Even if you have the best VCE tutors in Melbourne, it can be hard to maintain consistent motivation levels when working through your last years of high school. Throw the weight of a pandemic on top of things, and it’s next to impossible to keep your motivation afloat.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to take some of the pressure off and improve your focus, productivity, and drive. The following five tips are a great place to start:
1. Ask for help if you need it
If your motivation is seriously failing you, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Start with your parents or guardians and your teachers. Talk to them about how you’re feeling and what’s going on, and figure out a strategy for addressing whatever it is that’s harming your motivation. This may mean seeing a doctor, getting a referral to a psychologist, hiring a tutor, or perhaps even just improving your diet and spending more time studying in a group environment with friends.
2. Create an environment that makes you want to study
This will look different for every student, so there’s no set formula. However, there certainly is a study space design that’s ideally suited to you and what gets you motivated. Some people might want to be surrounded by books, with soft lighting and Harry Potter ASMR playing in the background. Others may want a brighter environment with a focus board featuring everything you want to achieve in the future.
Think about what makes you feel content and what you’re striving for, and use the ideas that come to you as motivation for designing a study space you love spending time in.
3. Take active breaks
When taking a break from studying, the worst thing you can do is keep staring at a screen. Scrolling on social media, watching a YouTube video, or doing some online shopping might entertain you at the moment, but these activities won’t give your eyes, your mind, or your body the break they need.
Instead, stand up, step away from the screens, and do something active. You could do a few quick exercises, dance to your favorite tunes, practice a musical instrument or see if you can master handstands or cartwheels. There are infinite options – the main goal, however, should always be to do something physical that takes your focus away from staring at screens or books.
4. Create a schedule
School can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a map to follow and you’re looking at each subject as a whole. By creating a schedule, you can break down each subject into bite-sized portions that build on each other gradually. Understanding calculus may seem impossible, but reading one chapter in a book is doable. Each chapter, quiz, and revision session builds on the last, turning the seemingly impossible amount of work you have to do into a clear and manageable journey.
5. Figure out your learning style
Your best friend may ace their exams by using flashcards and diligently writing and rewriting their notes. However, if you emulate this style, it’s possible that you won’t do nearly so well. This is because we all have a unique learning style, which means certain study tools will work for you, and others won’t be so helpful. By determining your learning style, you can develop a study routine that helps you quickly and effectively retain information.
Studying for the VCE is tough, but if you focus on the right things, you can teach yourself to study more effectively and build the future of your dreams. You’ve got this!