How to Become and Stay Motivated During Online School as Told by a Student

We have all been there. Every single one of us. In March of 2020, schools across the nation shutdown one by one almost as if they were dominos, being knocked down by a strengthened force, more known to us as COVID–19. From that moment forward, we were tasked with the responsibility of fulfilling our academic duties as students to complete our work and attend our classes online for the remainder of the year. Those who attended school in person prior to the shutdown were never exposed to the difference of online school before. Schools left us without coping mechanisms and our motivation to complete seemingly meaningless work slipped from the grasp of our already damaged fingertips, I, being one of them. As the days longingly passed, we grew increasingly lonely and came to the realization that being reunited with our friends and distant family was growing unlikely. After the schools closed, the world seemed to shut down soon after. Restaurants closed, libraries collected their books, hand sanitizers went out of stock, public recreational parks were taped off and students were left with online learning. Arguably, one of the hardest aspects of virtual school was finding the motivation to actually do the work assigned, as it really did seem useless at the time. Many of us saw our grades slip as we forgot the meaning behind each assignment. Now, a couple of months later, many of us have been presented with the same online learning situation and staying motivated is essential to tackling our classes and being successful. Being a student myself, I recognize the difficulty behind this. That being said, here are some tricks and tidbits on becoming motivated in the first place and staying motivated during online school, which also can be applied to life in general, as told by a student in the same situation. 

Find the what, and more importantly, the why in your situation. 

One of the most prominent issues concerning obtaining the will power to complete seemingly mindless worksheets was just that. The work seemed meaningless and busy work from the teachers to keep administration content. From random worksheets, videos, and even un-mentioned exams, it was extremely difficult to truly connect the material to not only learning the subject but also to our lives and our futures. In order to begin tackling finding our motivation we need to find and/or create purpose in our work. Even if you think it’s meaningless and even if you think you’ve gained nothing, every time you fill in a blank, circle a bubble or even look up an answer, at the very least, it’s being imprinted in your brain. Even glancing at a math equation, definition, research study or chemical equation can help us to recall the exact information in the future. The more you search up the equation for photosynthesis, little by little, you will eventually remember it. Find meaning in the little things. Remember that, as a student, it is your role in society and the universe to learn. To become more connected to the world and the subjects that allow our society to function. Whether this be art, engineering, writing, creating music, mathematics, or scientific experiments, you are helping the world advance through education. You are the next generation that will define this world. Your work matters, no matter how small. Everything has a purpose even if it is not apparent. 

Rework your space 

Whether you are in your living room, kitchen, bedroom, or dorm room, you are anywhere but classroom. One of the prominent motivators of school was being present within a physical classroom and not being given the opportunity to pursue anything but the work in front of you. At home or other space, there are constant and limitless distractions being presented and they are tempting, nonetheless. I understand the feeling of wanting to quit working and easily open a new window to watch the next episode of Criminal Minds. I mean, who would not want to be given the comfort of Spencer Reid, however, I digress. The obvious acknowledgement has been made. In order to simulate a work or school environment that breeds productivity, reworking or changing items in your space could do the trick. Invest in a bulletin or white board to write out your daily schedule, you can even use just a paper and markers. If you work in your bedroom, move to the living room, basement, or even kitchen. The simple change of scenery will help. If you have to stay in your room, organize your desk similar to that of a classroom or lecture hall. Turn off all distractions, such as your phone, and keep them in a drawer away from your work area. Light a candle, add fake plants, some new artwork, almost anything that will change your workspace to simulate an actual classroom. And when you can, steer away from working in your bed. As tempting as it seems, you will be more productive working from your desk. 

Find new ways to study 

Sometimes after a month or even a week of remote work, we start to obtain a strange sensation. A time paradox to be more definitional. A loop in which works blend together and all terms begin to have the same meaning and definition. Where the term classical condition and operant condition in your psych 101 class are the exact same. Where all Latin roots are suddenly the same three or four letters, void of comparison. In order to tackle this inarguably strange sensation, you need to add some flavor to your study materials and routine because your bland flashcards just are not cutting it. At the very least, investing in some colored or patterned flash cards might have a minuscule impact on increasing your chances of actually using them, not just making them sit on your desk for three months without use. In order to truly impact your motivation, switching up your study routine is imperative. The preponderance of all study methods is feasibly becoming the teacher yourself. Gather a white board and your phone or any other recording device. Set up your space and get ready to teach. Practice reading your notes first and creating a mini lesson that you would use to teach others if given the opportunity. And when you are ready and believe you sufficiently obtained the information, record yourself explaining it and watch it back a couple of times. Having tried this technique myself, I can confirm it is one of if not the most effective and similarly gratifying. Other methods you can try are spreading out your study sessions over a long period of time, taking practice tests, turn your material into a catchy song, and if you have a vivid imagination, assume that the future of the universe depends on your memorization of the information. 

