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Why can't I force myself to go to class?

145 Answers
Last Updated: 04/20/2022 at 9:19pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jessica McDaniel, LPC, LCPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

I have been practicing cognitive behavioral psychotherapy since 2007 with a diverse group of adult clients with various diagnoses, all races, and socioeconomic classes.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
February 16th, 2018 7:42pm
Find something about the class that you enjoy, what is your reason for going to the class. Is there a topic you choose to enjoy people that you enjoy in the class.
PosiPotato
February 4th, 2018 12:28am
Sometimes small things feel like big things and that is ok. Perhaps you are feeling like class is one of those big things today.
soothingStrawberry61
October 19th, 2017 2:38pm
If you are in middle school or high school you need to figure out why you are resisting class. Are you avoiding certain people? is there something else you want to make more time for? are you having anxiety or depression? If you can pin point exactly what it is then you can see a counselor or a trusted adult about ways to overcome it or work through it. Not finishing to a high school diploma will haunt you the rest of your life. I've never met one person to say otherwise. If you are in College then its time to think about what you want in your life. Why did you enroll? Has your passion changed? Is it time to switch majors? As a society we like to glamorize jobs, but then are hesitant to put the work in to get there. This is such a broad question so its hard to be more specific without knowing more details. But you are the expert on yourself. I also want to add that a classroom is not the only place to learn. If you feel that class is not enriching your experience then take free classes online alongside your current classes. I took electrical circuits and the class was dry boring and horrible. But I still attended and took a free electrical circuits class online and LOVED it! I still learned the skill and still passed both classes. I gained the knowledge and the credit. #keepgoing
Anonymous
January 7th, 2017 7:59pm
I struggled to go to class the last two semesters. At point I couldn't go for a whole week, which in college can really hurt you. Eventually I realized I was so depressed I could not get out of bed so I went to the counseling services on campus and it changed my life. I ended up going to counseling and am still in counseling. It was not a magical fix, there are still days when it is hard to get up and go to class but I've found that facing your challenges head on helped me. Also I got a dog so I was forced to get up and take her out in the morning which also helped me go to class.
Anonymous
April 21st, 2018 3:49pm
Everyone has days where they have little motivation to complete daily tasks. However, it is okay to take steps to ensure you are safe in that situation
hopefulParadise73
August 3rd, 2018 4:48am
By realizing that going to class will benefit you.You will learn something new and will emerge as a successful person
Anonymous
November 4th, 2018 7:59pm
It can be caused by many reasons. School is a hard job - generally speaking. Sometimes it's hard to find motivation to do productive things, especially during cold winter months (when people are more tended to suffer with seasonal depression). Maybe you could think about this one subject you like and this will keep you motivated. Maybe you have some good friends at school and going there is an opportunity to meet them! You can also remember that school is a place, where you can discover what interests you and develop in this area. I don't have more information about your situation, so it's hard to give any good advice :)
Anonymous
July 5th, 2018 5:07am
If you don't find the subject on that class interesting then it'll be hard for you to attend the class.
empathicRiver85
November 7th, 2018 4:30am
This is all in the mind. It is not that you CAN'T go to class, even if you "force" yourself, it is that you subconsciously may not BELIEVE that you can go to class. Trying to force yourself only puts more negative stress on you. Try using positive affirmations after hearing your morning alarm or before you walk into class: (Ex: "I can do this", "I'm OK"). If you wake up with the preconceived notion that you are going to go through hell trying to force yourself to go to class, you won't want to go because you simply won't want to fight with yourself. Change the routine, wake up a little earlier to settle yourself and to get ready in your own time, and affirm yourself with your own words or a recording. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
SoftAlpaca10
June 2nd, 2018 1:00am
Classes can be a very stressful enviornment. Going to class can be very hard. You may be getting very anxious in the classroom setting.
