staying Motivated

[doula Michele]

Anyone have any great ideas on how to stay motivated to do homework, when you would rather be outside in the garden, working on your tan, sitting in the sun with a drink, or any of those other summer funtime things?

I am having a terrible time trying to stay caught up on all of the homework with the 2 distance courses that I am working on, when I would rather be doing any of the above.

[AmandaB]

Michele I am in the boat with ya girl!! I think the best thing to do is to do it as soon as she posts it or wait until the evening. For these online courses, I find that you get uot of it what you put in. So just focus on it for an hour and it could be done and then you have the rest of the day or evening to do the things you like. I have a plan that Amy will do her homework for the time it takes to complete it right after school, that way she is free after to do the things she wants and we aren't staying up all night doing it.

[aetrusty]

I definitely can relate! I try to make time for those things so I'm not feeling deprived. Sometimes, I'll just sit outside and read while my kids are playing. Or I'll take one morning and we go do something fun and then I study in the afternoon while they play.

And then I use my evenings while they sleep to do my reading, etc. Try to plan fun times in so you don't feel deprived.

And, I've started to set mini goals for myself. For instance, my goal for this week is to finish my reading for this module (studying CBE) and next weekend I will complete the homework. The weekend following, I will complete the homework for the next module since the same readings are for both modules.

Just break things down into mini goals and set aside times for play.

[Annie]

Why not print off the information and go outside with that drink as you work on answering the questions on paper, or if you have a laptop bring that out. I agree with Amanda. It is much easier to just do it in one sitting and try to do it as soon as it is posted. I take mine outside while the kids play on the swings and in the yard quite often.

I like she is now has the calender saying when things will be due. It helps me plan when I will do the assignment.

Now this midterm...not happening in one sitting.

-Annie

[doula Michele]

yup.... I agree with you all.
I do print it off and take it outside to the garden with me for a while. Then I get distracted with other stuff and put the book down.
I just get up very early and make myself do it first thing, while I am in my pj's. Once I am dressed I want to do other stuff. This is the last time I will scheduale any type of courses for summer.
I am a sun goddess and a heat seaker, so it is like some sort of torture to make myself do inside work, when we only get about 2-3 weeks of the good mid July heat!

[ScootchsMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by doula Michele yup.... I agree with you all. I do print it off and take it outside to the garden with me for a while. Then I get distracted with other stuff and put the book down. I just get up very early and make myself do it first thing, while I am in my pj's. Once I am dressed I want to do other stuff. This is the last time I will scheduale any type of courses for summer. I am a sun goddess and a heat seaker, so it is like some sort of torture to make myself do inside work, when we only get about 2-3 weeks of the good mid July heat!

I'm like you, I ended up taking the summer off from ALL studying I knew I wouldn't concentrate and would want to go to the beach or park when I should be studying.

[missilla]

i have to write down my goals and what needs to be done because if i do not that I end up pushing things off! write things down. take one step at a time. and always remind yourself why you are doing this. remember the prize at the end.

think of it like a birth a lot of hard work for a wonderful prize at the end. your certifications

[doula Michele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by missilla i have to write down my goals and what needs to be done because if i do not that I end up pushing things off! write things down. take one step at a time. and always remind yourself why you are doing this. remember the prize at the end. think of it like a birth a lot of hard work for a wonderful prize at the end. your certifications

Yeah the certifications are just not motivating enough...not when it is 32 degrees outside!
I think I have just accepted that summer is my time, and I will do nothing but births, prenatals, and totally enjoy myself. Everything else can just wait till i feel like doing it.

[amymaew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by doula Michele Yeah the certifications are just not motivating enough...not when it is 32 degrees outside! I think I have just accepted that summer is my time, and I will do nothing but births, prenatals, and totally enjoy myself. Everything else can just wait till i feel like doing it.

I read that as 32 Fahrenheit and thought that you were 1. off your rocker and 2. REALLY not motivated!!!!

[doula Michele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amymaew I read that as 32 Fahrenheit and thought that you were 1. off your rocker and 2. REALLY not motivated!!!!

No.. I'm from Canada.. in Alberta, where 32 degrees CELCIUS happens for only a week or so of the year.
I am the fool out in the garden, while all the whiners are sitting in their cool basements.....LOL probably doing their homework.

[nimblemama]

Yeah, spend your time outside. I have learned this summer to take it easy on my CBE work and kids homeschool. We have spent so much time at the playground, pool, on the patio, getting ice cream, etc. In several months, it won't be so nice, so that is when we can stay inside and be kept busy with school work.

[doula Michele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimblemama Yeah, spend your time outside. I have learned this summer to take it easy on my CBE work and kids homeschool. We have spent so much time at the playground, pool, on the patio, getting ice cream, etc. In several months, it won't be so nice, so that is when we can stay inside and be kept busy with school work.

I like the way you think!