Over the winter break, high schoolers in two of our group classes (SSS1C & SSS2C) were invited to participate in an essay contest. We wanted to see who could write the most helpful essay about how students motivate themselves to complete their homework to the best of their ability. Here is the winning essay!
The Motivational Struggle, by Sydney H.
What keeps you motivated? During the holiday season, it can be hard to focus on schoolwork. Christmas parties, friend gatherings, and Christmas lights can seem more appealing than schoolwork. It can be easy to slip behind and procrastinate. It’s important to have a balance of enjoying the season and being productive in school. There are three things that I believe help with motivation. First is setting an hour and a half to an hour timer. Doing this, I challenge myself to get as much done in that timeframe and then I give myself a ten minute break. This has helped me be able get things done by a certain time so that I feel motivated to continue what I need to get done. It isn’t always foolproof, because I do sometimes still get distracted. However, it has significantly changed my school day for the better. Second, I believe it is important to change up where you study every once in a while. Only working at your desk can become uninteresting after a while. Working at a new place in your house, studying at a coffee shop, or working at your local library is a great way to refresh your school week. Finally, because the holidays are filled with fun, looking forward to any fun plans you have can give you motivation to finish your schoolwork. Looking forward to Christmas break, Christmas parties, plans with friends, or any traveling plans we may have has helped me desire to get my work done. In conclusion, integrating these strategies in my school day has terrifically helped me accomplish a lot. Hopefully they will help you overcome the motivational struggle.