We’ve all experienced it, that feeling where you have almost zero energy and no fire inside to push you to get moving. Even though I have a very strong “get it done” nature and am able to fuel my fire of perseverance easily, I still experience times of weariness. Lack of drive can happen at almost any time of the day, even right after you wake up. I have (and you probably have too) woken up with the thought and feeling of “I hate school” even if you really don’t.
The time I most experience mental fatigue is in the afternoon. I have had a productive morning and the few lingering subjects seem to drag on forever, taking longer than they should. Whether or not this is the case for you, I would like to share a few tips that I use to vanquish the breakdown of productivity at any time of the school day.
Do Small Subjects First
Work on smaller and quicker subjects first. This gives you the feeling that you have accomplished more and keeps you energized.
Take Mini Breaks
Take mini-breaks between a long subject. If you always take a long time with science, consider breaking it up into 3 or 4 sections and work on other subjects in between.
Dangle a Carrot
Dangle the carrot for yourself. Even if there was an activity you were planning on doing anyways, remind yourself constantly that once you finish school you can do that activity, like finish your book, hang out with friends, watch a movie, etc.
Make a To-Do List
Make a daily to-do list. I have a notebook where I compile my list each morning before I start school. Not only will you know exactly what you have to accomplish for the day, you will be amazed at the satisfaction you feel when you can actually see how much you are getting done. Use the student login on the My School Year website to mark your work as complete!
Focus
Don’t just focus on the negative because it is easy to get discouraged when you see how much you have to do.
For instance instead of thinking, “Math is really hard today. I’m not very smart and this dumb lesson will take up my whole afternoon. Might as well take as long as I can.” Think, “Math does look hard. However I took less time than usual in English and I’ve been able to do just fine on the hard lessons in the past”.
Do What Works For You
While all of these tips will not work for some, it is still important to discover what works for you to fight against de-motivation.
Share your tips for regaining that drive to get it done!