, you will feel less stressed about not doing any work and you'll find it easier to do more later.

If you have a full day at college, have a quick lunch and do a small section of revision afterwards. At college there's usually nothing more interesting to do so you don't get distracted.

Don't do really interesting things in your breaks from study. A '5 minute MSN/video game/chatting to friends break' doesn't exist, it will become an hour. A 5 minute snack /going doing housework/petting the cat/wandering round the house break works quite well.

Speaking of snacks, if you get hungry while revising, eat in breaks from study. Don't stop working early to satisfy cravings, but don't ignore them either.

Most importantly, don't try all of this in one go.

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