No Motivation for Classwork (college edition)
Hey all. I made a thread back in November 2018 about my lack of motivation for college and more or less... I got worse. I dont care about my papers that I need to write. I literally dont care enough anymore and thats whats terrifying. Before, my problem was that I cared but I was willing to wait until the last minute to do it because I didnt care enough. Last minute as in submitting the paper fifteen minutes before it was due and pulling an all-nighter for it. Now, Ive completely just watched the deadline come and go without submitting my paper because I didnt do it. Ive written one email to a professor and explained I have poor time management right now and she was kind about it. A day has gone by and I made progress but I didnt finish it enough. I will be knocked down another letter grade. I have another assignment I completely havent done which is around 200 words. I also have a 700 word paper coming up due in a day... and Im just mostly staring blankly at nothing. My concentration for these papers are next to none. What I think is that Ive completely stopped caring because its dumb to do it if it doesnt feel like a real challenge. Sure its hard and boring but I can still pull something out of my butt in a handful of hours and get an A. Like whats the point of putting real effort if Im gonna get an A either way? The only real challenge I have right now is my artwork because Im an illustrator; I dont mind doing that.
Hi @kindahere,
It sounds very familiar to me. Sometimes I just "watch the deadline go by", but often I feel too anxious to do anything. Just looking at a book or a computer makes me tense and afraid of the future - one small thought leads to a bigger one and the fear grows.
Have you tried checking if your uni provides services in study techniques and time management? Or perhaps there is a mental health professional or a counsellor available?
They often talk about the 3x45 technique. You plan a single task, then concentrate on it for 45 minutes with no phone and social media around (it can be 30 or even 20 for a start) and then you have a 5-10 min break. Then you repeat this 2 more times and you take a 1,5 break. The breaks are important.
I know motivation is hard (I'm talking from a perspective of someone with a mood disorder) but you could always reach out to someone for help, just like you just did.
Take care☀️