Shrink Wrap Guest Column: How can I increase motivation to do homework and go to class?
This column offers general mental health information and is not a substitute for professional counseling. Students in crisis or seeking professional support are encouraged to contact USU Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) at 435-797-1012, visit TSC 306, or access after-hours crisis support by calling or texting 988.
Dear Shrink Wrap,
How can I increase motivation to do homework and go to class?
Dear Aggie,
We’ve all been there! There are days — maybe weeks — where getting to class feels like climbing a mountain and opening a textbook feels like a punishment. You’re not broken. You’re not failing at college. You’re a person navigating a really demanding season of life, and that deserves a little grace before it deserves a lecture.
Focus on the purpose. The first thing worth knowing is that motivation isn’t something you’re born with or without. It’s more like a fire that needs the right conditions to catch. And one of the best ways to light it? Connect what you’re doing to something you really care about. Not “I need this degree” — dig a little deeper. Maybe you’re here because you want to build something, heal someone, change an industry or make someone in your family proud. Whatever it is, hold onto that. Write it on a sticky note. Put it on your laptop. On the days everything feels pointless, that little reminder can be surprisingly powerful.
Just begin. Here’s another thing that might feel counterintuitive: You don’t have to feel motivated to get started. In fact, waiting until you feel like doing something is often the trap. Try this — tell yourself you’ll just do two minutes. Open the document. Read one page. Walk into the lecture hall. More often than not, once you’ve begun, your brain catches up and the resistance melts away. Starting is almost always the hardest part, and two minutes is something anyone can do.
Remember, humans are social beings. For class attendance specifically, a little honesty goes a long way. Showing up regularly really does make a difference — not just in your grades but in how connected you feel to the whole college experience. Sitting in a room with a professor and your peers creates a kind of rhythm and community that’s genuinely hard to replicate from a recording. If a class is feeling irrelevant, try talking to the professor after hours. You might be surprised — a single conversation can reframe an entire course.
Your environment matters. Your brain picks up on cues more than you realize. If you can carve out one consistent spot — a library nook, a cozy café — where you go to work, your brain will start to associate that place with focus. It sounds simple because it is, and simple things work.
You’ve got this. Truly. College is a lot, and the fact that you’re thinking about how to do it better already says something wonderful about you. One small step, one class, one page at a time — that’s all it takes to get the momentum going again.
— USU Counseling and Prevention Services