How can I get motivated?

Question

I'm a junior in high school and I already have senioritis. I can't stand doing homework...I'm actually avoiding it right now. And when I don't do it, I just skip school the next day. I'm getting too many absences and I'm falling behind. The thing is is that I'm really smart and 17 in my class of 700, so it's like I'm not that worried about it. I use my rank as a fall back, when I know I really need to develope better discipline, especially before college. Any advice?

Answer 1

Discipline isn't the answer to motivation; it's the necessary result of motivation.

I'll repeat in other words: motivation first, discipline follows.

Where a form of discipline comes first it is to ask questions about whatever it is that you should be doing.

If you have something that has to be done, force yourself to write down a list as things occur to you to see how many things interest you or lead to questions or thooughts about what you have to do. Own the homework question — make it your own. Don't let somebody else own it and make you afraid of it (for example, that you have to please your teacher, or your parents, or your friends by your answer or your "cool" about not answering).

Once you get in the habit of owning the question or problem by finding something that you personally find interesting in it (for example, even if your take on what interests you is quirky and unconventional) then you won't be afraid of getting it done and putting your answer into contention.

I know. I was there myself, just like you are. One problem, if you are bright, and have a high standing in your class, is that you staqrt to worry about what happens if you answer a question, or write an essay that somebody else doesn't like, or do a problem, and you are wrong and marked down. But only if you dare to take risks and make a question your own and anser it so as to honestly express yourself will you advance, despite any mistakes that you make day-to-day.

Answer 2

Sounds like you need to set yourself a long-term goal! Figure out what you want to do *after* high school, something that you're really passionate about. Once you know what you want to do with your life, you'll be more motivated studying because you know *why* you're doing it, so there's a sense of purpose to it which instantly helps on motivation I've found.

The hard part, of course, is to find out what that goal or passion is! There's no easy answer to this, but you could start off by talking to a school advisor or something (they usually have self-help tests to figure out what your skills are and what you like to do, at least my high school did), otherwise there are bound to be tests on the internet too. If not, try talking to your friends and family asking them what they think you're good at and what you might not be as well suited for (just be prepared for some honest answers or the whole thing's a waste of time!!!) That could give you an idea of careers that you might want to consider (= do some research on, perhaps meet up with someone who works in that field) and what careers that you should definitely steer clear of.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Ask yourself why don't you want to do the homework. Is it because it is boring, you don't understand it, or is an extracurricular activity taking up too much of your time. Maybe you need to budget your time better or drop an activity. I know juniors and seniors in high school have alot of things going on at one time.

Answer 4

Start writing in a planner, get in the habit of it and it'll help you get in the habit of doing what you need to do. Force yourself to do it. Maybe to get over the hump just force yourself to tell your parents about it. They'll help you and ask you like 3249078 questions, which is annoying, but it helps. What got me to started doing my stuff was getting worried about college and my grades. I knew if my grades werent good my parents would flip out on me, plus I wouldnt get into the college I wanted to get into.