The first few weeks of school were almost too easy and now I am paying for it. The past couple weeks it has been assignemnt after a test after a quiz. I am wondering how everyone motivates themselves to keep on trucking even when times get hard. In the past, in school, if it got too hard I just gave up essentially. I do not want to and can't not do that this time. I think I just need some tips on what other moms in school do. Thanks so much ladies!
Well, my main motivation probably wouldn't work for everyone, but its all about how people see me. Everyone I know knows I am going to school - my dad, my MIL, my old friends from elementary school, people who made fun of me in high school, etc. I have a huge need for everyone to see me as successful, I want to PROVE to everyone that I can do it. I want to be able to gloat and say "ha ha - look what I did." I often feel like everyone is waiting for me to fail because they are jealous that I am going after my dream and most are stuck in dead end jobs. I don't want to give them the satisfaction of being able to say, "see, it IS too hard to go back to school at your age." or "see, you SHOULD have done it at 18 like everyone else, now its too late for you." I feel like so many people get joy out of others failures because it makes them feel okay about their own...nope, not going to allow that! That was the same thing that kept me motivated through my weight loss, everyone always says "oh, no one can REALLY lose that much weight." But I did. Then they say, "well, no one EVER keeps it off, they always gain it back." Well, 5 years and I have maintained every single pound I lost (even continued to decrease body fat %) Again, the motivation to keep it off is because I don''t want anyone to have the satisfaction of "I told you so" and letting themselves off the hook.
So for me the hardest part is deciding to start, once I do, staying with it is just something my personality forces me to do. I've wanted to quit a few times, but then I always thing how agonizing the humiliation will be that I couldn't do it, and I keep going.
I have both internal and external drivers of motivation.
Internally, I try to use short term and long term strategies. Short term - I try to align my schedule to capitalize on study time. I am best in the morning - so I try to do that. I feel guilty sometimes because I can't work more at night. Guilt gets me nowhere.
Long term - I write down my dreams and goals and remind myself of what this will bring. To me personally - self satisfation and independence and to my family.
In terms of the external - I do not want to fail. I don't fail at things and would be humiliated if I do at this. My family is also giving me a lot of support, so I owe it to them as well.
I think the trick is to find what works well for you and focus on that. Don't stress about the other stuff too much...Once and awhile you need to give yourself a break !
It's perfectly normal to feel completely overwhelmed by school at times. During the last week of my previous class, I seriously thought about tearing by text books apart with my teeth....lol!
For me, I do three things to keep myself motivated:
1. I picture my life without finishing my MS and with finishing it. I like the future I see much better where I HAVE finished the program.
2. I build in small rewards. I'll tell myself, "OK, if I finish my reading for the week, I can take the day 'off' tomorrow," meaning no school work, or taking time to read a trashy novel ;)
3. I look forward to the next break. I remind myself that classes will be over in X number of weeks.
I know school can be VERY overwhelming at times. Make sure you ask for help when you need it, and don't be too hard on yourself.
I must confess I am in the same boat. Being a single Mom with two teenagers and one being special needs, it is really difficult. It takes a lot for me to ask for any type of help and sometimes you need it in the worst way.
I am burning out quickly this semester, which normally doesn't happen. I have SpEd class, where I have to drive for over an hour to get to an Elementary School for observation two times a week. I have Math class, which I hate, because I am NOT math minded. I have a history class that the professor assigns over 100 chapters to read per week. Not to mention the Art History class, which has weekly tests, and you need to memorize 20 or more paintings, who painted it, the name of the painting, and the year it was painted.
Next semester I have 5 classes and three of those are history classes. Can you imagine? I already have 100 chapters to read per week with one history class. Multiply that by three, plus two other classes and their reading assignments and homework. I am going to be brain fried by summer, and have to take two classes during the summer. I am not going to have a break, in any sense of the word, for at least two years.
I don't get to see or talk to anyone my own age, because I am either having to cart one or both kids somewhere or doing my homework. So I have NO outlet whats-so-ever. So believe me, I am right there with you with very little motivation and energy to get anything else done or accomplished.
