I’ve had a very busy month and, like all of us, I’ve had my ups and downs with it. We all have bad days, and days where we just don’t feel like doing our assignments, or the reading, or anything. Because we’re human, and that’s okay. But I know that it’s important to stay motivated to study, even on the days when it’s the last thing I want to do. So, with that said, here are my top 10 tips for staying motivated!

1. Drink lots of water

It may not sound like much but I always find that staying hydrated helps me to feel better, concentrate and stay focused on studying. Simple, but effective.

2. Eat healthy

Similarly to drinking water, if you eat healthy it helps you to feel better, gives you more energy and makes me feel much more productive!

3. Take a break

This is something I’ve learnt recently. Although, it often feels counterproductive to stop and take a break, it really does help and it often means you’ll come back to your work with much more motivation.

4. Little and often

Sometimes studying in large chunks can feel overwhelming or difficult and leave me feeling exhausted, so I find it helpful to do little bits of studying throughout the day.

5. Get some variety

It can sometimes be difficult for me to stay motivated if I’m just doing the same essay or reading the same journal article all day, so I find it helpful to mix it up! Not only does this keep things fresh, but it also helps me manage my workload and multiple deadlines.

6. Exercise

This could be going to the gym, going for a walk, or even just something as simple as dancing in your bedroom to your favourite song! The point is, if you get some exercise when you start getting distracted, it’ll help get rid of all the restless energy building up and you’ll be much more focused and motivated.

7. Speak to your tutor

If you’re lacking in motivation or you’re unsure on something then ask for help. Your tutors are always willing to help and at Hope they are more than happy to!

8. Have a change of scenery

Sometimes something as simple as going to the library or a different room can really help with motivation, especially when you feel bored or keep getting distracted. At Hope there’s loads of different study spaces for you to use on both the Creative and Hope Park Campus.

9. Listen to your favourite music

It sounds simple, but for me listening to music does work. If I’m struggling to concentrate, I’ll just put on some music from my favourite playlist.

10. Break tasks down

This is something I find quite difficult, but breaking things down does really does help. For example if I’m writing an essay I’ll break it down into smaller parts such as reading, writing, editing and referencing. Doing one at a time makes the task seem less overwhelming and completely manageable.

So they’re my top tips for staying motivated. Thanks for reading and I’ll be back soon with another blog!

By Rosie Booth