Keeping yourself motivated is one of the hardest things to do. It is so easy to become discouraged or overwhelmed. Every student has their own stories and trials, and throughout my educational career with my personal experiences, I have discovered the importance of the 5 key steps to staying motivated and encouraged.

Here they are:

1. Set goals

It is important to not lose sight of future goals and plans. Setting goals is a great way to stay on track to our success.

2. Discover your motives

Our paths are unique and require us to keep pushing forward, and through passion, we can do so. Once you find your passion you will find it easy to love even the hardest parts of your journey.

3. Recognize your roadblocks

It is okay to be scared, fear failure, and procrastinate. As long as you recognize your roadblocks, changes can be made, and overcoming them will take you one step closer to success

4. Don’t go through it alone

When we begin to struggle and lose motivation, losing connection to those around us is easy. Don’t forget you have people who care about you and will help you through it. 

*Don’t forget that if you feel alone USG offers counseling with trained professionals in the Center for Counseling and Consultation (CCC), don’t be afraid to work through any concerns you face!*

5. Be nice to yourself

Don’t force yourself to do things you aren’t passionate about and don’t feel bad if you can’t find your calling. Always be nice to yourself because staying positive is fundamental for long life and moving forward!

So these are my 5 key steps to staying motivated:)

Now, I admit, even I feel unmotivated at times but, I always remember my passions and why I am working so hard. It’s okay to feel unmotivated, it’s just not okay to settle for less.