How do you motivate yourself?

Well, just look at this picture. I just tell myself this is where I'll end up if I don't graduate.

Then I go straight back to my books.

I am a single mom of a 3 year old son, and i want him to have a better life than i had. That is motivation enough! His picture is in the front cover of EACH of my textbooks! If i start slacking....i flip to the front for a reminder of what i am doing!

Think how awful it would be to fail... for me it would be borderline depression--- so that's a good enough kick in the butt to wipe the dust off my notes.

Sometimes I write my name with RN on a blank piece of paper. When ever I looked at it , that reminded me of what I needed to do to get there.

I did the same thing when I was a LPN student.

Well, think of it this way (from me who just went through LPN and procrastination is a big problem)---If you start getting things down now, when it comes time for class, you'll be ahead of the game. Which means you'll spend less time filling in case studies and worksheets, and more time productively studying. It's absolutely no fun pulling an all nighter before class trying to finish worksheets. Especially when you're already dead tired from everything else!

The content is overwhelming so if you have access to what's covered in the beginning, go with that first.

I'm very broke right now so when I start questioning on whether all this is worth it, I compare what I make now to what the starting pay for a nurse is here and figure up my future paychecks. That alone fires me up and keeps me going.

I think it is great idea to start going through your textbooks before the class starts. I am a nursing student in a BSN program, and sometimes I lack motivation to prepare for the upcoming semester. Everyone has their own way to get motivated and focus. I personally am able to study better in a quiet environment or somewhere that is relaxing and calm. Libraries, book stores (Barnes & Noble), or coffee shops are some of the types of places I like to study or work on paperwork for classes. I feel that when I am home I have too many distractions around me. Also sometime it helps to study with a friend who is taking the same courses, but this should be someone that will focus on studying and not chit chat the whole time. Also I like to sit out during the summer and ready or go over practice questions, but don't forget the sunscreen!:)

Just remember that nursing is your passion. You will start to see the light at the end of tunnel!

Best of luck to you!

Thank you all for your responses, and to my fellow students I hope you all do well in your programs!

@ Ikolod, that's a really good idea, i don't know how I didn't think of it, tommorow i'm gonna start going to the library when I have off and study a few hours!

Set yourself up a schedule kinda like your own personal syllabus. Make it reasonable and not overly ambitious. Maybe a chapter or two a day or whatever you feel is best. As nerdy as it sounds, I got in such a habit of studying during school last year, that I struggle to go a day without studying, it is just second nature to me now.

write "your name, LPN" on sticky notes...and place them in spots like your bathroom mirror, room, on the refrigerator...

I brought two NCLEX books on vacation with me half way around the world, if I thought it was hard to motivate myself to study at home, boy is it hard to study while on vacation. You are not alone! I will have to set up a strict schedule when I get back home.

I have a picture of the Registered Nurse badge/medal taped to the front cover of my coursebook!