Revision: keep motivated
Keeping yourself motivated is essential if you are going to retain the energy and dedication to stick to your study timetable.
The key to this is to maintain or increase your interest in your subject. To do this you will need to be focused on your study goals, and remember that they are the reasons you are currently studying.
These may include passing your exams, or include longer-term goals, such as life goals, related to your reasons for studying in the first place.
Remind yourself why you began your studies; this may be enough to re-energise your study efforts, and also remind yourself of the relevance of the material for your subject. Even if you are not personally convinced of its relevance, you will still re-acquaint yourself with the fact that your lecturers believe it to be relevant.
You can also sustain your interest in your subject matter by taking a more active role in your revision.
This means that you ask yourself questions about the content and then search the material for the answers, create links between what you already know and the material that you have to revise, discuss aspects of the material with other students who are also studying with you, and analyse and evaluate the material, i.e.
- Do you agree with it?
- Are there other interpretations?
- What evidence is being used or cited?
Even if you feel interested, your motivation might still be stalled by motivational blocks such as anxiety and apathy, and anxiety is one of the most common causes of procrastination.
The best way to reduce anxiety is to confront whatever it is that is causing it - in this case, preparing for exams. Strategies for reducing feelings of anxiety involves more than just developing specific strategies to use during your exam.
It involves knowing what examiners expect (or want to assess), keeping healthy, dealing with your stress levels, and taking advantage of appropriate relaxation exercises to keep yourself as ‘chilled’ as possible.
By maintaining sensible eating, sleeping, exercise and leisure habits, especially in the lead-up to your exams, you will maximise your chances of maintaining your energy levels, staying healthy, and enhancing your concentration. Good luck to you all…
With thanks to: The Charles Darwin University
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