Academic Motivation
The University Counselling Service has produced a large range of self-help leaflets. Why not have a look at the one on Procrastination or Work-block?
Constructive Suggestions for Improving Motivation
It is your responsibility to make college a growth experience for you. The following suggestions and resources may be helpful.
- Attack the problem of goal setting directly.
Gather information about your interests, abilities, values, and needs. The following may be useful in this process;Tests
Gather information about occupations.
Counselling
Self-evaluationCareer Services has files of this type of information.
Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Talk to personnel in Career Services.
Get first-hand information from people working in this field.
Gather information about training requirements and training programs.Using Career Services occupational files.
Using college and other catalogues.
Get first-hand information from professors or those in the field.
On the basis of the information, start making decisions which lead you in directions you want to go. - Attack personal problems directly. The following may be helpful:
Using the services of the Counselling Service.
Individual counselling or therapy.
Self-help materials.
Group counselling or therapy.Attack the problem yourself.
Self-evaluation.
Direct confrontation of others involved in the problem.
Accept responsibilities for initiating changes you want to make. - Motivation Checklist
The following checklist may prove helpful in getting at the sources of poor motivation. If you want to improve your motivation you may want to choose a self-directed improvement program or use the information as a focus for counselling.
- Really preferring something other than attending this university:
Would prefer not to go to college.
Would rather attend another college.
Would prefer a different kind of training. - College as means to ends other than learning:
To avoid getting a job
To find a mate
To have a good time
To get away from home
To prove self-worth - Distracting personal problems:
Conflict with same sex
Conflict with opposite sex
Conflict with parents
Lack of confidence
Undefined resistance to college
Angry at the world
Overuse of drugs or alcohol
Fear of evaluation
Difficulty in making decisions
Lack of financial resources
Marriage problems
Phobias and other anxieties
Insecurity
Loneliness - Lack of interest
Undefined vocational goals
Undefined educational goals
Course material is not what I think is important
Interest in school is not the "in" thing among my friends. - Continuing self-defeating behaviour patterns:
Excessive dependence on parents or others
Fear as a motivator
Parents as motivators
Grades or academic achievement as motivator
High school habits
- Really preferring something other than attending this university:
Overcoming Procrastination
The following provides information regarding why students procrastinate and tips for overcoming procrastination.
William Knaus, a psychologist, estimated that 90% of college students procrastinate. Of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators and they are usually the ones who end up dropping out of college.
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What is Procrastination
Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished. This can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt among students. Procrastination has a high potential for painful consequences. It interferes with the academic and personal success of students.
Why Do Students Procrastinate?
Poor Time Management
Procrastination means not managing time wisely. You may be uncertain of your priorities, goals and objectives. You may also be overwhelmed with the task. As a result, you keep putting off your academic assignments for a later date, or spending a great deal of time with your friends and social activities, or worrying about your upcoming examination, class project and papers rather than completing them.
Difficulty Concentrating
When you sit at your desk you find yourself daydreaming, staring into space, looking at pictures of your boyfriend/girlfriend etc., instead of doing the task. Your environment is distracting and noisy. You keep running back and forth for equipment such as pencils, erasers, dictionary etc., Your desk is cluttered and unorganised and sometimes you sit/lie on your bed to study or do your assignments. You probably notice that all the examples that you have just read promote time wasting and frustration.
Fear and Anxiety
You may be overwhelmed with the task and afraid of getting a failing grade. As a result, you spend a great deal of time worrying about your upcoming exams, papers and projects, rather than completing them.
Negative Beliefs
Such as ?I cannot succeed in anything? and ?I lack the necessary skills to perform the task? may allow you to stop yourself from getting work done.
Personal problems
For example, financial difficulties, problems with your girlfriend/boyfriend etc.
Finding the task boring
Unrealistic expectations and perfectionism
You may believe that you MUST read everything ever written on a subject before you can begin to write your paper. You may think that you haven?t done the best you possibly could do, so it?s not good enough to hand in.
Fear of failure
You may think that if you don?t get the top marks, you are a failure. Or that if you fail an exam, you, as a person, are a failure, rather than that your are a perfectly ok person who has failed an exam.
How to Overcome Procrastination
Recognise self-defeating problems such as:
Fear and anxiety
Difficulty concentrating
Poor time management
Indecisiveness
Perfectionism
Identify your own goals, strengths and weaknesses, values and priorities.
Compare your actions with the values you feel you have. Are your values consistent with your actions?
Discipline yourself to use your time wisely: SET PRIORITIES
Study in small blocks of time instead of long ones.
For example, you will accomplish more if you study/work in 60 minute blocks and take frequent 10 minute breaks in between, than if you study/work for 2-3 hours straight, with no breaks. Reward yourself after you complete a task.
Motivate yourself to study: DWELL ON SUCCESS NOT FAILURE Try to study in small groups. Break large assignments into small tasks. Keep a reminder schedule and checklist.
Set realistic goals
Modify your environment
Eliminate or minimise noise/distraction
Ensure adequate lighting
Have necessary equipment at hand. Don?t waste time going back and forth to get things.
A desk and straight-backed chair is usually best (a bed is no place to study!)
Be neat! Take a few minutes to straighten your desk. This can help reduce daydreaming.
CUSU provides confidential, free, non-judgemental support and information to individual students. Contact the CUSU Education Officer, Welfare Officer or Women's Officer by email, phone or by dropping into the office if you would like support or information on any topic.