What do you do when you lose motivation?
Hi all
I do not know why? maybe of the weather, or being lonely or nothing..!!!!! but I lose my motivation, I wake up early, spending my day on net doing nothing important. I lose my motivation to do anything even washing the dishes!!!!!! I do not want to talk to anybody. What should I do to get out of this situation? :-(
Hi Emaa
I find I lose motivation when I need a break and don't realise it, or when I'm facing a hard/large/overwhelming piece of work which I can't face. So, I take some time off to recharge, and have a break from the thesis. I make the most of this - I see friends, read a novel, walk the dog - make sure I do relaxing things, not just procrastinate or watch tv. I think about life after the thesis, and how I want so much to finish, and rethink time plans and work out how I'll reach my goal. I then redo a work plan and break the task down into smaller, doable bits, which aren't so daunting. All of this really helps.
Have a think about why you're unmotivated - there are deeper reasons, rather than just not wanting to work. Don't waste time sitting at the computer doing nothing either - take some time off and enjoy it properly, then plan to really work when you are at your desk.
Hey Emaa! You know, I find it much harder to keep on task in summer when it stays light until later...I've always been like this. I think in winter when it's dark outside the office feels nice and quiet and peaceful and cosy and I can work better for much longer. In summer I just can't seem to concentrate the same. Strange. But when I'm feeling like that I just try to keep my work varied. Even on days where I don't feel like doing anything that requires a lot of concentration I always find something to do so that I feel like I'm doing something useful, even if it's just photocopying or something. I feel worse if I spend a day getting nothing done! But maybe it's just a sign that you need a proper break and a change of scene- sometimes that can help! Best, KB
Thanks Dear, in fact I just yesterday spent a very nice time with my friends, we had a party and enjoyed very much. I expected to be more active today, but I could not concentrate over the day. I started reading something then I entered to facebook, forgot what I was reading, after one hour I remembered....!!!!! Really it is silly to spend my day in this stupid way. Maybe I need to turn off the net or to go to the library or to put a plan for my goals!!!!!
I can't really add to what Sue2604 and Keenbean have said. All I can add is the platitude that a PhD is like a marathon taking place on a roller coaster track. There are sometimes when it's an uphill slog and you feel tired and demotivated and other times when you seem to make a lot of progress and feel very motivated. It's like a block, 3 to 4 year cubed (yeah, I know, not even Einstein would try and tun time into an area - so back off maths boffins). At one side of the cube you have the start flag and at the other side you have to end ribbon. By which ever way, you have to navigate your way through, sometimes making more progress than at other times.
Believe me Emaa, no-one procrastinates more than me. And I've been really demotivated as well. But a week or 2 later, I'm back chasing The Dragon (my PhD) - better not express it in that way to my supervisor! So, I reckon you'll be motoring away again in no time. And as has been said, it can be really helpful to take a break and then get stuck into things again. That's the way I try and do it. Also, use Sneaks' One Goal Thread - it's a now proven method of accountability.(up)
These are some of the draw backs technology has introduced in this Information Era. Internet opens up an outside window on our screens from the comfort of our sofas. People are reluctant to visit friends, neighbors, relatives as often as they used to prior to the mobile phone culture. I remember(during teens) how happy we felt when we received a letter through post from some close relatives!
We are becoming less emotional in all aspects of our lives. We are becoming cyborgs. On top of it the UK weather is like a fuel on fire.
I am seriously thinking to leave UK.
Emaa, I think its a kind of fatigue which comes from doing repetitive tasks for longer then necessary. You should concentrate on one activity at the same time rather than becoming a multi-tasker. When I am in such a mode, I will spend whole day clearing/decorating my flat, washing car, go for long cycling or go out for dinner etc.
I've recently been having days like this and I think it was just to do with the work I was doing. I couldn't wait to get on to doing something more exciting, rather than analysis. But rather than get the analysis done I began to procrastinate. I think I've learnt that its ok to go onto something that is more interesting (related to your PhD) - because it all needs doing in the end, just because you don't do it in the order you or your sup originally wanted doesn't really matter at the end of it!
I've been quite demotivated recently. Just seems like I have sooo much left to do to finish and I'm kinda bored of it now. It's got to the point where my average arrival to work is lunchtime! Things that help me are: going to the office everyday, (I get far to easily distracted at home) making lists of small targets (crossing things off makes me feel I've been productive even if the thing was send an email to this person) and spending time away from the PhD. I go to the gym, I run, I see friends and I almost never work at weekends. Helps to keep me more focussed in the week.
Hopfully this is a dip and you'll get your motivation back soon. :-)
I can sympathise Emaa, I've struggled terribly for a month or so. Today though I finally got some stuff done, two things helped:
1) My husband made me set a target and told me that if I didn't reach it on time there was a forfeit (such as folding all his laundry!). I like to prove him wrong and I needed someone else to hold me accountable.
2) Change your task. I feel that my phd is never ending, just plowing through endless pages. So hubby made the useful suggestion that I skip ahead and start drafting my discussion/conclusions. That way I know what I'm aiming for, and the end feels like it's in sight again. I always find it easier to fill in gaps than plod endlessly on.
Don't feel too bad - I just watched "Loose Women"! :) I'm only 5 months into it but the motivation seems to come in waves as far as I can see. I've gone from trying to stop myself boring my friends about my research in the pub to having to force myself to think about it then back to boring lots of people again. So don't worry and brace yourself for the next wave!
I don't know if this is any help but as I work part of the week it helps me to structure my study days the same way - I set my alarm for the same time and work till 11 - have a coffee - work until lunch - damn that's 2pm, lunch over! Only joking, not quite as rigid as that but that and a to do list are the only way for me to get things done. Hope you get your motivation back soon and have a nice weekend!
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Don't feel bad Emaa. I am a master procastinator myself, and I have recently come to the conclusion that since starting my PhD, I have developed a www. addiction! Ironically, my thesis is on a subject related to procastination and its widespread among student!
First thing I did to rectify this was get myself an 'Appointment Diary'. I asked myself about my intellectual high & low times (e.g. do I lose interest in the summer - as someone here does; do I grasp complex ideas better in the morning, etc.). I then start breaking my tasks up - as Sue said below. I'm useless after lunch, so I just do boring admin and photocpying jobs in the early afternoon; I'm an internet addict, so I don't turn the internet on until I've crossed off everything on my To Do list (but I do slip every now and then - like today!!!); my mind is like a sponge in the morning and can absorb ideas better, so I read complex things in the morning; and after 6pm I'm just good for noth - I seem to work better when it's light than dark, so I just cook, watch a DVD, and read a novel before bed (or some sort of - please don't laugh - self-help, motivating, time management, easy reading book - all the 'You Can Do It!' Wah Wah in these books actually helps me!). Try getting a diary & make a list of things for each day (start small so that you can get a kick out of achieving things, then do longer lists as time passes by & you've mastered managing yourself and your time better).
