Help on motivation please..

Topsy1_2

I'm a mature student in my first year and I'm really struggling to get motivated at the moment and am currently 2 weeks and 1 week overdue on 2 different assignments.
The first one, I got an extension for but that ran out last monday, 10 days ago, and the second one the whole class were given an extension for Monday just gone, but with absolutely no further extension.

Don't know what to do; I have stuck my head in the sand and not contacted the tutors since, and really can't go back to them. Especially as the first tutor is the head of programme and has already told me off in my personal tutorial about procrastination..

I just can't seem to get down to it; lectures have finished for easter and I supposedly have all this time now. But I just can't do them. I keep carrying the books and laptop around from my house to my boyfriends and back, opening them, and then sitting there messing about on the internet or playing solitaire. I haven't even started the second one.

Even more stupidly, I can't even get on with anything else so housework and everything else is piling up because I can't justify spending time doing other things when I've got all this outstanding work to do. So I end up just doing nothing.
Plus, we've got exams starting in May and another assignment due in after easter. Feel like I have spent the last 7 months working for nothing and as am sure they will end up failing me because I haven't handed these two in.

Feel really, really rubbish and that have let everyone down. Spent most of yesterday crying and then felt even worse for crying instead of working. Done nothing this morning either, except sit here and worry about what I should be doing.

Sorry for moaning. Any ideas for motivation before I really go off my head..?

Gingernutmeg

You really, really need to get back in touch with your tutors and explain the situation. If you're genuinely struggling, then I'm sure you'll find that they are sympathetic. As a mature student, could it be that you're lacking study skills, and that's why you're finding it so hard to get things done? Maybe your uni has some courses/a help centre where you could get some advice. Also, maybe you need to look at why you're procrastinating so much. Are you worried that nothing you hand in is 'good enough', perhaps, and you're crippling yourself with perfectionism? Remember that uni is about learning and getting better at things - you don't need to hand in work that is 'perfect' ... in fact, nobody ever does! You won't be failed. You might loose marks, but that's it, chances are you'll still pass

Secondly, stop feeling like you have to get everything done at once. Sometimes, when I have a load of work due in, I overwhelm myself by feeling that I have to get it all done NOW. I panic, and dither, and end up getting nothing done. What I try to do is set myself small time limits, for example, I'll give myself twenty mintues to read two pages and make a few notes. Then I stop, take a few minutes break and either come back to it for another twenty mintues, or get on with something else for another twenty mintue block. It's amazing how quickly you can get yourself back into control, and how much you can actually achieve in such a short space of time. (I believe that this is the Flylady way lol, might be useful looking that up so that you can establish routines for housework etc, just so it doesn't pile up). I find that I reach a point where I'm less stressed, and then I'm able to concentrate for longer periods.

Also, remember that you're only in your first year. It's unlikely that your marks from this year will count towards your final degree. If they do, it's likely to be only a small percentage. Not doing brilliantly this year is not going scupper your chances of getting a good degree. You haven't let anyone down - uni is a difficult environment and everyone struggles from time to time. Make use of the help that's there and don't worry about being 'told off' by tutors. Like I said, when they realise that there is a genuine problem most will be very sympathetic. Maybe you call your uni today and make an appointment to see one of your tutors, or see if you could make an appointment with Learning Support.

Oldernotwiser

If this isn't the case for you then I apologise and you can ignore it.

Picture the dead end job you were in before you went to university; then picture yourself doing that, or something similar for the rest of your life. Does that help at all? I do hope so.

jovichick123

Hi,

Don't know if this will help much, but I am a mature student in my second year. Last year, I totally lost the plot too! I panicked and was lucky to scrap through in most of my units with my highest separate unit ultimately being 52%. I failed two units outright for just not handing in coursework and as a result had two retakes over the summer.

However, this is not all doom and gloom! This year I am averaging a 2.1 in all my units bar one, which is hovering between a 2.1 and a 1st.

I had a good hard think over the summer about why I was doing my course in the first place, what I wanted to achieve from it and about why I was doing the best thing for myself ultimately. I came to the conclusion that through doing what I was doing, I was making my life better. By the time I returned to Uni, I was ready to put the effort needed in.

It might be the wrong attitude ultimately, but to think about it rationally, the first year will not count towards my ultimate degree result so academically I have not lost anything and also, if I had not had the kick up the !!!! in the summer, I would not be in the position I am in now.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that life as a mature student is hard. It is hard to go from one lifestyle to another; from having money to not! A period of adjustment is expected for everyone. Just try not to panic too much, get done what you can, and if Uni is the right choice for you, you will definately be back next year to put things right.

Good luck,

Sarah xx

dmg24

Hey,

Try not to worry, you will get back on top of things.

