Hello my darlings!
As you may already now if you read my blog I am in my final year studying History at the University of Leeds, and I am currently writing my dissertation. The majority of my time lately has been occupied by this, but I occasionally get some help from Maurice (my cat) – well I think he is helping! When you have such a large amount of work to do and the sun is shining outside it can be difficult to stay motivated! Here are a few of my tips and tricks to staying motivated, whether you are a student, working from home or just in need of a bit of a nudge …
1) Take a break every once in a while! When studying it is best to take short breaks – so make yourself a cup of tea and grab a biscuit! This will keep you motivated because it will give your brain a chance to re-boot and allow you to relax, preventing you from becoming stressed.
2) Be organised! Plan out what you want to achieve that day. Setting yourself a game plan helps to organise your thoughts, manage your time better, and produce high-quality work.
3) Make sure your goals are attainable! Don’t set yourself goals that there is no realistic chance of you achieving, as this will just result in you feeling bad about your progress and thus unmotivated. Be realistic in what you can achieve that day and you will feel more positive!
4) Have a tick list! Create a tick list and section your day’s workload into sections, then mark off what you have completed. It is important to recognize your progress as you go along because it reminds you that you are moving forward and ever closer to your goals.
5) A clear work-space = a clear mind! Procrastination is a pit we all fear falling in, so remove temptation. Clear your work-space so there isn’t anything for you to fiddle with and distract you. This will help you focus completely on your work. Also avoid social media – you are here to work so don’t get distracted by your friend’s latest tweet or Instagram upload!
6) Make sure you eat and drink! This is so important if you want to stay motivated as work can seem almost impossible if you feel sluggish and dehydrated. So, make sure you drink plenty of water and remember to eat, not just snack.
7) Reward yourself! It is important to remind yourself of your accomplishments as you go along and to reward yourself for them. The rewards can be whatever you like, big or small, maybe a sweet snack or half an hour of television – basically whatever you want.
When trying to stay motivated the most important thing is to make sure that you stay positive and focus on your goals! Brush those negative thoughts away – you don’t need them!
How do you stay motivated?
Lots of Love,
Hannah xx
Promise of a New Day 