5 Tips for Staying Motivated in College

It can be difficult to stay motivated in college no matter who you are. Semester after semester, it's exams, research, lectures, finals, and starting over again. Some students find relief in summer breaks, while others choose to plow through, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. If you're struggling to see the light, you may need a fresh perspective. Here are some tips you can try to help you stay motivated, and find that light when you're in college. 

1. You're Invested

It may be that you need to remind yourself how invested in your college you really are. It's not just student loans that have you invested, but it's your time and energy. It took an effort to take SATs, apply for admission, and plan your degree. What was the real reason you started this process?

Sometimes you need to take a look back at the you who was excited to be going to college just a few short semesters ago. College didn't change, but somehow your motivation did. Write about it in a journal, read it, and add to it if you need to. College is a big deal, and to live in a country that gives you such great opportunities is an awesome situation to be in. 

2. Find Study Buddies

There's no greater motivation than having others hold you accountable. Having study buddies in each class can help you achieve this. Study together and discuss what you've learned. Every time there's an exam or paper graded, discuss your grades and what you feel like you did right and what you feel like you did wrong.

Your professors don't just assign work to torture you. You can actually get something big and possibly even 

life-changing from it when you take it seriously. 

3. Hold Yourself Accountable

You can't just rely on others to hold you accountable. You have to be doing this for yourself as well. Set small goals. If you have a paper due in two weeks, plan to give yourself a reward if you complete it early. Maybe you don't go out to eat until it's done, and then when you complete it you celebrate.

There's no reason not to celebrate all your milestones. Having reasons to celebrate can make the process fun and it gives you something to look forward to. 

4. Ask for Help

It's possible to lose interest when you find something too tedious or difficult. Reach out to a guidance counselor. They can direct you to the right person or department to help make the task easier for you. If you're having difficulty with numbers, could you have an undiagnosed learning disability, such as dyslexia?

Many people struggle more than they need to. There are techniques to help lessen the burdens you face, but you'll never discover them if you don't reach out.

5. Down Time

No matter how demanding your studies are, you need to make sure you take care of yourself and get plenty of downtime. This includes sleep. Staying up all night isn't doing anything positive for your education or your body. If you start dragging your body down, it's going to eventually collapse. This could be in the form of an emotional crisis or a biological crisis.

Stress and lack of sleep can weaken your immune response to illness. If it seems impossible to schedule time for sleep or relaxation, you need to create a schedule that prioritizes your breaks. Once you have that schedule, stick with it and make it a vital instrument in your daily life, just like prescription medication, food, and water. 

Getting through college isn't a walk in the park and nobody ever said it was. Try to approach every day with a fresh perspective and utilize simple tools such as journaling and having study buddies to do that. One day soon, you're going to have your degree in hand, and if you like a good challenge, maybe you'll be ready for that next degree.