Week 7!!!
Well done, it’s
the end of week 7 and you have made it this far! Take a moment to congratulate
yourself at this point. Remind yourself of your hard work and your achievements
so far and remember to give yourself praise for your efforts. Well deserved.
But….even though you
may not have classes over the next 2 weeks there is still study to be done and
this is a great time to get the next round of assignments in order and organise
yourself for the rest of semester…..
So, STAY MOTIVATED!
Yeah, right….how?
Motivation is easy to lose…so remind yourself
where your motivation came from. Getting back in touch with it reminds us of
what we are working toward. Talk it over with family, friends, other students,
your boss, or even MySupport.
Reduce stress. Try relaxing whilst studying. A
couple of deep breaths and saying stop to those anxious worrying thoughts can
make a difference, maybe go for a walk and come back to help rejuvenate your
forward momentum.
Avoid perfectionism. I am not sure if there is a
perfect student out there. Remind yourself of realistic goals and schedules.
Remember that you can only do your very best….setting sights beyond what you
are capable of is always going to decrease motivation when you cannot maintain
it so get out of your own way and turn yourself into your own friend.
Now that we have found that motivation again we
can use this study break for some productivity (and reward ourselves with a few
Easter eggs at the end of it)
Productivity
Tips:
Establish
a realistic schedule:
Do a realistic
assessment of your time management. Have you dedicated enough time to each
subject and not just the one you are most interested in or winning the
distinctions in?
Are you balancing work and study life? Maybe you need to
request some time off work around major assessments or exam time. You can also
use this time to demonstrate your best inner Master Chef. Think of some healthy
meal options and prepare them ahead of time. Pop in the freezer for when you do
not have time to cook.
Are you more focussed
on the other fun aspects of your life rather than study? Sometimes we just
cannot get to every party on the weekend or the Sunday paper may just have to
take second place to the textbook. Reconsider pulling out the bleach and mop
each time study looms and leave the house untidy. Develop and stick to a
schedule that fits around your study commitments, prioritising your study.
Create
regular breaks and rewards
If everything seems too big and overwhelming to
deal with, break each subject into small manageable tasks. Try writing a
checklist of what you want to achieve each week. Take a break in between each
task, like going outside for 5 minutes. Reward yourself with a rest or
something enjoyable if you finish all of your weekly tasks early! Limit your
social engagements until you have finished your weekly tasks, this will keep
you from getting sidetracked and also be a great reward for finishing your
work. Doing something you enjoy after you have achieved reinforces the benefits
of your study commitments.
Remember to contact mySupport to talk to your Student Experience Officer
if you are feeling overwhelmed – phone 49217494 or email
mysupport@newcastle.edu.au!
Happy break!
Kind Regards,
mySupport Team
