Finding Motivation

Yesterday half of my house had their last exam of second year, so celebrated as Classics do in classic uni style – by going to Kelsey’s. I’ll spare you the details, but it was a loud, messy night; that I wasn’t a part of. Instead I hibernated in my room watching a Disney movie after a day of revision, waiting for the partiers to leave so I could go to sleep. After several weeks of having not much to do other than revise, it’s hard to find the motivation to keep going, especially when others are well into their celebrations. Luckily the weather isn’t too summery yet, or revision would definitely suffer. Here are some of the things I’ve been telling myself during this revision to maintain motivation, and hopefully they might help you too.

I’m sure you’ve put in plenty of work this year which you want to reflect in your grade at the end of the year. The majority of my final mark is based on exams, so I’ve been cracking down on the revision to try and boost that grade as much as I can. The other day a friend remarked ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’, and although I’m certain no one will fail, it is certainly true that the more time and effort you put in, the better the outcome. Whether it’s a year abroad, a Masters or just a final grade you’re aiming for, put in the hours now and it will pay off later.

This one really depends on who’s rooting for you and who you want to please/impress with your results. Your tutors and lecturers have put in the time responding to your panicky emails and giving you advice for the best grades; go over what they’ve said and do it for them as a thank you for what they’ve done for you. Your family no doubt will be so proud of you no matter your grade, so work hard for them. Your friends will want to see you succeed just as you want the same for them, so imagine the great graduation photos and fun you’ll have if you manage to make it to the end.

There’s all sorts waiting for you in the future. Think of the amazing summer you have planned, made all the better for doing well in these exams. And thinking even further away, if you have an internship or job in mind, think of how every little bit of revision you put in now will help you get there. There’s so much waiting for you if you can get through these exams.

If you are stressing with exams or lacking motivation, don’t worry, everyone’s been there at times. Just take your time to rest, remember why you’re doing this degree and what you want to get out of it, and your motivation will be restored in no time.