How to stay motivated during Year 12
This session focused on the value and benefits of establishing good routines to avoid burning out, techniques to minimise stress and how to focus and study effectively.
ROUTINESANDHABITS
Routines and good habits help us to get more doneandbemoreefficientandwillreducethe opportunityforprocrastination
Good routines will require less motivation and will-power, freeing up our mind and energy, andwillreduceanxietyandstress
Good habits are the building blocks to achieving goals. Students were asked to think about morning and evening routines that work for them, and they consider altering routines periodicallytokeepthingsfresh.
MOTIVATION
Themostimportantthingtoknowisthatwhenfeelingunmotivateditreallyhasnothingtodowithmotivation
Ithasmoretodowithfeelinganxiousandworried.Fearandworry=lossofmotivation.
Fear of failure, not knowing where to start, afraid to ask for help, worrying about something is what causes a lossofmotivation
Tipstomaintainmotivation:
Setsmallgoalsforeachsubjectandonebigonefortheyear Getorganised
Changeyourroutine.Studyattheschoolorpubliclibrary,outsideinthefreshair,oratafriend’shouse Useyourtimewellatschool
PROCRASTINATION
Followingtipsforstudentstotrytoavoidprocrastination: Mobilefreezones
Start with the least favourite subject and get it done, so you feel energised and free to continue the study sessionwiththesubjectsthatarepreferred
Start a study session without food or snacks. Commit doing 25 minutes and then get up for the snack break
WORKINGSMARTER
Howtostudyeffectivelytooptimiselearning.
Spacingstudysessionsleavingtimebetweenstudyingtopicsandsubjects.
Transformingnotesintodiagrams,mind-maps,ortables
Interweavingsubjectsduringstudytimewhichismoreeffectiveovera2-hourperiodthanlongperiodsonthe samesubject.
Testyourself!Recallinformationstrengthenslongtermmemory,particularlyifitissaidaloud
PRIORITISATION
Foreffectiveprioritisation,trythetimemanagementmatrixwhichdividestasksinto:
URGENT AND IMPORTANT – assessments or tests that are due tomorrow or this week These are what wedofirst
IMPORTANTBUTNOTURGENT – large projects, trial exams, and final exams. They are not imminent but areimportant Thesetasksrequireregularattention
URGENT BUT NOT IMPORTANT – activities or tasks that require urgent attention maybe a last-minute shiftforexample,butarenotimportanttoschool.Itisimportantthatstudentslearntosay‘NO’ NOTURGENTANDNOTIMPORTANT–thesetasksshouldbeavoided
PUT PEN TO PAPER
Writing in preference to keyboard boosts memory and the ability to retain and understand deeper concepts
Take air pods out of ears while studying It is difficult for brains to do two things at once If this is not possible, consider classical music that does not contain words or a strong beat
PRACTICAL
Relaxation tips using a quiet, dark space with low volume music for 25 minutes may help with reducing stress and maintaining focus.
