Where Did My Motivation Go?

Updated on December 05, 2011
M.D. asks from Washington, DC
10 answers

I have 6 problems to finish my semester of Short Term Financial Management (basically accounting which I stink at) and I have no drive to push to finish it.

I also have one more paper to write for my Corporate Social Responsibility class and that will only take a few hours if I just DO it.

So did one of you take my motivation? (haha...kidding!!)

But what do you do to kick yourself in gear when you just need to do something and don't feel like it?

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

Oh Everly that is hilarious!! LOL!!!

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S.T.

answers from New York on

The toughest part of doing a project is getting started. (...which is why I'm doing this instead of working on some paperwork for a client...) Once you get everything you need infornt of you and lay it all out on an empty work space you can get moving. The first step is the toughest...!

3 moms found this helpful

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E.T.

answers from Albuquerque on

I think your motivation and mine eloped and are honeymooning in Vegas together. If you find yours, tell her that mine needs to come home too! I have so many things to get done at work today and my to-do list at home is miles long.

7 moms found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

Step 1 - turn off the tv and lof out of anything not school related. You'd be suprised how motivated you get when you're bored!

I motivate myself by promising myself a reward. "If I get 2 problems done today, then I can watch 2 episodes of Hot in Cleveland."

I also would do something for accountability. Like call a friend and tell them "my goal is to finish this paper by 6 pm, if I dont get it done, I'll wash your car." Or I'll ask a classmate to proffread my rough draft and promise to have it to them by 4pm, now I have a deadline to try and beat.

When I was in school, making a bag of microwave popcorn was my way to signal to myself and everyone else that "ok, now I am seriously getting down to business!" It helps to have an official starting point and a projected time limit.

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Even my attorney thought I was nuts, in my divorce I set up my spousal support so that if I didn't graduate on time I lost the house. There is nothing like the thought of explaining to your kids why you lost the house to keep my head in the game. :)

3 moms found this helpful
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L..

answers from Roanoke on

When I was in school, had homework and had NO motivation to finish it, I would sit on the couch and flip on the tv (which I rarely do). I would find a good show, and tell myself I would ONLY do homework during commercials. I'd get to work when commercials came on, and put it down when the show came on. After a couple of episodes on the couch, my homework was done! Sounds silly, but it really did help me sometimes--as if I was purposely flipping my brain on and off, lol. Good luck!!

2 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

When I was not in the mood to do my homework, I'd go to the library and not leave until it was done. Luckily cell phones then didnt have email, text messaging, and web browsing capabilities, or I'd have been tempted by those. Seriously, library shut-in should work.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Richmond on

Intertia is a tough B to beat back! Don't let her win when you are THIS close...just buckle down and get started then it will go by quicker than you think! Otherwise, you'll have to buy a paper someone else wrote off of the internet...kidding!!!! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi, Mom:

Just starting writing something.
Leave it. Let your mind work by itself.
You will get the motivation.
Good luck.
D.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Whoever took your motivation, took mine as well. I have an essay and a 10-15 pg paper to write. I received an extension on 6 assignments due to moving/internet issues. I am half-way done with the essay, but getting bored with the topic so I end up going and doing something else...watch a movie/unpack.

Sine we just relocated out of state, I am thinking that for the last 4 years I had been in the same computer room and grew accustom to the room. Now I am in a larger space with white walls. I tried to get everything set up the way it was in the old place, but it's not working.

My family and friends say I am burnt-out...which is a possibility. I am working on my Masters degree after taking a year off to work after my Bachelors. I too lack the motivation to press on. I ended up using my week between terms to catch up on assignments and now I have 2 left and started the new term today.

All I can tell you is that it will be worth it in the end and try to keep focused on the larger picture. Try to remember why you chose this profession and think of the alternatives if you "quit".

1 mom found this helpful
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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

This is what I did in school and what I tell my kids: break it down into the simplest of steps. Don't look at the whole project rather what are the first steps that need to happen. Using getting to the gym as an example: Get the work out clothes out of the dresser. Get the work out bag open and onto the bed. Put the work out clothes into the bag... After each step I give myself permission to reevaluate my motivation and my whelm (as in overwhelmed) and sometimes I say well I did that I can do a little bit more, and sometimes I need a reward (a snack, a walk around stretch, a phone call or a potty break) and sometimes I say I have done enough for now. I do this on a lot of I don't wanna projects. Once I got all the way to an exercise class door and turned around and left, I couldn't go any further, but the next time I walked through the door and got down on the mat. Promise yourself a reward for the celebration when you are done. Bribery is not just our kids you know, it works for Mommies too. Good luck.

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