Lack of motivation with college that won't go away what do I do?

LegacyUser

I'm having a hard time staying in college. I don't know what it is I keep losing interest in my course . Some of the time I'll be very motivated to study then I just can't be bothered I'm not sure I have a strong enough interest in the course anymore.
I'm just extremely confused at the moment I was on a different course 2 years ago I dropped out switched straight to this course business higher cert then I started feeling this lack of motivation with college so I deferred . Now I'm back after deferring started off great at the start now 3 weeks in around the same time as before I can feel the lack of motivation starting to kick in again. I haven't completed a year of college yet due to me deferring , switching courses etc.
The time away has given me a long chance to think hard what I want to do I spent a lot of time during the year in the gym and volunteering at a shop just doing whatever.
I've started to realise I have a strong interest in nutrition and also the gym so a part of me wants to pursue that an do that course. I feel like I've found what my passion is which is the gym and nutrition.
I'm just so confused at the moment I don't know do I drop out again go on a exercise & nutrition course or should I try and complete this semester an see how I feel after completing the year? if I'm still feeling the same?

I don't don't find college interesting I'm not sure if it's due to the course I switched out of my first course but I never had this same lack of motivation I have with business I attended nearly all the lectures. It just annoys me the way I can't seem to stick with anything but this nutrition or exercise is something I even read about in my spare time.

5rtytry56

What course are you in, in college OP?
For ANY course a certain minimum level of study per week , in hours, will need to be done outside class. On your own. On your own assertion. In your own capacity. Personally, when I was in college many moons ago, I could have studied a bit more outside class.

scrimshanker

Just something for you to consider OP, but that higher cert in business could be really useful in a sports and nutrition context. Finish it, then go off and study fitness and nutrition, get the qualifications you need and go work in a gym. With your business background and a few years experience working in fitness you would be really well placed to set up your own business in the field.

LegacyUser

5rtytry56 wrote: »

What course are you in, in college OP?
For ANY course a certain minimum level of study per week , in hours, will need to be done outside class. On your own. On your own assertion. In your own capacity. Personally, when I was in college many moons ago, I could have studied a bit more outside class.

I study business I had been doing a some study everyday after each class for a hour for about 2-3weeks even did some study after lectures/classes were over for the day staying longer to study, but for the past 2 weeks I haven't had the same motivation I'm not caring about college anymore losing the motivation with it getting extremely bored being there. I have gone in most classes the ones I know I need to attend if I want to do well. This lack of motivation has just cropped up again around exactly the same time as last year this time I've actually been putting in more work. I never had this in the course I switched out of the motivation was always there .

LegacyUser

scrimshanker wrote: »

Just something for you to consider OP, but that higher cert in business could be really useful in a sports and nutrition context. Finish it, then go off and study fitness and nutrition, get the qualifications you need and go work in a gym. With your business background and a few years experience working in fitness you would be really well placed to set up your own business in the field.

I'm not sure I want to be a personal trainer . Is it harder for girls to be personal trainer? I do like the nutrition side a lot and the fitness instructor possibly . I was thinking about that before but doing the degree I was thinking I'd need to have the full business degree to set up a business and the higher cert alone wouldn't work. The course I looked at was exercise and nutrition I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that I don't meet the entry requirements having a science subject . Maybe it is best I stay at the higher cert an by the time the course is finished I'd count as a mature student being 23, I'm don't know if it'd look good dropping or switching out of courses all the time. My motivation just keeps switching on and off getting stressed with everything.

scrimshanker

justconfused wrote: »

I'm not sure I want to be a personal trainer . Is it harder for girls to be personal trainer? I do like the nutrition side a lot and the fitness instructor possibly . I was thinking about that before but doing the degree I was thinking I'd need to have the full business degree to set up a business and the higher cert alone wouldn't work. The course I looked at was exercise and nutrition I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that I don't meet the entry requirements having a science subject . Maybe it is best I stay at the higher cert an by the time the course is finished I'd count as a mature student being 23, I'm don't know if it'd look good dropping or switching out of courses all the time. My motivation just keeps switching on and off getting stressed with everything.