I'm in the same boat (it is actually your thread that is making me get sorted!), have spent the past three days playing Minesweeper ... and being on MSE!

First things first, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to make a list. Write down everything you need to do, including the cleaning etc, and break it down into bitesize chunks. For instance, rather than 'clean the house', break it down to 'clean bathroom', 'wash pots', 'make bed' etc. Then you can tick off each one when you've done it, and you've achieved something. Gradually, it will all look a whole lot more manageable.

Are there any other mature students on your course? I'm lucky that the majority of my course are over 25, and it is a big support. Perhaps there are other people in the same boat?

Now, I'm off to make my list.

Lots of love, and you know where we are x

f85

Hi Topsy

I'm an undergrad student currently preparing my dissertation and about to start studying for my finals. I think almost every student goes through something like what you've described so far, so it's important to bear that in mind first of all.

I'd agree with the other posts and urge you to get in touch with your tutor first off, let them know what the situation is - you'll find they'll be happy to help you where they can.

In my experience it's normally a case of feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work you have to do in it's entirity, so again I'd agree with the others in the next step setting out a list of what's to be done. Once you've done that, focus on one thing at a time and tick things off to mark your progress.

A tip on handling stress for me would be to split your day up into maybe two hour study sessions, which I'd normally limit to three per day, so six hours of concentrated work. In between these I'd recommend getting some fresh air away from the computer! Taking a walk for half an hour is a great way of clearing the head and re-focussing.

You will re-gain your focus, it's just a matter of time, so keep the chin up in the mean time!:j

sdt1986

Mature student here too one assignment due in 3 weeks ago and a 2000 word essay due in 3 weeks ago, worst thing is i still have to work 30.5 hours a week to pay my debts. Dont know about you but i find knowing i have to do these things more stressful then actually doing them but im just not getting into them!

Hence me being on here instead of getting on with the assignment, im going to email all my teachers tonight and let them have some excuses and hopefully get on top of it all over easter.

Being a Mature student definitely appears harder than i ever imagined but as someone else said its going to be better than my previous dead end job (hopefully)

Good Luck

Topsy1_2

Thank you so much for all your replies.. Its nice to know that I'm not alone in this. And also that other people have struggled too, (I mean that in a nice way!) - there are other mature students on my course but they all seem to be coping and getting on with it.

I had a long chat (cry) with a friend of mine last night and ended up sniffling on her a shoulder for most of the evening. End result was she's told me she's coming over on Sunday and is going to get stuck into some of the outstanding housework and distract my kids so I can get on without worrying about the house. And boyfriend has also offered to come over on his day off next week and cut the meadows that constitute my front and back gardens. Feel stupid for needing help but I obviously can't cope on my own.. Don't understand how I managed to work full-time and run house and kids before but I can't now. Guess its just taking longer than I thought to get used to a different kind of work. Fab, both of them.

I'm also going to try and pluck up the courage to speak to my tutors again, and hopefully they will be ok. My friend also suggested going to see student services and talk to them to see if they have any ideas.. Have been working today but am going to sit down tomorrow morning and write a list, like you've suggested, to try and get things more organised in my head and then a not-to-rigid timetable to work out when I can and should be working, but not expect to spend all day on it. I feel better already...
Thank you all, lots and lots. xxxx

dmg24

Glad you are getting on top of things Topsy x

bestpud

Glad you're feeling better about things now.

Just wanted to say I've been there too, and I would be very surprised if you are the only mature student on your course who is having these problems. There are certainly a few on my course at the moment!

In my experience, if you ask outright, you will find people are willing, and grateful, to share their moments of procrastination/doubt/fear/panic etc.

Don't know if this will help or not but we have a tutor who says looming assignments can reduce students to 'rabbits in headlights' and the only way to avoid it is to take a deep breath and start doing something, however small. Works for me anyhow!

Contact your tutors though, as that is an absolute must. Plus, student services may be a good idea. Do you have a mature students officer as they may be useful, or at least may know who else in the uni could help you?

Good luck,

Bestpud

kelloggs36

I know how you feel too! I am in my second year (mature student with 3 kids) and have 5 assignments to do by 4 May and it makes me feel sick! I have e-mailed my head of Year 2 and explained that with 3 children and the Easter holidays, it is going to be nigh on impossible to spend all my time working on my assignments as I can't ignore my children! He has just said for me to go in and complete the forms for extentions. I feel better already. i have started work on my most dreaded assignment - maths, and when I am writing it, it doesn't feel half as bad as the feeling of dread I get when I think about it in advance. The more I put it off, the worse I feel, but it is never as bad as all that when I actually pull my finger out and start writing and reading!