Setting specific, measurable, realistic, and flexible goals can help students stay motivated academically. Short term goals contribute to intermediate goals and ultimately long term goals. Process goals outline the steps to reach outcomes. Students should set goals at different levels, from weekly vocabulary goals to semester-long or year-long goals. Getting motivated involves breaking large tasks into smaller chunks, using rewards, seeking help, and maintaining schedules. Staying motivated relies on intrinsic and extrinsic factors, variety, study groups, breaks, and positive self-talk. Losing motivation can be addressed by reevaluating goals and prioritizing responsibilities.

1. GETTING AND STAYING
MOTIVATED
LUNCH AND LEARN
STUDENT SUCCESS
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run
over if you just sit there.
- Arthur Godfrey

2. Motivation is the academic glue that holds
everything together
 It’s tempting to blame a lack of motivation on others – a
boring professor or an annoying roommate – but YOU
are responsible for your own motivation!
 No one else can motivate you if you don’t have your own
internal motivation.
 But motivation can be fleeting, and you need strategies
to tap into your motivation…..
 So let’s get motivated!

3. Setting Goals
 Students who set goals – long and short term – are more
motivated to complete those goals.
 Chances are you already set goals for personal things like
losing weight and exercising, but you can and should set
academic goals as well.
 Having defined goals can also help you become motivated in
classes you don’t particularly like!
 So before each semester begins, jot down 3 goals you’d like
to reach within that semester.

4. Always make sure your goals are…
 Specific – Are your goals clearly defined?
 Clearly defined goals keep your eye on the prize
 Measurable – Are your goals clearly measured?
 Measurable goals help you track your progress
 Realistic – Can your goals be reached?
 Realistic goals are more easily achieved
 Flexible – Are my goals adjustable?
 Life is always changing and flexible goals can help you
adjust to these changes as needed

5. Different Types of Goals
 Setting short term and intermediate goals will
help you better achieve your long term goal…
 Short Term – Learning 10 new words in French every
week
 Intermediate – Learn the basics of French in a year
 Long Term – Studying abroad in France

6. Process Goals
 Process Goals are goals that describe what we will
do to reach our desired outcome
 These goals help us reach the short term and
intermediate goals on the way to our long term goals
 A process goal for learning French vocabulary would
be to make vocabulary cards – without these cards,
your short term goal may never be met

7. Goals need to be set at different levels
 Set goals so they are a tiny bit beyond your grasp, but
not so far that they are completely out of reach
 Reaching slightly challenging goals can do wonders for
your motivation!
 Remember to consider factors around you when setting
your goals: tiredness, family/social commitments, and
other outside influences
 The better you set your goals, the more motivated you’ll
be!

8. Suggestions for Getting Motivated
 Break up big assignments into smaller chunks
 Use the five minute rule
 Work on something for 5 minutes, once you get started you
will find that you won’t stop after the set time
 Set goals for each study session
 Reward yourself
 Seek help if you need it

9. Suggestions for Staying Motivated
 Use intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
 Add variety
 Organize a study group
 Keep a schedule
 Use positive self-talk
 Take breaks

10. Suggestions for Reviving Your
Motivation
 Reevaluate your goals
 Add more choices to your life
 Relate schoolwork to your life
 Seek professional help if needed
 Don’t hibernate
 Prioritize

11. Keep tabs on your motivation
 Try to recognize when your motivation breaks
down and what things led you to become
unmotivated
 Once you are able to see what affects your
motivation, you will be better able to make
adjustments to keep your motivation soaring!