Healthy Habits: Motivation, A November 2022 SWC Workshop

You’re laying on a couch, exhausted, the tip of your blanket hanging off the edge. A pile of untouched homework is on a desk near you. You sigh and pull the blanket closer, trying to ignore the feeling that you’re being unproductive and not getting anything done. You know you have important things you need to do, but you don’t want to —no, can’t— do it. If you’ve ever felt like this, you’ve probably been unmotivated before. Some methods that can help are listed below:

• Listen to music
  

One way you can motivate yourself is by listening to music. Music can be relaxing, calming, and brighten your mood, especially if the song you’re listening to is one of your favorites. Lyrics can also impact how the way you feel. For instance, if you’re listening to a song with inspiring lyrics, it might also inspire you and get you motivated. For example, the song Stronger by Kelly Clarkson might help you feel encouraged since the song has an encouraging mood. So, if you’re feeling unmotivated, I’d recommend listening to a song with an encouraging mood or lyrics (although any work!).

• Nap
  

If you’re feeling unmotivated, you don’t always have to force yourself to do something. Napping is one way to gain energy and motivation, especially if you’re tired, without doing much. Life is exhausting, so don’t forget that you can always take a break and nap. Napping is relaxing and a great way to get your energy level back to normal.

• Make goals
  

Most times when you lose motivation, it’s because you don’t want to do something. Maybe you need to work on an essay or practice an instrument. But if you look at it as a chore, you’re most likely never going to do it. One way that helps is through goal setting. Start by making small goals, like drinking a glass of water or doing a problem on your math homework. Then, after you start to get a feel for these tasks, gradually add onto them. For instance, if one of your goals was to drink one glass of water, then drink two glasses of water, or if you did one problem on your math homework, increase it to two, etc. After you feel comfortable with those, start doing the things you’ve been avoiding, like finishing your homework or writing a short story. This helps if you need to do something you’re dreading because sometimes it might be easier than you think. And once you start, it’s hard to stop.

• Exercise
  

Maybe you’re not procrastinating on something, but you’ve lost your energy or are tired after a long day. Then exercising might help. By exercising, I don’t mean that you should run a lap or do some push-ups. Instead, try taking a walk or doing some yoga. Any minimal exercise will do, as long as you’re relaxed and not exerting too much of your energy. Being relaxed is one of the best ways to get motivated again, which is why exercising can be beneficial for gaining motivation.

• Spend time with family
  

Spending some time with your family is another great way to motivate you. They can encourage you, give you energy, and make you happy, which are all great qualities that help gain motivation. Additionally, you could play a (board, card, etc.) game with them, which also helps. Whether you’re having fun or eating dinner with them, you’ll most likely get motivated. Although spending time with your family does help, make sure to hang out with your family regardless, as improving relationships and hanging out with your family is always important.

• Reward yourself
  

If you give yourself a reward after completing an activity, it helps motivate you to complete it. The reward could be anything, like a piece of candy or playing a video game. For example, you could give yourself some candy after studying hard for a test or watch a TV show after finishing your chores. As long as you enjoy and actually want your reward, you’ll be motivated to do whatever you need to do.

• Time pressure
  

Deadlines can be stressful, but they can also motivate you. This is called time pressure. Since the deadline is gradually increasing, the pressure is also increasing, which motivates you. For example, if you have an assignment due tomorrow, but you haven’t started it yet, you might rush to finish it. This sudden impulse and rush of motivation are caused by time pressure. Although this works, it is pretty stressful, so be warned ehe ^^" But please try not to procrastinate <3

• Encouragement
  

People can be a great source of motivation, as shown in the ‘spending time with family’ section. So, since encouragement relies heavily on people, encouragement helps with gaining motivation too. Say a friend has finished a project, but you haven’t yet, or they’re studying with you. If they cheer you on and/or offer support and heartening remarks, it can boost your motivation.

• Brainstorming
  

Brainstorming is when you list a couple of random ideas (on paper or digitally). You’ve probably had to brainstorm something in school before, but what you might not know is that it can also help with motivation. For instance, if you need to write a narrative, try listing every idea that comes to you. If you can’t think of anything else, look back at your paper (or device!) and read what you wrote. Cross out any ideas you don’t like, but leave the ones you’re still thinking about (you know the ones). Then, decide which ideas are better than the ones left, and voila, you’re done! Of course, you can adjust the steps based on what you’re doing, but it should roughly be the same ^^



This weekly’s activity is to join a studio (time pressure, encouragement, brainstorming) and participate! Join which studio motivates you the most. For instance, if you gain motivation from encouragement often, then join encouragement.
Time pressure gives you challenges, encouragement gives you encouragement, and brainstorming gives you ideas. You can only earn points when you comment. More information is found in the studios.
This weekly is due by November (date) at 11:59PM (UTC time)!
Feel free to let me know if you have any questions <3

Cool