As a current sophomore in college, I often look back to my freshman year with both gratitude and regret. I’m grateful I had the full freshman experience (the good and the bad), but there are definitely some things I wish I handled differently, like my academics. I often didn’t have the motivation to attend lectures or discussions, which later reflected in my study habits.
I’m constantly searching for a source of motivation when it comes to studying, but the truth is, sometimes motivation isn’t enough. At some point, I found that motivation couldn’t even get me out of bed. So, when motivation stops working for you, try discipline instead!
I’ve thought about every single reason I should feel motivated to study. Like I said before, even getting out of bed for my 9 a.m. lecture was tough.
Freshman year taught me that motivation is temporary, but discipline doesn’t have to be. The reasons why I’m motivated to get out of bed, attend classes, and study diligently are often changing. Discipline, on the other hand, is more consistent because it keeps me and my work ethic on track.
Whenever I’m feeling lazy or numb to school-related consequences, I’ve learned to adopt a mindset of wanting to “get it out of the way.” Discipline is all about training yourself to get the work done whether you’re feeling up to it or not. Moreover, I think discipline and motivation are intertwined in some ways. Where there’s discipline, there’s desire!
Overall, I think it’s important to acknowledge that motivation is something to wait around for, whereas discipline comes from our own effort. It can take real commitment to build up that discipline, but practice makes perfect. So, whenever you’re at your desk feeling like you’d rather be anywhere else, remember that the discipline you’re building will pay off in the long run, even if it doesn’t always feel that way in the moment.