Keeping Motivation High

[thnythe]

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As final exams approach, I'm wondering how everyone keeps their motivation up.

While getting into vet school is a big motivator, it's hard to focus on that when going through hours of physics problems (bleh).

Any daily rituals or ideas anyone would like to share?

 

[twelvetigers]

Reward yourself for completing a task or studying for X number of hours. Take a break to read a book, watch a favorite show, go get yourself some Marble Slab cheesecake ice cream with raspberries and chocolate chips mixed in... oh man, I think I just did myself in. Haha. Even if it's a bit silly, it does seem to work.

 

[aspiringDVM]

I just finished my finals (WHOOP!), so I'm writing this in a semi-manic state. I get dreadful test anxiety to the point of making myself physically ill (resting pulse of 130, violent dry heaving, the works. Okay, fast approaching TMI), but on this side of the horrible week of exams, feeling that I did well in my classes and getting good grades makes the sleepless nights and absolute panic TOTALLY WORTH IT. So keep in mind that all your hard work will pay off, and that all that studying you're doing is an investment in your career and your future, and you will feel so, so good when it's all over.
Hang in there -- I just finished up Physics II and let me tell you, the knowledge that I will never have to take another physics exam again brings joy to my heart.

 

[littlehooves]

I think what really got me through the day.....after immersing in understanding how xenopus develops as an embryo- then comparing this to chicks, zebrafish and mice..... was having something to look forward to, for example riding! That would be the hilight of my day and I'd count down the hours and then distract myself with work until I got to drive to the barn. That, and I'd also say to myself "Man....I can't WAIT until April 17th- end of my bruital week..." and then I'd dream about it for a minute. lol. I still have one more exam to go- but my brutial week is OVER and I honestly feel GREAT. I studied hard for all my exams and I actually felt pretty good about all of them!! 🙂 So I guess the take home message to your post....was that I like to day dream 😛

 

[aretoo]

When I just can't focus anymore I stop and go for a run or bike ride or swim. It helps a lot 🙂

OH and my FAV thing to do is volunteer in the VTH at school because then I leave feeling SUPER motivated to study and get into vet school 🙂 Going to the barn helps too.

 

[pawprints]

I am a HUGE believer in the reward system...😛

Everytime I finish a big chunk of my work, I either go to the barn, take my dog for a walk, call up a friend, go into the 'secret stash' of Easter chocolate (although it's getting quite small now...😛), etc...

I also have my 'motivation mutt'...I'll set a goal for myself, such as to finish up to Chapter X or have Y memorized, to be completed by 4:00, because that's when my dog goes for his first of 2 big walks (note: he gets let out many times, but he has an internal clock that tells him it's 4 o'clock -- time for my walk!)...I refuse to leave the house until it's done, and his whimpering and constant nudges force me to hurry up...and then repeat the process for 9...🙂

 

[OnceBitten]

At this point, I'm two weeks away from getting my bachelor's and have an incredibly daunting number of exams, finals, papers, and presentations in front of me before I can get it. I just keep reminding myself of how good it will feel to walk across that stage and hold my diploma LOL. I'm so close that I just have to keep walking. So, so close.

Every other semester about this time, I've just reminded myself that I would be THIS much closer to getting my degree right after the finals were finished, and wanting to reach that landmark helped me get through it.

Can you tell that I want to graduate? LOL

 

[StillDreaming]

I am also currently lacking motivation... i have completely slacked off this semester and it is biting me in the butt right now... i have tons to do, and yes, enough time to do it all, but it would have been a lot less stressful had i taken the time earlier rather than wasting it on doing nothing lol...

my motivation right now is just to be done... and a reward system work too... i only let myself go to dinner/movie with friends if i have completely my check list for the day...

also making check lists really helps... i love (i know i'm nerdy) having a checklist for the day and feeling so accomplished (no matter how mediocre the tasks) when the check list is complete...

yay for checklists!

 

[Caninerepro]

I feel everyones pain as well. I am six weeks away from finishing my Masters -- 4 from being done with classes. The problem is, now that I am into Vet School, I technically don't even have to pass my classes this semester as none of it matters to the schools!!!!! I am not the only one in my program that really wants to slack off. I just keep reminding myself that I have spent $20,000.00 in loans to get this useless MS, and I got into the program because of the personal involvment of the head of the program -- I was one of the "invited" members of the class, so to speak. I cannot let him down, but do I really HAVE to get another 4.0? Not really. Urg, I just want it to be over! 😛 I can't wait for Vet School to start though!!!!!

 

[swinks]

I'm currently having issues with this keeping myself motivated thing.

2 more exams...3 days of studying.
Must...keep....going.....