Staying motivated in Lockdown
One of our Student Volunteers tells us their top tips for studying during lockdown.
Being a student during lockdown, it can be incredibly hard to stay motivated. Classes are online, exams are cancelled, assignments have changed and university facilities are closed. If the work load wasn’t already enough, we now have to try and do our work without these things. I’m personally writing my dissertation at the moment, so not being able to meet with my supervisor isn’t ideal!
Here are some tips which have helped me to stay motivated and continue to get my work done during the lockdown:
Make a routine
It is important to still have some kind of routine to your week, in the way you would at university. Usually there are regular lectures, supervisor meetings, sports training, society meetings or volunteering. Without these different things to give a sense of routine to your life, it can be hard to motivate yourself to get up early and get any work done. I suggest getting into a routine of waking up and going to sleep at similar times, and perhaps having set times to work during the day to help with staying of track. Setting an alarm can help with this as it ensures you get up at the same time.
Have breakfast
It can be hard eat healthily during lockdown, with the stress and pressure of everything that is happening. One way to make sure you’re looking after you body, whilst also motivating you to start the day, is having a good breakfast. Whatever it is that you eat – it doesn’t have to be anything fancy! – try and make a habit of having breakfast every day. It can help with the routine, ensure your body gets the fuel it needs, and help you get motivated in the morning for the rest of the day.
Make a plan or to-do lists
Along creating a routine, is having some sort of plan of work that needs to be done. It can be overwhelming to have so many assignments due, and a struggle to manage your time. Making to-do lists each day or week can help to make sure you know what needs doing and when it’s due, to make sure you prioritise the important things and get them done! If you’re not one for lists, even just making a note of due dates can still be helpful to make sure you stay on track with getting assignments done on time.
Breaks and Exercise
Take regular breaks! It can be helpful to fit breaks into your routine at similar times to help with the rhythm of day to day life. Even if you are not so strict with planning your days out, it is still important to take time away from work to refresh. Exercsie is a great way to keep motivation and energy, especially a walk outside, as the fresh air is good for you too. Any amount of exercise helps, even if it’s little. Breaks are also a good time to do a hobby or learn a new skill. It can be a good way to keep the mind active, or to unwind after work. Whether it’s cooking/baking, playing an instrument, painting, reading a book or learning a language, it’s important to mix some fun in with the work to stop you getting too bored!
Make a good space to work
Having a good space to do work in is so important. Usually you might be on campus in the library, or in a coffee shop, but obviously that’s not possible at the moment. I find a change of scenery is helpful to motivate, which is why I liked the library (also seeing other people doing work made me feel guilty if I wasn’t!). Preferably having a space to work outside of your bedroom can be helpful, as it means that you can separate thinking about doing work from thinking about relaxing and sleep and stay more motivated. Obviously this isn’t always possible, so trying to make the space as conducive to work is important. Try and remember to make your bed in the morning so you’re not thinking or sleep or tempted to get back in, and try and create an empty and tidy space to motivate you to work more effectively!
Talk to people/ask for help
Finally, if you are struggling to deal with alternative assignments, online classes, workload, or just the stress and anxiety of lockdown, don’t be afraid to ask for help! I’m sure your lecturers would be willing to give you extra advice or make accommodations for you, and there are so many people at the university that can help provide support. As well as just the university, also make sure you reach and to friends and family for support and comfort if you need to. It’s a very stressful time for everyone, so it’s important to have people we can talk to and have a support network to help us get through!