We have all heard about motivation: the reason why we do something. Everyone is motivated by different things. It could be motivation to improve in your sport because you are passionate, or maybe motivation to finish your art piece because painting is your hobby. Everyone has a different reason for doing the things they want to do. Only we are not always motivated about everything, especially the things we HAVE to do, like studying for exams when we could be out spending time with our friends. Staying motivated about these things isn't the easiest, so here we'll explore five ways for you to stay motivated.  

One of the first ways to stay motivated is by creating a vision board. These might seem overrated because they look cool for a week or two, and then you just forget about them, but they can also remind you of the reasons why you are studying so hard. Include the university you aspire to attend, your dream career, or the countries you hope to visit — anything that inspires your future goals. Put that vision board somewhere; you’ll see it a lot, like on the wall near your desk or on your laptop wallpaper. The vision board will constantly remind you why you are working so hard because your goals and aspirations won't achieve themselves on their own.  

Another way to stay motivated is by having a clean environment for you. Not everyone has the same definition of an ideal study space. Keep your desk clean and organize it in a way you like it. Multiple studies have shown that students who study in positive environments will be more engaged in their work and increase their productivity.  

We all have different ways of studying because we are all unique and different. Finding the type of learner you are and the study techniques you like best will keep you motivated. There are four different types of learners: auditory, visual, read/write, and kinesthetic. Knowing which one you are can help you find the best techniques for your studying. Here are a few study techniques: Pomodoro involves splitting study sessions with breaks, Feynman focuses on explaining topics in simpler terms, and Mind Mapping visualizes essential information in a diagram. Try some new techniques and find out which one is best for you so that studying becomes more enjoyable.  

Group studying is also a way to keep you motivated. Meeting up with friends and all studying together can keep you motivated as you'll be with people you enjoy spending time with and be productive at the same time. Be mindful to stay on task during group study sessions, as it's easy to get distracted when socializing. If your friends aren't able to meet up, you can also go to the local library or a coffee shop where other people work. Being around people doing work or studying will boost your motivation to study and keep you engaged and attentive to your own work, as everyone will be concentrating on their tasks.  

Last but not least, rewarding yourself can also keep you motivated. Rewarding yourself doesn’t have to mean extravagant treats; even small acts of self-care can keep you motivated. Rewards could include taking a walk to enjoy the fresh air or meeting a friend for coffee—small incentives that refresh your mind. The only thing about this method is that you can only reward yourself if you have achieved the daily goal you set for yourself; you shouldn’t be procrastinating all of the work after the reward. These rewards will keep you motivated and engaged as you will want to finish your work so that you can take advantage of that little reward waiting for you.  

Those were only five motivation methods; there are plenty of others you could try out. Motivation is personal, and what works for one person might not work for another. Experiment with these methods and find what keeps you inspired to achieve your goals. Happy studying to all!