Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

Mashiko, a public health nurse of Health Care Room Health Support Center

Students lose motivation when studying at university?

I often hear people say that when they were in high school, they studied hard for their entrance exams, but once they become university students, they lose motivation to study.

New students who have been working hard to get into university tend to lose sight of their goal and lose motivation to study after entering the university. This may be because there is little compulsion to study at university and it is often up to the student's motivation. Once motivation drops, it is difficult to recover. University life has more things to do other than studying and there is a high degree of freedom, so it seems that some students lose motivation to study because they focus too much on non-study activities such as student club activities, part-time jobs, and play.

Don't increase your motivation all at once, but gradually.

Motivation that has dropped will not recover immediately. Don't try to raise it all at once, but try to do it little by little. What are some ways to start it easily?

First, try to focus on what you need to study right away, rather than on big goals. It's easier to feel like you have to do it if you focus on a subject that is more important.

Also, if you want to change your study environment, we recommend going to a cafe or library. Many people are there to study, so you will be inspired and naturally motivated. In terms of the environment, it is also important to get away from your smartphone or TV. Putting them out of reach, moving to another room, or just leaving them for the time you need to study will help you concentrate better.

It is important to create an environment where you can concentrate and relax at the same time. Be aware of switching between on and off and incorporate things that make you feel the most comfortable, such as bath time, stretching, and time for your hobbies.

Spending time studying with friends from university also has a positive effect. The experience of working together with peers tackling the same challenges, encouraging each other, and overcoming them is motivating.

Once your motivation starts to return, the next step is to maintain it!

Once you've found the trigger to get your motivation back, the next step is to figure out how to maintain it.

It's hard to work hard without a goal. Think again about why you are studying at university and what your goals are. If you can't imagine what you want to do, why not try to gather information about what kind of job you would like to do in the future? Then, once you have a goal in mind, if you can make studying a routine every day, you will be able to continue without losing motivation.

It is rare to find a student who is always highly motivated throughout their long college life. If you feel unmotivated, don't push yourself. Start with something easy to do, little by little, and find a way to deal with it while looking for a method that suits you.