How I Stay Motivated

Staying motivated can be incredibly hard. Being a senior in high school is no exception to that, especially with all of our deadlines, final projects, scholarships, and exams we have under our belt. I wanted to share some of the ways that I stay motivated that could help any incoming high school students, those currently studying, or anyone college/university-bound.

For starters, I find it crucial to have a reason as to why you want to stay motivated. Set a goal for yourself, both long and short term -- why are you doing this? Is it for a better grade and GPA? Do you have aspirations for a career that requires you to do certain, more advanced courses? Regardless the reason, finding a purpose is the first step in my plan of motivation.

Moving onwards, I like to write down these goals on a piece of paper. Just one, but it can be a journal if you'd like to stay on track of your progress. Make it as pretty as you want, or as simple as you want. It's a tool for you to be able to look back on and help guide you further.

Everyone works differently, and some find it hard to make and stick to a planned routine. I certainly did, and still struggle with that today. Self-care is important, especially with schooling, to make sure we do not burnout and feel like quitting. We don't want to go back to square one! I use this lovely app called "Squarespace" that helps me with mindfulness, meditation, grounding, and breathing exercises to keep me focused and calm. I do this either before, during, or after my studies -- whichever works best at the time. Another app called "Bakery" helps me turn off my phone and keep it away if it's distracting me. It rewards you with cute little icons if you do not burn (exit the app on your phone) or trash (stop the timer) your baked goods by completing the focused time you put in.

Finally, acknowledging your achievements. You can reward yourself with the little things! Are you an okay student, but will struggling with mental or physical health because of that? Is it hard for you to get out of bed some times, and you might only take a shower once a week? Can't seem to get any answers correct on that assignment or test you studied days for? That's okay! Everyone's strength and weaknesses are different and their progress is unique to them. Baby steps are an amazing way to monitor how and what you are doing. You can make a small "milestone" tracker and once you reach a new tier of accomplishment, give yourself a well deserved break and a pat on the back.