Hey Nonnie, good luck with it all!
Motivation is an odd thing, honestly. Particularly when it comes to studying. Here’s a nerdy one for you: it can help to think of a favourite nerdy/scholarly character or real-life person – like Bilbo Baggins, for example, a scholar and writer and poet – and think ‘YEAH GONNA BE LIKE YOU, GONNA WRITE/KNOW ALL THE THINGS, LOOKIT ME GO [character/person’s name]!’
Sometimes it can just be short bursts that are easier and more manageable, and not an all-out slog. I’ve used the Pomodoro study technique with some success before. You study for 25 mins, and then you have a little break, and then you restart another 25 mins. It works for me because I get a breather in which my brain can go ‘PHEW’. Here’s a site with a tomato-timer on it!
On occasion I disable my internet access, too. Because it can be VERY DISTRACTING, and contribute to my ‘meh, why bother???’ feeling.
Now for some inspo stuff!
Here’s a quote from William James, one of my faves:
“to change one’s life:
1. start immediately.
2. Do it flamboyantly
3. No exceptions.”
And here’s another from Elanor Roosevelt:
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
And another from Benjamin Jowett (these and more besides are all written on my wardrobe door in my study, by the way, in red and black pen):
“Never retreat. Never explain. Get it done and let them howl.”
One by Betty Bender:
“Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile initially scared me to death.”
And lastly, a great one from Joseph Conrad:
“Facing it. Facing it. That’s the way to get through. Face it.”
Aw Yiss 