Motivation and study
Motivation feels good and energizing, but it doesn’t always drive us to get things done.If you’re not already familiar with the principles of Peak Performance Psychology and how they apply to the world of business, here’s the
These times can be hard to deal with. We can get distracted, or find it difficult to concentrate or to do what needs to be done.
Strategies to improve motivation
You’ll be happy to know that there are many effective ways to increase and maintain your motivation while studying at university.

Reconnect with your ‘why’
Reflecting on your motivations is one of the best ways to find motivation.
If you want to:
- Build a new career with more earning potential
- Gain a competitive advantage over your peers
- You should read this book.
Think about yourself a year from now. Then write down your goals and why they’re important to you. Use this information to inspire yourself, now, and give you the motivation you need.
Understand how the system works for you.
Positive motivation focuses on the positive things that will happen if you take action.In the process of writing this essay, I’m learning new things that will be useful in the It is important that you do your best in school so that you can succeed after graduation. If you don’t do well in school, your parents might not like it.
Notice how you approach your goals. Often, we’re motivated to avoid a negative outcome that makes us feel helpless or overwhelmed, but pursuing a goal that we’re genuinely interested in or enjoy can help us to feel more energized.
Act first and motivation will follow
If you are feeling motivated to do something, chances are you are in fact not motivated enough. You should really just go ahead and do it anyway.Psychological research tells us that it is action that leads to motivation, which in turn leads to more action.
This means you should only take action when you are really ready, trusting that your motivation will follow. If you wait for motivation to come to you, it will likely never arrive.
Set goals that motivate you
Setting up your goals before you’re motivated is a great way to start out your year. And with a little planning and strategy you can stay motivated all year long.Break down big tasks into tiny steps. Instead of saying, ‘I need to write an essay,’ a tiny step might be to research and select a journal article relevant to my topic.
Taking one step at a time is a great way to stay focused. Focusing on one task and doing it well can reduce stress and let us feel less overwhelmed.Being as clear as possible about what you want to achieve is the first step towards achieving it. You need to set specific, measurable, and time-limited goals, which are much easier to stick to if you’re clear about what you want to achieve.Be realistic. Setting realistic goals makes achieving them much more likely.
If you want to know how much you can achieve in an hour, ask. you’ll find it’s a more positive and productive mindset. You’ll have no trouble completing the tasks if you’re focused on the time you’ll have available.
Create an encouraging work environment
Some people are better students with a set schedule and routine, while others need change and variety to stay motivated.It’s best to go for a walk to get your brain working again, and there are many different study spots where you can do this. One of the best ways is to sit down at a local café or library and take your study materials with you.

It may feel overwhelming, but it is never too late to begin. Remember that you don’t need to do it alone – if you are a person who is motivated by working with others, get a study group together or surround yourself with supportive friends and encourage them to help you stay focused.
Balance your life
Don’t take the little things for granted. Plan small rewards (a break or a treat) after you’ve accomplished a task. This will help to keep your spirits up.It can help you to study when you don’t feel like studying, and it will provide an extra reward at the end of the day if you do.
The same is true with your energy and your business. You have to plug in your phone to recharge your business.It’s the same for us. We know that time off is important to recharge.
If you don’t have the time to take a break, you’ll be surprised at how much clearer you can think and work after a restful or fun break.
What can I do next?
Procrastination can make you feel unmotivated and unproductive. Read this guide to learn what’s behind it and how to get over it.We’ve got lots of ways to help you build your study skills.To learn more, visit our Academic Support Services page.
To speak to a CAPS counselor you need to develop individual strategies to address low motivation.We’re very happy to give you more opportunities to improve your skills. To learn more about the range of skills we can provide, check out our workshops page.