Keeping motivation high in stressful times

When working or studying, it’s hard at the best of times to find motivation when you need it the most. It’s even harder right now with lockdowns and the pandemic. So, here are a few tips that can help you to stay motivated for any environment – whether it be in study, at work, or anything else you’re tackling.

University and Work Life can always be a challenge, no matter who you are or how you cope with different situations. This past year has thrown a lot at us. Every day can seem a little harder, deadlines seem to roll around faster, motivation is lacking and the holidays may not have been the relaxing time that we needed.

Even if you love your chosen study or work, its normal to feel burnt out every now and again. A lot of people have felt burnt out during the pandemic, so if you also feel this way, just know you are not alone! But also realise that just because it seems to be ‘normal’, that doesn’t mean you have to let it linger! Here are a few ways to cope with burn out and lack of motivation.

Find the source

Lack of motivation can be caused by different things. So, try to determine what the root problem is for you, specifically. Here are some of the more common reasons:

• Unclear expectations: Do you notice that you’re often unsure of what you have to do for a task, or assignment? Being unsure of what it is you have to do can make you feel uncomfortable and stressed.
• Unbalanced life: If you have more work than you can handle and it’s taking away from your family/personal time it can cause you to put your work off.
• Lack of control: Things becoming out of our control can lead to feelings of anxiety. The inability to be able to make decisions on your work or study time can bring about stress.
• Loss of support: Do you feel alone with no one to turn to when you need help? Isolation is a very real problem especially on top of the pandemic situation and it can lead to other problems.

All of these things have a common solution – Reaching out! – whether it be to a friend, a colleague, or lecturer. They all wouldn’t want you to struggle and they are all there to help you if you need it. Send an email, write a text or give them a call.

The University’s Wellbeing Team offer help and guidance, at a time that is convenient for you, for a range of things you may struggle with, such as anxiety, loneliness, and stress.

Follow this link for some Online Wellbeing Resources from Audio Books to eBooks to Podcasts, depending on what you enjoy the most!

The Library offers are Workshops for several wellbeing topics. Some to look out for are: Battling Procrastination and Boosting Motivation and How to Bounce Back and Build Your Resilience. Both workshops are recurring, so if you can’t make a workshop this time, keep an eye out for the next one.

Live Well, Study Well! – Your wellbeing matters! Follow this link for a video created by the Library’s Skills for Learning team that covers how to look after your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing!

Rearrange your workspace

Physical environments directly impact upon our mental health. Rearrange yours to boost your mood and keep motivation high:

• Keep it clean: A desk that’s filled with cups and plates and general clutter can make you feel stressed.
• Add some greenery: Adding a little plant, whether it be real or fake, can boost morale and positively affect productivity.
• Make it personal: Try to make your desk an extension of yourself by adding something that gives you something to smile about. Try a photo or a souvenir that gives you positive vibes and happy memories.
• Location: When having to work and study from home, try to choose a workspace that is peaceful and somewhere you are happy working in each day!

Improve your time management

Do you find yourself spending a long time on activities that shouldn’t take very long to complete? Do you lose hours being easily distracted by social media? Learning time management skills is one of the best things you can do to be more productive and be less stressed.

• Try the Pomodoro Technique! It will allow you to prioritise important tasks and be better organised. All the while keeping you fresh by giving you the time to do personal things.
• Set realistic targets. As much as we’d like to snap our fingers and have all the study and work done, only hard work will make it happen. So accept your limits and set realistic targets. Remember to focus on what you have gotten through so far instead of what you still have left to get done.

Establish healthy routines

Establishing healthy routines is just as important as the other tips mentioned above. When you’re not physically healthy, your mental state can be affected.

So sleep well, eat healthily, get regular exercise and consider practicing mindfulness through yoga and meditation. All of these habits can boost your mood and help you ward off symptoms of fatigue, stress, and burnout.

Easier said than done, right? Well, it takes a few weeks to establish a habit and the first few days might be the hardest. But once you get into it, everything becomes easier, one day, one step, one minute at a time.