8 sure ways to motivate yourself to study

What is Motivation?

Motivation is a set of forces that causes people to behave in certain ways. It is also the process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.

Let’s dive into the life of a student ?

It’s an indisputable fact that a good number of students in the University aren’t studying the course they actually wanted to study. When I say this, I’m not referring to those who actually applied for a course and got rejected because there was a specific amount of students to be admitted to study. I’m referring to those who were forced by their parents to study a course they didn’t want to study. To those in this category of people, there’s still hope.

It’s actually very funny when people say that they’ll fail their course because it’s not what they wanted to study. For those that say this, why don’t you just push through and bag that degree, then study what you want later? Who knows, you might even trip for that course you didn’t want to study. For those who agreed to study the course but then your grades can’t even encourage you to continue studying it, you just have to keep pushing.

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope

Martin Luther King

My Experience

Going back in time to the days before I started university, I wanted to study Political Science but my parents didn’t approve of it. My reason for wanting to study Political Science was actually kind of petty. My Government teacher in secondary school said he studied Political science and I was always so interested when he thought us about government stuff and I was like, I’m definitely going to study the same course he studied. Lol.

My parents told me to pick another course. I was upset but they are the ones paying my school fees so I obliged. I thought about it and decided to go for International Relations. I chose International Relations because I felt it was quite similar to Political science. My parents said it was a better choice so I was glad that at least I’m going to study something similar to what I actually wanted to study.

Fast forwarding time to when I was applying to Covenant University. It was my mom that filled my form. When she got to the space the applicant is expected to write the course that he/she is applying for, she wrote Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management. I was like “Mummy I said International Relations not Industrial Relations”. She was like “You better study this course o!, don’t you know that if you study it you can work anywhere in the Business Industry “.

That was the first time I ever heard of Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management. I had absolutely no idea of what the course was about. At first I was doing strong head because the entire plan I had for my life (in terms of my future career) just went in another direction. I refused to crack, I kept saying that I wouldn’t do it.

Eventually, I got admitted into Covenant University to study Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management.

I didn’t like the course at first and I’m not a fan of switching courses so I decided to give it my best shot. I was like if I’m going to study this course for 4years, I better put in my best to ensure that I excel in it. I can’t go to school for 4years and graduate with a messed-up degree.

Coming back to the present, studying Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management has been one of my best decisions so far. I never knew that managing person could be so interesting.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out

Robert Collier, Self-help author

How can I motivate myself to study a course I don’t like?

It could be that you don’t like the course as a whole e.g Marketing, Accounting, Economics, etc. It could also be that you don’t like some subjects in the course e.g BUS211, IRH319, CSC411, etc.

Ever heard about the 5 Ps? Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Preparing well can lead to the speedy achievement of those good grades.

Well you can motivate yourself to study that Course/ subject by doing the following:

• Change your attitude about that course you hate: You might initially believe the worst about your course, but it’s best to create a more positive perspective. Search for the parts of the course you like and focus on them for optimal enjoyment.
• Make time and plan to learn it: The more devoted you are to the course, the more positive your results will be. Set aside time to study and try to take frequent breaks so your brain won’t overheat 🙂 Remember that each small effort reflects on your grade and practice makes perfect.
• Experiment with your learning styles: Everyone has different learning styles, so you may not like the way you are taught in class. The lecturer may not be truly involved, or you may dislike those long, boring lectures. Try to seek other ways of learning like making out study time, forming a study group, watching a Youtube video that explains the topic you don’t understand, etc

• Relate the course to your daily activities: Courses are understood better when you make connections to your everyday life. You can also watch youtube videos to ease your understanding.
• Set the marks for difficulty levels: Whenever you are reading a topic on your course, make notes, underline keywords and highlight key concepts. As you continue learning, mark easier parts with the label “Easy” and difficult parts with the label “Difficult”
• Arrange collective studying with course mates: Your environment can play a huge role when studying. If you have difficulty studying independently, try forming a study group with friends. It might be challenging to find time for everyone to meet, but the comradery from working together will help make studying significantly more lively and enjoyable.
• Remind yourself that it’s only temporary: Remember that this is just a part of your education; it’s not something you have to endure for the rest of your life. I mean, some people don’t even practice what they studied.
• Remember the assessment day: When the exam day arrives, it’s much more difficult to learn what you hate and take the test if you still don’t fully understand. Instead of having no clue about the material, start studying as early as possible to reduce your stress level. Your brain will thank you for less pressure and your grade will sing a song of victory.

8 sure ways to motivate yourself to study