What do you do to motivate yourself?

Question

I find it difficult to commit to a task. I procrastinate (or I use procrastination as an excuse for my laziness). I want to change because I'm losing too much sleep over this. I stay up all night, having done nothing during the day. I get an average of 4 hours of sleep a night. I end up daydreaming in class, which causes me to fall behind in lessons. I'M TRAPPED IN THIS CYCLE.

So, when you need to motivate yourself, what do you do? Who do you turn to? How do you MAKE yourself work to get things done?

This is honestly driving me up the wall and I KNOW I have to change, but the mere knowledge isn't compelling enough. I cannot turn to my friends or family. My friends, I don't want to bother - I've been slowly spiralling into this pit... and like, they seem to want to stay out and so I leave them be, and they leave me be. I have disappointed my parents for long enough and I don't want to attack them with this. I have promised a change. The school counsellor says that I am fine, just lazy. (He put it in nicer terms) I have only been to one session, and he says I am welcome to see him again, but that is rather awkward. I don't want to draw attention to myself... I just need to figure out HOW to get motivated... ><

Until this year, I was a really good student - bright, studious.

Now I am a wreck. First year as a senior. The stress has gotten to me because I got by in my junior years without having to work hard. This year is really important. I ruined this year by breaking up with my boyfriend at the beginning of term - 6 months ago. I am a perfectionist, and that just threw me off track. And because of that I'd fallen behind and it's been downhill since then.

ARskDTNIYDSHLI I'm rambling. Terribly sorry about the information overload. Perhaps you could offer suggestions about how to combat this. I'm sure I'm exaggerating the situation. SO all I have to do is figure out how to get motivated. And I'll be fine.

Thanks <3

Answer 1

Coffee &amp; Metalica  

Answer 2

the best way in to have an advanced plan.

example:  in the summer your may make a comittment that has some teeth.

I will spend 1 hour cleaning each day between 12-1pm.  Whatever you get done, you get done...then forget the rest.

I will spend 30 minutes exercising every day from 3-30. No matter what comes up you will do that...

Then give yourself the rest of the day to just do what you want.

This can work during school as well.  I will spend from 5-545 doing school work; no matter what each day.  I will do a cleaning blitz for 20 mins from 6-620 no matter what each day.  If you commit fully to those times each day; you feel less guilty to be a slob the rest of the day.  Instead of looking at the big picture and feeling bad..be proactive and give yourself small chunks of time to accomplish things and stick to it....long term it pays off and you accomplish lots over the long run.

In other words; no all or nothing thinking..be specific...break it down in chunks.

Such a small investment will pay off in a big way; and you will definately get your parents attention in a positive way; but think about it...such a small scheduled investment of your time...but such a big pay off because it is regularly scheduled.  You would be surprised that by setting a clock to do a cleaning blitz around house and room..what you can get done in a 20 minute blitz which is nothing for you...but helps parents tremendously and you get to feel good about yourself.

Answer 3

Since you lack motivation, I&#039;ll keep it simple:

Write a to-do list for your day. Don&#039;t allow yourself to go to bed until it&#039;s all been done.

I suggest you start with a relatively short list. It doesn&#039;t even matter if you&#039;re doing enough to keep up at the beginning; you&#039;re just trying to get back on track, and you&#039;re aiming to improve every day. Every now and again, make the list a bit longer (and, of course, there will be some days where you must do certain things, and you may want to put those on the list).

If you can&#039;t think of things to put on the list, put a pad and pen by your bed and write down all the things that you&#039;re worried about. That&#039;ll give you plenty by the sound of it.

Oh, and once you&#039;re back on track, it might be an idea to drop the list. I know people in their fifties who have to keep lists because they got so used to doing so in their 20s.

Hope this helps.