How do you find motivation?

[teenyfish]

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Finals week is here for me, and I'm starting to feel burnt out and have almost zero motivation to study. This semester has been tough for me in terms of motivation and I've never felt that before, usually I'm a huge try-hard but for the past few months I've hit a road block. My grades aren't terrible, I'll probably walk out with 3 A's and hopefully a B in orgo 2 depending on how well I do on the final. I'm currently attempting to study for my orgo final which is tomorrow, but I almost want to throw in the towel and wing it because I feel like I probably won't learn anything I don't already know by tomorrow. I'm afraid that this will continue to be a pattern in upcoming semesters and I want to nip this in the bud.

Any suggestions on how to get my butt moving?

 

[CjOz]

Remind yourself what you are studying for.

 

[Mosa]

Finals week is here for me, and I'm starting to feel burnt out and have almost zero motivation to study. This semester has been tough for me in terms of motivation and I've never felt that before, usually I'm a huge try-hard but for the past few months I've hit a road block. My grades aren't terrible, I'll probably walk out with 3 A's and hopefully a B in orgo 2 depending on how well I do on the final. I'm currently attempting to study for my orgo final which is tomorrow, but I almost want to throw in the towel and wing it because I feel like I probably won't learn anything I don't already know by tomorrow. I'm afraid that this will continue to be a pattern in upcoming semesters and I want to nip this in the bud.

Any suggestions on how to get my butt moving?

This has always worked for me: Think of all the people who didn't have the right or money to become educated as you are. If you're a girl, think of the early feminists who were counted as property even though they knew they were so much more. If you're a minority, think of your ancestors who weren't treated equally here or in other places. Even if you're neither of these, think of people who historically jumped through a ridiculous amount of hoops just to attend college like you are. Think of what they would do if they had your amazing first world opportunities. They would study so extremely hard and never ever complain. Think of all the horrible things happening in the world right now and be thankful of the fact that seemingly your biggest problem now is studying for finals. Actually, it's not even a problem, just something you need to get done. Think of how great we have it here, and take your opportunity to learn and perform well on your exams and run with it! You can do it!!

 

[Xenops]

This has always worked for me: Think of all the people who didn't have the right or money to become educated as you are. If you're a girl, think of the early feminists who were counted as property even though they knew they were so much more. If you're a minority, think of your ancestors who weren't treated equally here or in other places. Even if you're neither of these, think of people who historically jumped through a ridiculous amount of hoops just to attend college like you are. Think of what they would do if they had your amazing first world opportunities. They would study so extremely hard and never ever complain. Think of all the horrible things happening in the world right now and be thankful of the fact that seemingly your biggest problem now is studying for finals. Actually, it's not even a problem, just something you need to get done. Think of how great we have it here, and take your opportunity to learn and perform well on your exams and run with it! You can do it!!

I like the bolded part. 🙂

I have something similar; think of what would happen if you let a grade slip to a C, or you didn't give your all, and that this mistake prevents you from getting into med school. Fear of not achieving my goal is what keeps me going.

 

[MedSchool3605]

Think about what you are working for and why you want to be a doctor. The health care industry needs qualified, caring professionals advocating and working for our patients. If that is you, don't let anything get in the way of your goal.

Here are the thoughts of a young girl, April who died last July from Cystic Fibrosis
"When I was younger I always saw myself growing up to have a wonderful job, an amazing husband, and children that worked hard to accomplish their dreams. But as I got older I realized that was not the life I was going to have. I realized that the job, husband, and child were going to be myself caring for my CF. It's not that I didn't try to create that dream for myself. I went to college for a short time, had a boyfriend in high school that I planned a life with, and I came up with names for my future children, but my CF needed attention more than anything. My CF is my child. Just like a child, I would get stressed out with my CF, ignore it and hope it would eventually go away, but also like a child I had to tend to my CF.
Some days I wake up and feel trapped. I feel like a caged bird. But I am singing for a cure, Hurry up and come! This way my friends will stop dying, so I can live a life I have always yearned for, so my family can stop worrying about how much time they have left with me."