Create a REALISTIC schedule 

I would make the claim that most of, if not all, of us make the mistake of putting together and planning extremely unrealistic schedules that are followable for only two days. Remember that you are not a robot, you are a human being with emotions and feelings. Waking up at five in the morning to run every single day just is not realistic for anyone. Creating a schedule without any breaks and expecting too much of yourself can prompt unwanted feelings of failure and lower self-esteem regarding work. That being said, plan out your schedule, on a week by week or day by day basis. Give yourselves breaks after school or a class. Before you start work or nightly assignments, take some time for yourself, at the very least thirty minutes. This will help you to be more productive when you actually begin your assignments. And when tackling difficult assignments, schedule them first. After you finish the most grueling task of the day, your other work will feel significantly easier in comparison. Additionally, and I feel as though this goes without saying or needed explanation, sleep is one of if not the utmost necessity for not only our body but also our brain to properly function. Thus, creating and falling into a normal and workable sleep schedule is essential in order to fuel motivation. 

Condition yourself 

In regards to psychological research and the psychologists we trust such as Skinner and Thorndike, one of the most effective ways to ensure the repeat of an action is through the use of operant conditioning, that is, whenever you complete a voluntary action, reward yourself with a treat of some sort. Now, applying this to an online school example, every time you complete some portion of classes or homework, reward yourself with something. For example, say you have four assignments for different classes. You can implement in your schedule that if you finish all of your work by a certain time, then you can watch an episode of a show or a movie. Or, you can split up the work and implement, let us say, a brownie, or if you are of age, a glass of wine. after you finish math class or economics homework. While it is seemingly childish, the strategy is effective, nonetheless. Promising yourself a worthwhile activity or tangible item can and will help you complete your work quicker, more efficiently and will ultimately motivate you to create a workable schedule.

 Find ways to channel your frustrations and other unwanted emotions 

Because school can be exceedingly stressful, unwanted negative emotions compile within ourselves. Whether it be anger at ourselves, frustration over technology, stress over a research paper, anticipation leading up to a test or sadness regarding lack of social interaction, undesirable consequential feelings can be the striving component towards a lack of motivation. Due to this feat, we have to contradict said emotions with actions as well as channel them into anything other than the first response of self-depreciation. The highest and most undemanding activity to course emotion is through music. Whether it be screaming to hard rock or swaying along to soft pop, music has the ability to transport us to other dimensions, away from our darkest thoughts and current state of mind. Further, listening to said music while doing work can breed productivity and reduce stress levels. Try it out if you have not already. Succeeding that, any sort of physical activity, specifically in nature, is an exceptional thing to induce all emotion into. A brisk walk through a park, a bike ride on your local trail, a run through the neighborhoods, or even a ten minute stationary workout in your room, if you’re not available to go outdoors, will aid in relieving any sort of distress.  Other similar and effective ways, regardless of skill level, include: any artistic medium such as drawing, painting, and sculpture, writing in a journal, playing an instrument, dancing by yourself in your room, taking pictures, playing a video game, watching a stressful show, cleaning up your space or baking/cooking. While all of these aspects are amazing for releasing short term emotions, if you're experiencing any mental illness such as depression, an anxiety disorder, or other illnesses, talk to your parents, a teacher, or any trusted person to allow you to receive professional help. 

Remember, as cliché as it sounds, we are all in this together 

Each one of us was hit hard by all of the traumatic events within 2020. We are all experiencing different emotions, setbacks, heartbreaks, losses, and difficulties. And for us students, online learning is no exception. It is a prominent change in our lives that will take adjusting over a period of time. Consider these suggestions in helping create or bring back your previous or now lost motivation. You are capable, I promise.