For most of the year I thought I wanted to study a course where I only needed a 70ish ATAR to get in, but I was studying to get as high as I could - so there were points where I was thinking to myself "why are you trying so hard?". What kept me trying is:
- wanting to do something different for my school. The school hadn't had a 90+ ATAR in a while and the year before when I got 47 in biology I noticed my cohort started lifting their goals and believing in themselves more
- wanting to keep my options open. (As it turns out, I did change into a course where the ATAR cut off was higher)
- the potential for getting a scholarship
- potential resume impact (expect this isn't really a thing outside tutoring....)
- wanting to do my best so I'd have no regrets
Things that enabled me to have a headspace conducive to self-dicipline
- practice & building habits from last year
- sleep
- seeing a counsellor
Yeah but isn't having the self discipline to say something like 'nah, I'll watch this video/tv show or I'll go on social media after I've finished my tasks for the night' a form of motivation? I think I wouldn't care enough about finishing my homework (which I see as a lack of motivation) to stop myself from watching a TV show
Imo no - maybe this is something that could be split off and made into its own thread?