How To Find Motivation

Feel like you’re in a summer slump? That everything -- and I mean everything -- is more appealing than picking up that summer reading homework? More exciting than working on college apps, studying for ACTs and SATs, or going to the gym? Well, you are not alone. Many high school students, especially under high stress and academic pressure, find themselves overwhelmed and struggling to find motivation. Check out these tips and a few motivational quotes to get started and get inspired!

1. Start the day right! Get into a positive mindset by writing down a few things you are grateful for each morning. Appreciating the small things in life will make it easier to enjoy the big things and persevere through challenges. While you are at it, make the bed! Making the bed, even though it probably only takes a minute, counts as being productive, and finishing this one task may inspire you to take on the next. Also, listen to some pump-up music that puts you in a good mood for the day!

2. Write a to-do list, then shorten it. Pour all the worries and plans swimming around in your head onto a piece of paper to organize your thoughts. You can check off tasks as you go, and you do not have to store all that information in your head anymore. But, do not let your ‘to-do listing’ get out of hand. Writing down all the things you have to accomplish over the next four years, over the rest of the summer, for the rest of the week, is not going to help you--it will be overwhelming and likely send you escaping down a Netflix rabbit hole. Instead, select a few things to accomplish today: read a chapter of your summer reading, clean your room, draft a bulleted list of college essay ideas. Then, break those tasks into even smaller, more manageable tasks. Motivate yourself to pick up the summer reading book, then open it, then read a page, and another, and another!

3. Create a positive work environment. Tidy your space (or maybe not!?), surround yourself with positive, enthusiastic people, and listen to motivational podcasts, watch educational and interesting videos, follow positive role models on social media that make you feel good about yourself. Try to establish a routine, even though it's summer, to make room for eating, sleeping, exercising, working, and playing. Limit distractions during work time, put your phone in another room, find a quiet place to work, turn off your music if you have to.

4. “Just Do It!” We’ve all heard this overused piece of advice over and over again, but it’s true. Starting a task, taking the first baby step, makes it seem less overwhelming, less insurmountable. It may also help you feel less-guilty about procrastinating, you did start after all!

5. Be kind to yourself. When you procrastinate or make a mistake, try to not beat yourself up or talk to yourself in a mean way. The way you speak to yourself matters. It determines whether you will grow from a mistake, or end up repeating it. Say “I can do this.” Be constructive. Remember that failure is a part of success. I will tell you right now, yes, you reading this, you are powerful, you have unimaginable potential and you can find motivation!