I think there's a huge market for female personal trainers I'd be much more comfortable with one than with a guy. That's just me, but I know there are plenty like me (look at how plentiful women only classes, gyms, courses etc are). That aside, you could set up your own business doing whatever aspect of it you're most interested in - it doesn't have to be personal training. You could do entire lifestyle renovations for people. Meal plans, what to buy in the supermarket, time planning and exercise if that is something you think you could make a go of. Just an idea!

I don't think you'd need a full business degree to set up your own business. Lots of people with no business qualifications set up small businesses themselves, but it'd make life easier for you because you'd already know the language of business.

Regarding your motivation for college work, firstly it's the worst part of the college year at the moment. It really is. It's cold, wet and miserable out. It's the end of the winter and you're probably at your tiredest. The second thing is, maybe your motivation would be helped if you find yourself an ambition and see how the course will help you achieve that - even if it's a short or long term goal. The college careers service will be able to help you with that if you're finding it difficult. The last thing I would say is if you're really struggling on a personal level, you should really consider contacting the college counselling service and/or health service. Colleges put all these supports in place because it's totally normal to struggle with various aspects of college and they want their students to succeed.

Try and stick it out OP. It's the slump time of year, everyone in college is feeling it at the moment.

Mokuba

Motivation is fleeting. Nobody successful relies purely on motivation. It comes and goes when it wants. You need to get into a routine and develop discipline.

You aren't unique in your situation. Everybody loses motivation for something at some point - the difference is many of them are disciplined enough to keep going through those lapses in motivation.

Glinda

OP I'm going to agree with Mokuba here. It's an important part of growing up to realise that just because you don't feel like doing something doesn't mean you can't do it.

It's a valuable skill to be able to stick at something you aren't particularly enjoying so as to achieve something you want further down the line. For example, to stick at a course, achieve a qualification that allows you to travel, or allows you to get a starter job that eventually leads to a better job and so on.

While there's no point in flogging away for years at something that you genuinely hate, it's childish to give up every time you lose enthusiasm. The road to any kind of success has it's tough patches and if you give up when the going gets tough it's unlikely that you'll succeed in achieving any kind of tough goal. Those are the ones worth achieving - not the easy ones, the hard ones that few people can reach.

Best of luck.

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the responses it might have been a february thing all the assignments building up due soon.
I saw my counsellor too about the motivation issue she helped a good bit.
Although I'm starting to realise maybe I don't need to continue to do the degree after.
The pressure may have come from me thinking I still have two more years here once this course is finished before I get the degree , not sure I have the patience and since I have been in college very long already.
I have put more thought into that fitness/nutrition thing I've got more used to maybe thinking thats what I can do instead when next year is up since my interest seems to be there at the moment I look or read about that in my spare time .
It's just my family seem to be expecting me to do the degree and keep asking if I'm going to do the degree when the course is up.
Will it look bad quitting again? not getting a degree?
Some of my family might just tell me to stay the full time .
I'll still keep to my decision don't want to look like I'm a failure by wanting to quit after next year.

LegacyUser

I'm not sure why I have the motivation thing it just seems as soon as something becomes boring or I'm not as interested in it my motivation goes it's hard to get it back in the same way.
I saw my counsellor last week I mentioned the motivation that keeps happen said it might be due to assignments .
I just seem to have a hard time with routine or don't enjoy college as much as I should constantly bored. I only went in once this week stayed at home to do one of the assignments due soon cause I was bored with being there I needed a break.
Have decided after a lot of thought that it's not a bad idea to not continue any further study in business once it ends next year. Don't think I'd have enough patience to stay any longer. Only my family might be a bit disappointed or expecting me to continue to get the full degree don't want to look bad or like I'm a drop out failing not completing the full degree.