Study stress and motivation

• Make a realistic plan that you can stick to. Make sure you include regular breaks.
• We all have our own study styles and stress tolerances. Try not to compare to others. Do what works for you.
• It might sound obvious, but make sure your basic needs are met. Ensure you get enough sleep and eat regularly. Sleep will help you retain information better. Eating well will keep your energy levels up. Check out our tips for healthy sleep, eating, and keeping active here.
• Make sure you're having fun too! Just because you are studying for exams and meeting deadlines doesn't mean that you stop doing things that make you happy like exercise, listening to music, and meeting with friends.
• If your mental health is causing you to struggle with your academics, check out our mental health tips and resources here.
• Find spaces that work for you to study. Visit our NTU libraries and visit the HealthyNTU Dens on city and Clifton campus, spaces for you to relax, refresh, and recharge.
• Be kind to yourself!
• Ask for support when you need it.

• Academic Skills and Knowledge (ASK) Hub – your one-stop access to tools and resources to help with study skills, information and research skills, academic writing and maths. Book an online or in person appointment with one of the Learning and Teaching Team for one-to-one support.
• Visit NTU Library for access to study skills support.
• Hear one of our students discuss their exam tips.
• Read the Student Minds articles on managing exam stress.
• Our NTU Wellbeing team has created this guide on top study skills for success.
• Study with Merve – study along videos to keep you focused.
• Exam and Assessment adjustments – help is at hand to provide reasonable adjustments.
• Wellbeing Support – If personal circumstances or your mental health are having an impact on your studies, we can support you. Remember, getting support early can be the most helpful.
• HealthyNTU’s library book list – a list of wellbeing books accessible through NTU’s libraries.

Motivation is the driving force behind our actions. It initiates, guides, and sustains goal-directed behaviours. It is influenced by personal desires, individual needs, goals, values, incentives and rewards and cultural and societal norms.

Sometimes at university, we lose or struggle with finding and keeping our motivation. This is normal and it can be helpful to understand why this is happening.

Student Minds has written a quick 5-minute article helping you understand why you might lose motivation and how you can get it back.

Your NTU wellbeing team have also created a downloadable guide to help you if you are struggling to keep motivated with some tips to get your motivation back.

Remember that improving motivation is an ongoing, life-long process, and it’s normal to experience fluctuations in motivation over time. Be patient and kind with yourself and keep experimenting with different strategies until you find what works best for you