Monday, 09 April 2018

By ASP School Projects

Stay motivated and determined to make this year a success.

The new term has started. Some might have been a bit idle during the school holidays and lost a little bit of their determination to work hard. We have tried to help you out with great ideas to keep your brain active during the holidays, but it is understandable to feel like you aren’t exactly ready for your busy schedule and heavy work-load.

We are only four months into the year and now certainly isn’t the time to slack. Have you ticked off any of your New Year’s Resolutions? Are you on track with you academic performance? Is your productivity at its peak?

If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, then you are in need of some motivation. You have much to do and there and there is still plenty of time left to achieve everything you set out to do this year!


10 Ways to stay determined throughout the year:
1. Reorganise.
2. Rewrite your goals.
3. Set up a brand new schedule.
4. Focus on your health.
5. Get a good night’s sleep.
7. Escape from distractions.
8. Don’t forget everything you’ve learned so far.
9. Get excited about the new term.
10. Aim for progress, not perfection.


1. Reorganise.

One of the best ways to regain motivation is to clear out all the clutter. Start with cleaning out your backpack and pencil case if you haven’t already done so. Throw away used papers and empty pens. If you feel like getting a brand new start sort out your whole room, and especially your study desk.


2. Rewrite your goals.

Review the goals you set up for this year. Is it still achievable and what plan can you come up with to make your goals a reality?

If you haven’t set up any goals, check out our blog article on setting goals and how to achieve it. (Blog: ‘How to set New Year’s resolutions that you will actually achieve’).


3. Set up a brand new schedule.

Set up a new schedule that includes the time and dates of this term’s tests and extracurricular activities. Plan your days and know when to hand in tasks, know the test dates and when there are rugby-, netball- and hockey games. Read our blog on how to set up a schedule the right way: ‘Four tips to help you set up a schedule for a successful school year’.


4. Focus on your health.

Make this term a commitment to stay healthy, especially since the nights are getting cooler, we don’t want you getting sick. Maintain a balanced lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise. If you want more information on what a balanced lifestyle requires, read our blog ‘What should a healthy and balanced lifestyle entail?’.


5. Get a good night’s sleep.

Getting enough sleep is essential for growing children and teenagers. This is especially important the evening before the new term starts. Set out your clothes and pack your school bag the night before so that you don’t have any stress of being late the next morning.


6. Surround yourself with positive people.

Surrounding yourself with a good peer group will not only elevate your mood, but also improve your marks. It is well-known in psychology that our friends and people who surround us will have an impact on our performance. If you surround yourself with people and friends that are always complaining, sooner or later you will start to complain too. The opposite is also true, if you surround yourself with positive and motivational people, you too will become motivated.


7. Escape from distractions.

You might have spent a lot of time on leisure activities and social media this holiday. However, now is the time to set your priorities straight for a successful term – that include less time spent in front of the television and more time to focus on your schoolwork.


8. Don’t forget everything you’ve learned so far.

You worked so hard the previous term. It would be a shame if all the knowledge you gained over the last couple of months are forgotten. Start to re-read through your study notes of last term – remember that each topic builds on the previous one. It’s important to maintain a good base of knowledge.

When you receive your previous tests back – go through your answers and review what you wrote. Understand why you made mistakes and if you still don’t comprehend the work, ask your teacher to explain it to you again.


9. Get excited about the new term.

“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” – Mary Lou Retton. Excitement and optimism will never fail you. If you are excited to learn something new, go to class with a positive outlook and ask questions because you genuinely want to learn and better yourself. Your brain will then start to enjoy the process of learning and studying. If you teach yourself how to be optimistic your grades will improve, because your mind believes it is having fun and want to do good. Draw in good things, good grades and good people into your life, simply by getting excited about life.


10. Aim for progress, not perfection.

Don’t worry about being perfect and getting perfect grades. The only question you need to answer is this: “Are you giving your best effort and doing better than yesterday?” If you can loudly proclaim YES, then you are on the right track! Keep going, you are doing great. The rest comes with time!


Commit yourself this new term to give your very best. Stick to your new schedule and get excited about life. “Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals, and then work toward them every day, will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor.” – Brian Tracy. Let us know how and where you will get new motivation for this term?

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