We are going to be doctors, and we are going to work for these people, and we are going to do our best to help them.

http://streetlight.ufandshands.org/about-the-program/focuses/fear-is-not-my-option-by-michael-bowen/

"It is not my choice about when [my] first and last breath occur but it is up to me to define how I live my life with every breath between. Therefore I refuse to allow fear to define how I live my life."
-Michael J Bowen Jr.
December 7th, 1986 – December 9th, 2009

 

[Donald Juan]

Motivation is good and all, but recognize that putting in the long hours are more about discipline than anything else. Some days you might jump out of bed and be ready to go study for 12 hours, but most of the time you will have to force yourself out of bed to get the bare minimum done. Either way you get it done.

Also, caffeine helps a lot.

 

[passionformed]

This has always worked for me: Think of all the people who didn't have the right or money to become educated as you are. If you're a girl, think of the early feminists who were counted as property even though they knew they were so much more. If you're a minority, think of your ancestors who weren't treated equally here or in other places. Even if you're neither of these, think of people who historically jumped through a ridiculous amount of hoops just to attend college like you are. Think of what they would do if they had your amazing first world opportunities. They would study so extremely hard and never ever complain. Think of all the horrible things happening in the world right now and be thankful of the fact that seemingly your biggest problem now is studying for finals. Actually, it's not even a problem, just something you need to get done. Think of how great we have it here, and take your opportunity to learn and perform well on your exams and run with it! You can do it!!

Brb, gotta go study and live life!

 

[Dingo Mango]

Do not try to learn organic chemistry the night before the final. It is more important at this point to get a good night sleep. Study as hard as you can and then force yourself to sleep!

 

[Fatalis]

its like your climbing a mountain, almost at the summit and decide to turn back...you put in all that hard work....I sure you WILL care if you get your grades back and they drop b/c you were burnt out. Hit the gym then come back to the books.

 

[def1]

I never really understand these questions.

If the goal of medical school is not enough to motivate you, then how badly do you really want it?

 

[cerno]

Imagine having an acceptance in your hand.

Now imagine not having one.

 

[ChartaBona]

Make a sticky note that says "Eye on the Prize < (o) >" and put it on/near your desk.

Never take it down.

 

[solitarius]

Motivation is good and all, but recognize that putting in the long hours are more about discipline than anything else. Some days you might jump out of bed and be ready to go study for 12 hours, but most of the time you will have to force yourself out of bed to get the bare minimum done. Either way you get it done.

This. I have faced this issue many, many times during premed. Every semester. MCAT summer. Even right now, I am terribly unmotivated to put in the time to study for the last hourly exam ever in my academic premed slog.

You just put in the time even if your productivity is low.

 

[KnuxNole]

This scenario is completely understandable. Happens to tons of college students every semester. Remember that it's the final leg of the race, and that after you pass the finish line, there will be a nice vacation ahead(even if it's only a few weeks). In the future, if you feel like you might burn out near the end, take a full day off without thinking about school. After you clear your mind and recharge, remember why you worked hard through the semester and kill it! 😀

 

[teenyfish]

Thanks everyone! These past few days have been super rough, but I'm happy to say that I'm officially done with my sophomore year of college! Crazy!

I think what stuck with me the most was what Mosa said, about others who don't have the opportunity to go to school like I do. My father couldn't afford to attend college and it is one of his biggest regrets today, he takes some classes at a local CC and is a huge dork about it and loves every assignment he gets (I'm definitely my father's daughter). He tells me every time he visits my university that he could only dream of having an opportunity like I have today. The fact that he worked so hard at a dead-end job to give my sister & I a college education is what really got me through the orgo grind. Anyway, enough of the personal stuff. Hope everyone else makes it through finals unscathed!

 

[TheFuture_22]

Imagine having an acceptance in your hand.

Now imagine not having one.

This is exactly what kept my drive going!