Need motivation and help focusing

[studyandpass5]

Really need some help here guys... I'm totally lacking motivation to finish my studies. I'm currently pursuing an IT degree, while working part time (25 hrs/wk, mornings). I have a very short attention span, so it's hard for me to concentrate after I get home from work. I have about 2 years left (just about to become a junior) Anyone else have this problem? What did you do to help focus? I listen to study music playlists on YouTube, and that helps

[keepsingin]

Different things work for motivating different people, you'll probably have to try out several suggestions to see what helps the most. My motivation in grade school was to get ahead of my peers, lol. Two things that help motivate me now are exercise, specifically cardio, and goal-setting/scheduling. Most days, my brain just refuses to wake up, and exercise helps remedy that sometimes. You can find a lot of info about exercise benefits for studying by googling it. For scheduling, I set a realistic goal for when I want to complete a course, and then I note on my calendar how much I need to complete each day. Having a reminder that I need to get to [Chap 7, Les 3] today helps keep me focused. If deadlines aren't your thing, maybe checking a box could be more motivating. Also, connecting with other students, online or not, can help sometimes. Shutting off social media notifications can be beneficial as well. All the best to your studies!

[quigongene]

I promised myself a new PC after I get my bachelor's. Got my wife's sign off on it. I also have 2 pictures taped to the edge of a monitor at my desk. The new PC and my wife and kid. That's pretty much keeping me motivated (admittedly, I'm really early in the game though).

[cookderosa]

I have come to the conclusion that you can't really motivate people, it has to be internal. That's the reason over 50% of people who start college never finish. I'm willing to bet a good number enrolled because they were told to or it was expected of them - but they weren't internally motivated.
(before someone argues that there are other factors, I would agree, but I would also say that people who are deeply motivated will move Heaven and Earth to work around problems or solve them. Can you say CLEP?)

That said, I think everyone experiences lulls in their motivation, especially when you take an emotional hit ( a bad grade, criticism from someone, etc.). So, here's what helped me when I was where you are:

(1) go faster. You need to pour on the gas. Don't marinate in this degree for the next 2 years. I earned 2 degrees in 18 months while working part time, volunteering, raising 4 kids.... was it easy? No, but it was like pulling off a band-aid. I promise you somewhere around 12 months I wanted to be done. NO WAY I would have lasted 4 years. Get it done faster- if you're doing 6 credits per semester, take 12. If you're doing 12, take 21. If you're taking summers off, add classes back in. Go faster.

(2) Write your resume with your new degree on it. You can write "in progress" or "projected graduation date ___" but write it on there. Enjoy how much more professional and educated you'll look with it on there!

(3) Start looking for jobs that require your new degree. Get excited about your new potential job titles and paycheck.

(4) Figure out how to move your goal post closer. I know that seems like #1, but it isn't. People do all kinds of things to move the goal post BACK - like adding a second major, a specialization or concentration, delaying graduation to take on an internship first.... blah blah blah. That's all fine if your motivation is solid, but when it drops, you need to go in and figure out how to bring it closer. What classes can you replace with exams? For every 100/200 level gen ed on your "to do" list, sub those babies out with CLEP. Do it ASAP. At that rate, you can complete as many as 4 classes (CLEP) per month. Get them off your plate and out of your way. Leave your brain space for important in-major courses.

(5) Make a signature line. It makes all the difference!!

Finally, it's all you. You can do it - but all of us that have done it had to do it just like you are. Most will stop short of a degree. You just have to decide.

[Ideas]

I agree with the suggestions already given

Study music helps me too.

An accountability thread here helps, or having someone to "check in" with.

You might want to do a quicker degree than IT. An IT degree would be nice, but a lot of IT jobs can be gotten with any "check the box" degree, especially once you have experience and certifications, and you would be more likely to finish.

In another thread, someone posted that they wake up early, to get their studying done early before their full-time job. This makes the best sense. Like you said, it's harder to study when you're already tired from work. I know you work mornings, but it might be something you can do. I'm trying it myself. Maybe not get all your studying done then, but an hour in the morning, so you have less in the evening.

I'm not sure if it was the same person, but some people schedule exams for themselves, which keeps them on a timetable. I think bjcheung always has one or two exams scheduled, 3-4 days in advance. I find that I delay on scheduling the exam, but when it's scheduled, I like the time pressure. It could help to have a monetary penalty for rescheduling. (I like the pressure of the rescheduling fee, but I have health problems, so I would rather not.)

Someone also said they will take exams during their work lunch breaks. It may have been once a week. Again, it's getting it done earlier in the day so it gets done, and setting themselves up in a pattern.

