Self-Motivation

Last week at DGS we worked together to present our termly House Assemblies. Along with sharing our pride in our Houses’ contributions to everything in school-life in term 2 and celebrating the successes met along the way, we also offered up our ideas on how to keep selfmotivated in the winter. During these turbulent times, we wanted to share some of these more widely through the forum that is ‘Thought for the Term’. In no particular order please read below 10 top suggestions for ways to keep positive and motivated in the winter, knowing that these are all things that have worked for some of us over the last few weeks and months.

1) Have a goal - a place you want to be, at the end of the week, end of the month, or the end of the year (whether it is getting the grades you want, working out, keeping positive).

2) Reward yourself - giving yourself a break or eating some chocolate (chocolate releases dopamine which makes you happy and calm and motivated) when you have completed something.

3) Take breaks - not just stepping away from the screen but away from your house, try to get outdoors, take the dog for a walk, go for a run (the colour green helps motivation and energy levels)

4) Find some inspiration - from a book, a tv show, some music, some artwork, a walk in nature, baking (who doesn’t love cake!?)

5) Keep in contact with friends – on Facebook, on Teams, in a phone call or facetime; whatever works for you; to just ask how they are or work together on the tasks, help each other become motivated

6) Try and stay positive - have that positivity and motivation so when you look back at yourself in the future you are proud of yourself and what you achieved at this time.

7) Reach out - if you are struggling with motivation, talk to your teachers, parents, guardians, siblings, friends: they will try and support you

8) Try to keep a routine – follow the timetable; plan your free time; get time for you; keep a consistent bedtime.

9) Get out of your room! - play games with the family, interact and socialise and spend quality time together with them.

10) Use a journal to reflect on the good and the bad of the day; focus on the positives; use this to set a simple goal for the next day; helps get you mentally prepared for another lockdown day.

Keep smiling!

The DGS House Captain team Emilia, Oliviya, Amelie, Grace, Sophia, Ellen and Jessica