3 answers
1
Question
Asked
133 views
How do you motivate to keep going even when you feel like you can't?
It is so hard to find motivation to do assignments during college especially a major that's very science heavy and requires a lot of writing and research, any tips?
Login to comment
3 answers
Updated
Irina’s Answer
First of all, you are already doing something important—you’re here, asking the big questions. Motivation often comes and goes. You might feel energized for a day, or even just 30 minutes, and then feel overwhelmed again when you look at everything still pending.
Take it step by step. Choose one task, decide how long you’ll focus on it, complete it, and then reward yourself. The reward can be something small, like five minutes spent looking out the window at a beautiful tree, or something comforting, like a mug of hot chocolate.
Make your workload more manageable by breaking it into categories. Try using the urgent vs. important scale:
– If something is urgent and important, tackle it early in the day when your energy is higher.
– If it’s important but not urgent, schedule time for it later.
Most importantly, acknowledge what you accomplish—even the smallest task on your to‑do list or that big, intimidating chunk of your thesis. You are making progress, and you will continue to do so. Find joy in the small wins and be proud of yourself for every day that brings you closer to your goal.
Good luck!
Take it step by step. Choose one task, decide how long you’ll focus on it, complete it, and then reward yourself. The reward can be something small, like five minutes spent looking out the window at a beautiful tree, or something comforting, like a mug of hot chocolate.
Make your workload more manageable by breaking it into categories. Try using the urgent vs. important scale:
– If something is urgent and important, tackle it early in the day when your energy is higher.
– If it’s important but not urgent, schedule time for it later.
Most importantly, acknowledge what you accomplish—even the smallest task on your to‑do list or that big, intimidating chunk of your thesis. You are making progress, and you will continue to do so. Find joy in the small wins and be proud of yourself for every day that brings you closer to your goal.
Good luck!
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1376
Answers
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Vianna,
What you’re describing is very real, especially in heavy, demanding majors. The issue usually isn’t laziness; it’s mental overload + low energy + delayed rewards. Motivation drops when everything feels like a long, uphill climb. You have to switch to a more dependable technique by lowering friction and increasing momentum instead of attempting to "feel motivated."
Make your work feel more manageable and actionable first. Avoid telling yourself that you must complete this task. That is too much to handle. Say to yourself, "I'll just write the first paragraph" or "I'll work on this for 20 minutes." It's much simpler to keep going once you get going.
Use organised time blocks after that. For instance, 25–30 minutes of concentrated work followed by a brief break. This prevents mental exhaustion and makes learning feel more doable.
Environmental design is a crucial component. It counts where you study. Reduce distractions as much as you can and try to choose a specific area (library, quiet nook, etc.) that represents "work mode."
Reconnect with your "why" as well, but make sure it's realistic. Focus on the next step, passing this course, developing discipline, and proving to yourself that you can handle challenging situations, instead of thinking far forward ("my future career"). That is more inspiring and immediate.
Feeling stuck often could also indicate exhaustion rather than a lack of self-control. If so, your plan should consist of:
- Getting enough rest
- Breaking tasks earlier (before deadlines pile up)
- Being realistic about your daily workload
Action generates motivation, not the other way around, so you don't need to feel motivated to take action.
It's acceptable to feel heavy on some days. Even if the progress on some days may not seem like much, it still matters. You're managing a challenging environment, not failing. You will begin to regain momentum if you concentrate on consistency and minor victories rather than intensity.
Best wishes!
What you’re describing is very real, especially in heavy, demanding majors. The issue usually isn’t laziness; it’s mental overload + low energy + delayed rewards. Motivation drops when everything feels like a long, uphill climb. You have to switch to a more dependable technique by lowering friction and increasing momentum instead of attempting to "feel motivated."
Make your work feel more manageable and actionable first. Avoid telling yourself that you must complete this task. That is too much to handle. Say to yourself, "I'll just write the first paragraph" or "I'll work on this for 20 minutes." It's much simpler to keep going once you get going.
Use organised time blocks after that. For instance, 25–30 minutes of concentrated work followed by a brief break. This prevents mental exhaustion and makes learning feel more doable.
Environmental design is a crucial component. It counts where you study. Reduce distractions as much as you can and try to choose a specific area (library, quiet nook, etc.) that represents "work mode."
Reconnect with your "why" as well, but make sure it's realistic. Focus on the next step, passing this course, developing discipline, and proving to yourself that you can handle challenging situations, instead of thinking far forward ("my future career"). That is more inspiring and immediate.
Feeling stuck often could also indicate exhaustion rather than a lack of self-control. If so, your plan should consist of:
- Getting enough rest
- Breaking tasks earlier (before deadlines pile up)
- Being realistic about your daily workload
Action generates motivation, not the other way around, so you don't need to feel motivated to take action.
It's acceptable to feel heavy on some days. Even if the progress on some days may not seem like much, it still matters. You're managing a challenging environment, not failing. You will begin to regain momentum if you concentrate on consistency and minor victories rather than intensity.
Best wishes!
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
When I feel like giving up, I remind myself that progress doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to happen. In tough science subjects, breaking tasks into tiny steps really helps, and doing "something" instead of everything keeps me going. I also remember why I chose this path and that feeling tired doesn’t mean I’m failing, it just means I’m human. Keep pushing forward!