CursesAndMagic
May 18th, 2018 1:32am
Sometimes lack of motivation isn’t something you can just snap out of. It’s difficult to force yourself to do something if you don’t want too. Motivation such as week planning, and looking after your body can all contribute to improving motivation and going to class. Also if you’re doing something you don’t enjoy for example cleaning, it’s more difficult to force yourself to undertake the task, which often acts as a barrier.
LuciStar
January 25th, 2016 11:05pm
Sometimes it's hard to get the motivation up to go to class or to any sort of appointment. Some days it takes more effort to get going, try to think I why you started going in the first place. Better job, better future, hold on to your reasons but be gentel with yourself. If you need the day to gather yourself then thats okay.
Anonymous
May 5th, 2018 12:35pm
When you feel anxious about going to class it's hard to participate in them. Maybe in school is something that's causing you stress?
AprylFools
April 26th, 2018 1:10pm
Perhaps you're feeling axious about it. Try taking some deep breaths and writing down why you don't want to go to class. Then look over your answers and see what the problem is? That way, you can narrow it down and address it accordingly!
ShannonLstories1
April 21st, 2018 9:54pm
Maybe there is something in about the class you don't like it makes you nervous when your mind and body don't want to do something it will do everything in it power to no do that one thing.
CallMeAnon
March 1st, 2018 1:53pm
Its important to do what you like doing. If you don't enjoy class or see the values of finishing it then you will have problems getting up and going to school. Forcing something is never good, try and find the positives to going to class like "if i finish this school ill be able to do the study i've always wanted"
Anonymous
February 13th, 2018 10:54am
Some tips. Know why are you doing whatever you want to do. This is extremely important. You should have one motivation. It could be just the happiness of getting good marks getting a job and eventually buying the things you always wanted. Remind yourself. This will help in you not going back to your old self. Have a diary or a note that reminds you of what you are doing. Upto you. What worked for me was writing a journal as soon as i woke up. If it seems scary. Just relax and try to make it interesting in someway. I used to look up videos of a topic i found boring or tough or called a friend who knew that to make him clarify it. Gamify it and make sure you have a reward in mind. Mine included one hour of playing skyrim :D. Hope this helps. Trust me it may sound intimidating but it can be fun. When you know most of what is on a test. You can feel like a god. Also is getting more marks than everyone :p
friendlyPerspective32
January 4th, 2017 7:27pm
Do you think that you may have a learning disorder, depression, and/or anxiety? You should get checked for them, because these are several contributing factors that can explain why you are not able to bring yourself to attend class. Also it can just be that you are too stressed to concentrate on your studies. If this is the case, you should address whatever is bothering you first. It would help to speak with the professor to see what he or she can do to make you feel at ease in the classroom.
Anonymous
February 1st, 2018 10:45pm
It could be you have experienced extreme stress or anxiety toward school. Try thinking positive now.
Anonymous
February 14th, 2020 2:51pm
Forcing yourself to school is tough. It sounds like you don't like going to class. When did that feeling start? There is must be a reason that makes you feel like that. Curiosity can prompt you to learn and make you want to show up at class. Is it possible for you to try finding your motivation to learn? If thinking on your own is not helping, talk with someone. It could be your friends, family or even listeners on 7 Cups. The feeling is going to stay if you are not seeking the root and resolve it. But please believe it is solvable.
Birdie725
January 11th, 2020 4:50pm
Why? Well, you've weighed the pros and cons in your head, and it makes far more sense to not go than to attend. To go to class would be against your instincts of self-preservation. Unless something is able to change your mind, of course you won't be able to force yourself to go to class. There has to be some sort of outside force that can compel you. Maybe it's a friend or family member. Maybe it's something you read online. If you're religious, maybe it's the voice of God. If you're not religious, maybe it's the unconscious part of your brain being stirred to action. It's perfectly reasonable to not want to face the outside world. There's quite a bit going against you. But, for starters, try not to be so hard on yourself. There's only so much you can do on your own.
tranquilSoul93
February 1st, 2018 4:37pm
Forcing won't help you just have to make your mind that there is something interesting to learn start talking interest in particular topic or make group of friends with whom you can get along in class this way your study will also improve.