I would also add being sure to guard against burn out. Sometimes you might need to take a whole month off, and come back feeling refreshed.

[Joeman200]

I say this from experience because I get burn outs too. Reward yourself for reaching goals. Small and Large. I'll tell myself if I study all day and get A B and C done, then I"ll go fishing in the evening. Also, once I finish my degree I promised myself a backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierras... that helps motivate me. Then again, I procrastinate too... that's why I'm reading this forum instead of going over flash cards.. ...stop procrastinating! OK I'm going to go study now.

[jessikalauren]

Yep everyone's different, because I can't listen to music or TV at all when I'm studying. I schedule it like it's another job of mine. I work in my office until 5:00, then I stay sitting at my desk until 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, whatever. But I schedule it. Years of deadlines at work have prepared me for this. Plus being at work helps a lot too, so it still feels like "work." If you don't have a desk, go to a library or Starbucks or Panera. I simply can't do any work at home, too many distractions.


I talked with someone who reads her books out loud and records it, then listens back to it in her own voice. Helps her retain.

[EI2HCB]

Motivation is intrinsic, it is inside you! Now how to get it out of you! How you feel about yourself and your goals can effect your performance, what is your internal "self talk" saying to you. (change how you think about this task inside)
If you get up every morning and go to work something motivates you to do that, hunger, security needs? Examine why you want this degree, is it your dream or someone else's? It its your dream then focus on what got you excited about it in the first place.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
break it down to minute steps towards your goal.  a particular course might be a monster/elephant but if you give yourself no excuses to cover a single topic each day you'll be through it in no time. I addition reward yourself, Fancy dinner with the Mrs at Ming's Chinese to celebrate little wins or whatever it is that rocks your world. I've been focusing on other things for almost a year now and I've had to muster up and focus on why I wanted this degree in the first place. I'm twenty  credits away!

[studyandpass5]

I have come to the conclusion that you can't really motivate people, it has to be internal.  That's the reason over 50% of people who start college never finish.  I'm willing to bet a good number enrolled because they were told to or it was expected of them - but they weren't internally motivated.
(before someone argues that there are other factors, I would agree, but I would also say that people who are deeply motivated will move Heaven and Earth to work around problems or solve them.  Can you say CLEP?)

That said, I think everyone experiences lulls in their motivation, especially when you take an emotional hit ( a bad grade, criticism from someone, etc.).  So, here's what helped me when I was where you are:

(1) go faster.  You need to pour on the gas.  Don't marinate in this degree for the next 2 years.  I earned 2 degrees in 18 months while working part time, volunteering, raising 4 kids.... was it easy?  No, but it was like pulling off a band-aid.  I promise you somewhere around 12 months I wanted to be done. NO WAY I would have lasted 4 years.  Get it done faster- if you're doing 6 credits per semester, take 12.  If you're doing 12, take 21.  If you're taking summers off, add classes back in.  Go faster.  

(2) Write your resume with your new degree on it.  You can write "in progress" or "projected graduation date ___" but write it on there.  Enjoy how much more professional and educated you'll look with it on there!

(3)  Start looking for jobs that require your new degree.  Get excited about your new potential job titles and paycheck.  

(4)  Figure out how to move your goal post closer.  I know that seems like #1, but it isn't.  People do all kinds of things to move the goal post BACK - like adding a second major, a specialization or concentration, delaying graduation to take on an internship first.... blah blah blah.  That's all fine if your motivation is solid, but when it drops, you need to go in and figure out how to bring it closer.  What classes can you replace with exams?  For every 100/200 level gen ed on your "to do" list, sub those babies out with CLEP.  Do it ASAP.  At that rate, you can complete as many as 4 classes (CLEP) per month.  Get them off your plate and out of your way.  Leave your brain space for important in-major courses.

(5)  Make a signature line.  It makes all the difference!!

Finally, it's all you.  You can do it - but all of us that have done it had to do it just like you are.  Most will stop short of a degree.  You just have to decide.


That's awesome advice! Thank you! Number 1 really hit me, I tend to take my time on these CLEPs, DSSTs, etc. I think that actually ends up hindering me, because I end up forgetting all the material I studied at the beginning of the course by the time I reach the end! 

[davewill]

That's awesome advice! Thank you! Number 1 really hit me, I tend to take my time on these CLEPs, DSSTs, etc. I think that actually ends up hindering me, because I end up forgetting all the material I studied at the beginning of the course by the time I reach the end!

You sound a little like me. It's entirely possible to over-study for these things. I absolutely killed my CLEPs and DSSTs, which only means I didn't need to spend quite so much time studying for them!