how to get motivated to study during lockdown
1. MAKE A DAILY ROUTINE
Working or studying from home can be difficult as it is not as easy to make this routine, try to set some tasks for the following day the night before, create a morning routine and set up for the day. With a routine to guide you through the day, tasks will feel less pointless as you tick them off. Make sure your goals are realistic, and like in a normal day of school or work, give yourself proper breaks to switch off and eat.
2. YOU DON'T NEED TO FEEL GUILTY
It is normal for everyone to be feeling a bit low at the moment. Self-care is even more important than usual. Make time for special ‘you-time’ where you watch your favourite series, have a bath, listen to music, meditate or workout. By doing this, you can refresh yourself and prepare yourself for the next day.
Working or studying from home can be difficult as it is not as easy to make this routine, try to set some tasks for the following day the night before, create a morning routine and set up for the day. With a routine to guide you through the day, tasks will feel less pointless as you tick them off. Make sure your goals are realistic, and like in a normal day of school or work, give yourself proper breaks to switch off and eat.
2. YOU DON'T NEED TO FEEL GUILTY
It is normal for everyone to be feeling a bit low at the moment. Self-care is even more important than usual. Make time for special ‘you-time’ where you watch your favourite series, have a bath, listen to music, meditate or workout. By doing this, you can refresh yourself and prepare yourself for the next day.
Structure
Many are in the same situation as you. Surveys at UiO and UiB show that most students struggle to structure their workday and find motivation to read. Here are some tips on how to structure your study day.
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Motivation
Studying at home without campus lessons, with distractions such as smartphone, TV, and Laptop, can be challenging. And once you start studying, maintaining concentration over time can be extremely difficult. Here are some tips on how you can find motivation.
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How to function optimally
- Isolation: Even though you have to isolate physically, you do not have to isolate psychologically. We recommend that you contact others, either by video or telephone, to share experience, collaborate, or discuss.
- Solitude: Being alone can be experienced very differently. Can you find something valuable or meaningful about being alone?
- Development: Now is not the time to stop growing as a person. We recommend that you maintain your hobbies, passions, and interests. Could you see this as an opportunity to learn some new skills or develop an ability? What is meaningful to you? What do you think is interesting and fun to do? What do you do just because you want to? Maybe now is the time to do more of that?
- Happiness: Now is not the time to focus on being "happy" and "joy." I recommend you focus on personal development, taking care of family and friends, and your health. Think about how important, meaningful, and interesting these focus areas can be. Happiness and joy will then follow as a by-product.
Five ways to find (at least some) motivation1. Remind yourself why you care.The same drive and purpose you’ve always had are still inside you, even if school doesn’t feel as important right now.
2. Set small daily goals.
Goals give us direction. They’re best when they’re concrete and achievable. Aim for five daily to-dos.
Start by writing a list of things you would like to do this week, in each area of your life:
3. Pair your work with something fun and interesting (ish).Sometimes the things you have to do just aren’t fun … but there might be ways for you to make them slightly more interesting
4. Think about how you can go on autopilot.
Building up habits is easier when you don’t have to decide to do them over and over (and over) again.
You probably have more flexible time than ever, but that also means you have to keep choosing schoolwork over and over again. Meanwhile, you might feel like you have to say “no” over and over again to things you’d rather be doing. Exhausting, right?
Get out of that cycle by setting yourself to autopilot. Make it more automatic to choose what you need to do and easier to say no to temptations.
Here are some ideas:
Sometimes taking a break and coming back to something helps you face it more easily. Maybe you need a few days to just take care of yourself.
Here are a few related ideas:
2. Set small daily goals.
Goals give us direction. They’re best when they’re concrete and achievable. Aim for five daily to-dos.
Start by writing a list of things you would like to do this week, in each area of your life:
- What is essential for each class?
- What about your self-care would feel good this week, like healthy eating, exercising, and sleep habits?
- How can you stay connected with friends and family?
- How will you unplug and relax?
3. Pair your work with something fun and interesting (ish).Sometimes the things you have to do just aren’t fun … but there might be ways for you to make them slightly more interesting
4. Think about how you can go on autopilot.
Building up habits is easier when you don’t have to decide to do them over and over (and over) again.
You probably have more flexible time than ever, but that also means you have to keep choosing schoolwork over and over again. Meanwhile, you might feel like you have to say “no” over and over again to things you’d rather be doing. Exhausting, right?
Get out of that cycle by setting yourself to autopilot. Make it more automatic to choose what you need to do and easier to say no to temptations.
Here are some ideas:
- Set a time trigger: Pick a daily or weekly signal that it’s time for a specific task. Do one school to-do list item over breakfast every day. Set Tuesday morning as a time for lecture videos and readings for your hardest class. Write for an hour after lunch every day.
- Control your environment: Look around and get rid of temptations as much as possible. For example, make it easy to say no to the TV by unplugging it. Choose a desk or kitchen chair to avoid a nap interrupting you five minutes into your homework. Close a door to signal to others that you’re busy.
- Phone-free hour: We know how easy it is to scroll your feed while also on Zoom. Put your phone in the other room, even if for only an hour of studying at a time.
Sometimes taking a break and coming back to something helps you face it more easily. Maybe you need a few days to just take care of yourself.
Here are a few related ideas:
- Release any guilt for not being productive. Take each day as a chance to start fresh.
- Look for the bright spots where you can find them — strangers helping one another; instructors checking in on students; communities pulling together.
- Consider what limits you might want to set on how much you watch the news or read stories about coronavirus.
- Reach out for support if you’re struggling (see “extra help” below). And when you’re ready, make a plan and keep moving forward. We will all get through this together.
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There are different ways to learn.
Here are a few other handy tips:
Here are a few other handy tips:
- Organize your study space.
- Use flow charts and diagrams.
- Practice on old exams.
- Explain your answers to others.
- Organize study groups with friends.
- Take regular breaks.
- Snack on brain food.
- Plan your exam day.
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Crash Course videos have wonderful ways to support you and applicable WAYS to study.
Be sure to engage within your classroom setting by taking notes and preparing BEFORE the assignment or exam.