ConsumeWordsNotDrugs
January 31st, 2018 5:48pm
Its not a class on forcing, more a case on wanting. Its important to look at the long term benefits of it, and remembering that one day all of this hard work will pay off.
ingeniousBeauty4518
September 9th, 2020 10:03pm
sometimes your classes can be extremely overwhelming and overall a scary place to be at especially if you suffer from anxiety, depression ect. try to remember that not everyone is looking at that pimple today, not everyone can notice the small hole in your tights today. not everyone is licking at the tiny things about you that make you nervous. it’s all 100% in your head and you should try your hardest to ignore it at most costs. if this still doesn’t help maybe ask your teachers if you can take online class or private classes to help your education.
BecBelievesInYou2020
August 26th, 2020 6:33pm
It sounds as though something could be lacking in your motivation. What goals do you have for the future? How will going to class help you achieve those goals? By finding a focus, it can really help to understand the benefits of attending a class you may not enjoy. Once you have a clear picture of where you're headed, and you understand that attending those classes is essential to getting you there, you will want to attend those classes so you can pave a successful pathway to your future. You will not have to go to classes for the rest of your lif, but in doing so for the short time you are required to, you will set yourself up for a lifetime of a career that you enjoy.
adorableVision9837
March 11th, 2020 11:40pm
From my experience I would say that maybe you don't feel emotionally safe in class, or maybe you are really smart and class is just boring for you. You could also be feeling lonely and uncomfortable at class, because you don't like the peoples at your class. Sometimes it can be almost like addiction to skip class, at least it was for me. Other times there are peoples who already know what they want to become and there are a lot of classes that won't be necessary at life, so it's really hard to force themselves to go to these classes. For everyone it is different answer, but one thing that helped me was to think about my future and dreams that I want to accomplish and understand that I need to learn every class to get to that even if it will be unnecessary.
Anonymous
September 4th, 2020 9:30pm
Going to class these days can seem like a daunting task. With the pandemic on one hand and the political climate in major cities; it appears as though all the motivation and drive have gone to drain. I blame the pandemic for the lack of ability to physically go to class and learn in a classroom setting. But rather, having to participate in class in a virtual setting. I feel like when I'm home there's just too many distractions; studying, kids, other memebrs of family at home, and noise is truly becoming a difficult task. Concentration alone is becoming nearly impossible to complete.
Anonymous
November 5th, 2020 6:09am
Going to class or school, has to be a choice. Not everyone likes or loves to go to school. When people force themselves to do something they do not want, the interest diminishes. You should never force your self to go some where you do not want to be. Maybe rethinking why you are there and why you are going in the first place may be a better option. Sometimes people go to class because they have expectations, or have the need to. Many people go to class because is the class they love or friends they want to see. What ever that choice is , it has to be a choice made from you and no one else. If you just do not have to go to class, because you are tired and work a lot, that’s another thing. Sometime having a schedule or a time planner may help.
omar98
April 26th, 2020 8:12pm
Well, one thing I've learned while trying to understand my motivation and performance is that I can't really "force" myself to do anything. Honestly. Even the things I used to think about as things that I "must" do turned out to be things that I really can't force myself to carry out. No one's gonna force you to go to class, do your homework, be a good partner, or any of that. You have to come to the conclusion that you truly and deeply want those things because you believe that they can make your life better. If you don't fully understand why you're doing something, or if you feel like it's useless, there's no way you'll commit to it.
Anonymous
November 10th, 2020 5:33pm
No one should have to force themselves to get to class, you should really try to focus on getting yourself to want to got to class and that way it wont seem as stressful or difficult as it normally would have been. Try convincing yourself to got to class by knowing why you should and also identify what's keeping you from going, and by taking these certain steps slowly by slowly you'll see what had seemed an endless hallway turn into a few steps as you are walking to class knowing you didn't have to force yourself and feel a weight being lifted off your shoulder.