Developing Self-Motivation Strategies for Online Learning
Let’s face it. Being in a fully online education setup can be equally challenging with your traditional classroom discussion. With the complete overhaul in teaching procedures and change in learning environment, problems can inevitably arise, causing you to slack off on your lessons or feel unmotivated. Human as you are, these can be very tough and may affect the process you have set in order to achieve your desired end results. Here are 7 tips that will help you stay motivated to learning online despite the circumstance.
- Develop an effective study habit.
Developing an effective study habit takes the right approach, a conducive space to concentrate better, and the right materials for notetaking. See studying as an opportunity to learn that you can enjoy and not just some task you do for the sake of accomplishing something. The way you view it matters because it will help you form the right mindset in order to study smarter.
Now that learning takes place at the comfort of your home, it is important to find your own space to study. A lot of things can happen in a day among your family members, and the varying routines may significantly affect your learning process. Here, communication is key to set a healthy environment for everyone to be successful in their own personal work or tasks during the day.
Some people also prefer laptop or computer to take down notes, but we know how that can be very distracting. You might be tempted to play games, check your feed in between your readings, chat or watch videos, which may consume a big amount of your time set for studying. So ask yourself if you really need these gadgets to take down notes, or whether you can make do with old-fashioned paper and pen.
- Create realistic goals.
It is great to have that one great goal that will inspire you to do well in your studies. But creating short-term and realistic ones will also help you become more effective. Break down your long-term goals and make sure that they are measurable. Use time-blocking to create a plan for following through on your goals or make a checklist for your everyday tasks. Classify the more challenging ones from those that you are already well-skilled or knowledgeable enough at and can accomplish with less time. By these you will be guided as to where you currently stand and, hey, those check marks on your tracker will absolutely leave you feeling good!
- Deal with the easier things first.
When you feel unmotivated to study, it is best if you tackle an easier chapter first. Choose a topic in your lesson that does not require too much of your energy and you are sure to accomplish in your current state. Forcing yourself to go over the complicated assignments may lead to even more frustration. Achieving simpler things will trick your brain and will give you that boost to be able to turn towards the more difficult tasks later on.
- Take a breather.
Learn to take a day or a weekend off of your school responsibilities. By doing so, you allow yourself to be reprogrammed and to have a sound and healthy mind to go over your next class requirement or schedule. In between classes or study period, allot a short moment of pause, and allow yourself to breathe – enjoy your cup of coffee, or snack on your favorite treat. As much as possible, avoid checking your social media right away because you know how it can affect focus. Use your time for breaks wisely.
- Find a diversion.
Watch a movie. Hang out with your family. Pick a new book or re-read your favorite. Getting that extra time out of studying will do you good moving forward. This can positively affect your attention abilities, give you more focus the time you decide to continue studying, minimize academic pressure, and kick start a new motivation.
Your passion can also be a good diversion. Improve on skills, develop new ones, or engage in new interests. There’s a reason why you are drawn to them, and doing online learning may give you more time to work it out. Your passion can make your day a bit brighter or make you feel accomplished for they are matters other than your studies.
- Acknowledge your down days.
Some days are better than others. Many emotions can affect your mental health during the process. Acknowledging the fact that you are not okay is first step to making yourself better. You should know that these feelings are not your fault. Rest. Take time to heal. Talk to family. If talking to family takes a lot of courage, talk to friends. Seek professional help using the available helplines for counseling provided by your school.
- Reward yourself.
This doesn’t have to be extravagant. You can find different ways to reward yourself for a job well done. You can reward yourself time – time to rest, to binge watch on your favorite series, or to visit your favorite fast-food restaurant. Giving yourself credit for acing that exam or for doing your best keeps the positivity flowing.