The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on day-to-day life have been a challenge for the average individual, leaving many to sit alone in their house for months. But when summer came along, we were able to go outside, get out of the house and away from our families, and even meet up with friends if we wore a mask and social-distanced. Summer gave everyone a chance to do what they wanted to do, whether it was to be productive or lazy. There was no wrong choice to make. Whatever gives you comfort in unsettling times was the right choice. But with a beautiful summer coming to an end and school starting, a new array of worries and difficulties arise, as well as some sour memories of online learning from last spring.

Last spring we attended school online, which was stressful, and it was hard to stay enthusiastic, to say the least. However, from what I’ve seen so far, this year is going to be different. The teachers have been working relentlessly to try to make online learning the best experience it can be. Nevertheless, one thing that students might have a hard time doing is staying motivated. 

In these difficult times, staying motivated can be a really hard task, when you feel like there is no certainty and nothing to push you forward. But staying motivated is really important to learning. You have to be eager to learn about new topics, complete assignments, make good use of your time, and most of all, stay happy. It can be hard to motivate yourself, but there are ways to do it. There are methods that I use, that work for me, and will hopefully work for you.

The first, most useful and versatile method, is setting goals. Setting goals for yourself can keep you engaged. No, your goal shouldn’t be to just stay motivated. Your goal should be something that you can accomplish. The best thing to do is to set at least one goal for the day that you have to complete so that you feel accomplished. The most important part of setting a goal is that you need to have a reward that follows it, otherwise you won’t do it. Even if you say you would still do it, deep down you know that’s false. The reward could be anything from making your favorite snack to going to get a cup of coffee from your favorite local coffee shop. The goal and reward system reinforces motivational behavior that sets you up for success. This actually trains your brain, much like a dog is trained to do a trick. Where the trick is the goal, and the reward is the treat. Just like training a dog, after repetition of these practices, it creates a habit of staying motivated. 

Jane E. Brody, A Personal Health columnist for “The New York Times,” in the article “How to Maintain Motivation in a Pandemic,” recommends to “adopt a more positive approach by selecting goals that are attainable but still present a challenge.” Setting goals is beneficial and rewarding to everyone who is willing to try it.

Another method, or a submethod, is to break a big goal into manageable and smaller parts. For example, a large assignment can be overwhelming and you might not even know where to start. A good way to approach it so that you stay motivated and don’t give up is to break the big task into smaller steps or parts. This makes your goal easier to wrap around your head and conceive a plan of attack.

Another piece of advice is to simply take breaks. Doing so can give you a mental rest from the stream of information you’re taking in. The break can be anything that feels like you’re pausing from work and taking some moments for yourself. Examples include going for a walk, giving yourself a certain amount of time to be on your phone when you’re not in a class, meditating if you’re into that, going on a bike ride, doing a relaxing activity like sudoku and adult coloring pages, or really anything that recharges your mental battery so that you feel mentally prepared for the rest of the day. These activities take care of your mental and physical health, which are both important to staying motivated and healthy.

The last method may seem like a simple one. It can be hard to do when everything seems negative, but you should try to stay positive. You might be thinking that it can’t be that hard, but sometimes we can get ourselves in a habit of thinking negatively without even realizing it. But staying positive is key to motivation because if you’re negative about everything, you won’t be motivated to do anything. Staying optimistic is definitely a great way to boost motivation and generally keep yourself happy.

There are many ways to keep your head up and stay motivated during online school and the coronavirus pandemic in general. The great thing about these methods is that anyone and everyone of any age can use them! We are all going to need some motivation for this school year. There are going to be ups and downs throughout the year, but just like in the past we will get through it. The important thing is to do what works for you in order to keep yourself motivated, happy, and healthy for the ongoing school year.