Perseverance May/June 2021

Page 39

ST RICT LY T WEENS

DEAR FUTURE ME

I always struggle to get motivated to do things, like my homework or doing the dishes. My mom and my teachers keep telling me that if I can’t get motivated that there will be “consequences” … whatever that means. And since I’m behind on both my chores and my school work, it all piled up and now there’s even more for me to do. It just seems easier to ignore it rather than have to tackle a huge pile. How can I motivate myself to get my responsibilities done -Past You before I find out what these “consequences” are? -Past You

DEAR PAST ME

You are certainly not the only person who struggles with motivation sometimes, and the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to start. Different things help motivate everyone, but here are a couple of ideas that could help... 1. Focus on the end goal. Doesn’t warm clothes out of the dryer sound better than the same socks you’ve been wearing all week? 2. Take it one step at a time. Set a goal to finish a chapter each night for your homework, or maybe just a few worksheets. This way the pile is much less daunting, and you’ll get it done quicker. 3. Reward yourself in intervals. Finish an hour of reading, give yourself 20 minutes to watch TV. Or maybe for each flash card you get right while studying, give yourself a little piece of candy. Everyone at some time in their life has struggled with motivation. In the end, it helps to think of the tasks ahead as an opportunity to better yourself, if only to prove to yourself that you can do it. -Future You

Submit your questions and concerns to darla@boldlyu.com to get helpful advice from our experienced columnists. Your questions will be kept anonymous.


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