Success in only a step away.

It’s midnight, and some students have been on their phones since they got home from school. Their backpacks are still the exact same spot they threw it when they first got to their room–then suddenly, they realize they still haven’t gotten that pile of homework finished that is due the next day. 

All have found themselves in a predicament where they felt unmotivated to do anything, especially their school work. It’s not easy for someone to force himself to do the work, but it could be possible to take a step closer to success.

All too often, people write off this lack of motivation as mere laziness. However, the true cause behind this may be something else. It’s frequently overlooked that what people are consuming into their bodies could lead to their lowered energy–but it is often the leading reason. In fact, foods high in glucose are typically the culprit. People often assume consuming a sugary treat will get their energy boosted and ready to work, when in reality, it has the opposite effect. In the moment that the sugar is consumed, it is true that the person will feel a surge of energy, but this glucose is easily digested, meaning it quickly leads to a sugar crash. When this sugar crash occurs, it leads the person to feel even more tired and unmotivated than he or she did before. An alternative would be natural sugars, such as fruit and healthier foods like nuts that are fantastic at balancing glucose levels. These snacks are also great at keeping the body going and feeling way more motivated and ready to work.

Sometimes it’s not even about what people are consuming, but how much they are consuming. “I do think what foods you’re consuming affect your energy and willingness to do your work, as not eating filling foods can make you restless and aggravated,” shares Ella Troyer, a sophomore at EHS. “First and foremost, though, it is just important to at least eat something, in my opinion, regardless of nutrition, to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself before your work,”  Troyer points out. Being able to keep the body energized using food could be the best bet in keeping themselves motivated and ready to do work.

In addition, setting small and manageable goals or tasks can help when the work is too big or just plain boring. “My advice to students who often find themselves unmotivated to complete tasks is to focus less on the actual work portion and find a way to make the work manageable and less boring,” Troyer advises. “I like to split work up into very small portions and celebrate every single addition I make onto it, rather than discourage myself by not getting it done all at once,” she adds as a helpful strategy. “Once you at least feel some sense of accomplishment,” Troyer concludes, “it’ll usually help get more work done than expected.” The biggest mistake students often make is giving up too quickly because its either too hard or too long. Being able to set these small goals or tasks can make a huge impact in how someone views his or her work.

Looking to the future can always be a good way of keeping a student both motivated and excited. When students are able to think about where their good grades will lead them if they do the work, it often motivates them. Of course, students need to set goals for this to be achieved–it could be something as small as going out.

Troyer is one of those students who finds small future goals rewarding and helps make her go from unmotivated to ready to work. “My go-to method to get motivated to do my work is to think of the things I can do after my work, and how less stressful it’ll feel with the work done,” she confides. “Sometimes, I’ll also watch videos or do other things online while doing my work to help encourage me to get the work done.”

It’s never good to feel discouraged when feeling unmotivated. It leads to a dead-end street instead of success. Instead, reminded one’s self of methods that could help get on the right path once again.