So, you’ve either been teaching or learning online for a year now due to the pandemic. You have probably perfected your daily routine, made your schedule habitual, read all the E-Learning advice available, and maybe even picked up a new hobby or two. These were all essential during the initial adaptation to remote learning, but everything gets old and tiring. Even in normal circumstances, it’s easy to lose motivation. The switch to remote learning caused by COVID-19 brings new challenges. Uncertainty, lack of social interaction with peers, and excessive screen time are just a few of them. How do we prevent burnout and maintain the momentum we’ve worked so hard to achieve?
If you feel anxious, unusually irritable, fatigued, or overwhelmed – these are some of the signs of burnout. It can have a huge negative impact on an online student’s performance. Below are some evocative questions that can help you maintain momentum and find the motivation to study. You may want to ponder the answers or talk them over with a family member or a friend. You may be surprised what comes out.
Do I struggle with this particular task or have a general motivation problem?
Observe if there is a difference between the tasks you have no problem doing and those for which you feel unmotivated. If you struggle with a certain task, try a different approach, like a Goldilocks Rule, when you first deal with a task that is not too hard and not too easy, right on the edge of your current abilities. However, if you feel like you experience overall depression or dissatisfaction, maybe you are at the wrong school, maybe you should be taking different classes, or maybe you shouldn’t be in college.
What are the consequences?
Try to think of what positive and negative things might happen if you don’t get back on track. Chances are there will be more negative outcomes. Remember why you’ve started the journey and how far you’ve come. Treat your studying like your investment in the future. This will help you to get motivated again.
Am I a perfectionist?
You might be surprised, but perfectionism can have a negative impact on motivation. They say that perfectionism leads to procrastination, and procrastination leads to paralysis. Because of fear of not reaching the goal, perfectionism can cause one to put off doing what needs to be done. Go easier on yourself.
Am I stuck?
Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed. When you complete one task, there’ll be more to do, ad infinitum. You feel like you get caught in a vicious circle. When you feel this way, it’s hard to get motivated to do much. It may trigger other feelings, like anxiety, frustration, fear, or even depression. Try to understand where these feelings come from: do your parents work constantly, do you do what you really like, do you need more rest? To get out of this circle try to focus on other matters and relax.
Are there any concurrent needs that demand to be taken seriously?
Everyone has these days when things spin out of control no matter what you do. You can’t motivate yourself to do academic work because your competing needs are compelling. In fact, it could just be that you need to get some rest, sleep, eat, play, and socialize. Take charge and do what is good for you. Don’t neglect your physical and mental health.
Remember, it is okay to feel unmotivated and lazy sometimes. You are not alone. Stop trying too hard and permit yourself to take a break. Chances are you will feel much better and more in control after a short break. This is the state you want to attain to maintain momentum in studying. Take care of yourself and leave it for us to help you with the academic hurdles. Askademic has qualified online tutors in multiple school subjects. Register now and get 2 free classes. Happy learning!
