Module 7: Maintaining Motivation

The definition of motivation is a general desire or willingness to do something. Motivation is very important when it comes to school because, without it, we would have no reason to complete our assignments. Motivation can come from both intrinsic and extrinsic sources (Slide 5). Examples of extrinsic sources in regards to college would be a diploma or a job after graduation. An example of an intrinsic source would be the desire to learn new things. A useful piece of information I learned in this module is the importance of your environment as a motivator. I never knew how important my environment (physical, social, online) could be in controlling my motivation. Here are a few tips that I learned that can help you have a successful study environment:

  1. Create a quiet study environment. Although some students think they can watch TV or listen to conversations in the background, it often leads to them focusing more on these things rather than their school work. If music is important to you, find a good concentration or study playlist to listen to while you study (Slide 7-8).
  2. Limit your distractions. If you know your roommate will be in your dorm room with a bunch of friends, go to the library or a quieter study room. Turn your phone on do not disturb as well; this will reduce your desire to check it constantly.
  3. Eliminate all online distractions. Closeout your tabs on your computer that do not apply directly to the assignment you are working on. Also, make sure your messages and email are on do not disturb (Slide 10).

Although your study environment is not the only thing that controls your motivation, it is a big contribution. If you can focus on the tips I mentioned above, then you will be more likely in staying motivated to get your assignments done. Another great way to increase your motivation is to allow yourself to take breaks while studying. A lot of people think they need to study for 12 straight hours to be successful on an exam, but that is not the case. It is the exact opposite. It is important to plan intentional breaks to reduce your stress and keep your motivation up. Overall, motivation is so important in being successful in school so these tips will be very useful in increasing your motivation.

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