How To Stay Motivated During Your College Experience

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College can be difficult at times, especially if you are a freshman or if you are far away from friends and family. Staying motivated will help you to be successful while you are enrolled in college and also later in life. This article describes some of the things that you can do to stay motivated and focused on getting the best education you can. College is not rocket science unless you are studying to become a rocket scientist! The decisions and choices that you make while in college will have an impact on your life after college. But, everyone makes mistakes. The key is to learn from your makes so that you do not repeat them. Use these tips to stay motivated during your college experience. Remember, this is the "best time" of your life!

How to stay motivated during college

Sometimes, you may find that you are motivated to do some of the tasks on this list, other times not so much. The key is to have a plan to stay motivated. You can still have motivation when your plan is not working out. Here are some tips to stay motivated during college: 1. Plan – having a plan in place will keep you motivated. You know exactly what you are going to do to stay motivated and then go about doing it. There are also times that you do not have a plan in place and then you will need to find other ways to stay motivated. The important thing is to know what you want to do and then find out how to do it. There will be times that you may need help and there is no one that you can call and ask for help. The important thing is to be aware of your options and plan accordingly.

Imposter syndrome

One of the things that college students face is imposter syndrome. This is also known as the Hanszen syndrome. According to Wikipedia: "In the context of achievement psychology, impostor syndrome is a phenomenon in which individuals perceive themselves to be impostors, as inadequate or worthless. It's often referred to as "not-good-enough syndrome" and is one of the most common mental blocks to accomplishment. While the prevalence of impostor syndrome is not yet known, it is recognized as being prevalent among a number of fields and professions." When you are trying to do your best in college and try to have a good GPA, this impostor syndrome can cause you to feel as if you are not capable. However, you have all the time in the world to learn and grow as a student.

Keeping a positive attitude

Saying that college is difficult, or that the university has been cold, or that you have to move away from home can put you into a negative cycle. I understand that people sometimes get very stressed when they are away from home and away from familiar people and routines. But, you can only beat the challenges in your life if you are facing them with a positive attitude. This does not mean that you do not get stressed or that you do not get homesick, but it means that you must understand that it is important to be emotionally resilient. Try to avoid using negative energy and try to focus on what is positive in your life.

Advice for freshmen

Stay positive, do not dwell on mistakes Acknowledge your mistakes, and learn from them Learn from the mistakes of others and do not blame anyone You are NOT a failure, go to class and keep on going! Be realistic about your goals and what your experience is going to be like Take notes, write down questions and make a to-do list Follow all of the rules Continue to be respectful and compassionate to others Enjoy your college experience, don't stress Allow yourself to take a break and take a walk in nature Enroll in a class that you think you will enjoy Understand that there will be things you do not understand and ask questions Talk to an adviser and get an Academic Advisor to help you if you have problems Travel to college and study abroad if possible.

The importance of sleep

It has been proven that adequate sleep is very important to your health. The National Sleep Foundation states that adolescents need between eight to ten hours of sleep per night. Sleep is needed so that the body can restore itself after a day of being awake and it is also needed to learn and develop. If you do not get enough sleep, it may affect your mood, learning, ability to make decisions, and your ability to stay focused in class. Do not skip classes because of lack of sleep, but make sure that you get at least seven hours of sleep each night. You can accomplish this by setting a regular sleep time and making sure that you have the proper amount of sleep each night. Strength training Most college students don't do any strength training.

Conclusion

College is a time of exciting discovery and creative thought. College can be a time of study or a time of fun. Be sure that you maintain balance. Strive for personal growth and professional success while you are attending college. You will be surprised at how good it feels to achieve something great in life. If you find that you are not staying motivated and focused, try some of the things that we discuss here.

Dr. Christopher J. Hall

#Highered Educator, blogger, Volunteer, Rotarian, Coach, #Photographer, Techie, Motivational Speaker, 2014 SC Gov's Prof. of the Yr.  #comm_college #BeBetter