With looming Poly project deadlines each semester, the burning of midnight oils seems to be a never-ending vicious cycle. We get tired, stressed, frustrated, and the joy of learning seeps away. How does one then stay motivated?
During our recent Seniors Say event, we invited Durgaes, a current student from Singapore Poly who wrote a book ‘Time management for teenagers & working adults’, to talk about being self-motivated in Poly. He shared his personal experiences and tips to stay motivated throughout your Poly journey. Here’s a quick recap of the talk!
What motivates YOU?
An individual’s motivation can be inspired by both external factors or themselves. Because everyone is unique and we all come from different backgrounds, this really depends on your personal goals and the reason behind them.
Durgaes shared that knowing that his parents paid for his school fees strongly motivated him to do well so that he could get a good job afterwards to pay them back.
Find out what motivates you and remind yourself of it every day. Hold on to it even when the going gets tough.
Tips to stay motivated
Having motivation is great at the start but many struggle when obstacles start coming their way. As such, it is vital to prepare yourself for such situations and come up with ‘safety nets’ so that you don’t fall too hard.
Here are more practical tips we picked up from the talk that can help you when you are not motivated at all:
- Set small goals! Attempt to complete at least 15-25% of your assignment and after doing that, check if you gained momentum to continue. If you did not, at least you completed a portion! Take a break and pick it up again the next day.
- Journal! Write down your goals and why you don’t feel motivated. This can help you cope with stress, help you slow down and reflect, and it will clear your cluttered mind.
- Exercising can also help you clear your mind by sweating it out, giving you the concentration and mental sharpness for your tasks at hand.
- Talk it out with your family and friends. They might be able to offer sound advice and you’ll be able to bounce off your thoughts and ideas.
We cannot emphasise more on the value of having a community of like-minded friends. These are the people whom you can journey with and depend on through tough times.
If you really need someone to talk to, your Poly Parcel seniors are always here for you. You can send us a DM on Telegram at cutt.ly/askasenior!
Motivation vs Discipline
While being motivated is great and it is a wonderful thing to take advantage of when it strikes, it is more of a short-term drive that nudges you to get the ball rolling.
On the other hand, discipline refers to training yourself to behave and work in a controlled and regular way, which is essentially building good habits. As motivation is finite, it can fade and some people tend to give up when all motivation is lost.
You may not be motivated all the time, but you can be disciplined every day. Thus, we encourage you to figure out what ‘discipline’ will look like for your specific goals and work on building good habits!
There will be plenty of distractions and demotivators that can deter you from achieving your full potential throughout your Poly life. While you discover what motivates you, it is equally important for you to know what your demotivators are too so that you can take the necessary actions to avoid or prevent them.
At Poly Parcel, your seniors are here for you! We want to navigate Poly life together with you to make your Poly experience a better one.
Got a question to ask about Poly? Or just need someone to talk to about your worries and problems? Chat with us on Telegram @ cutt.ly/askasenior now!
