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How to stay motivated at university
Friday, 18 February, 2022 — BA (Hons) Fashion Communication student Lucy Timbrell gives her top tips on staying motivated at uni and how looking at long-term goals can help knock down creative walls.
<p><strong>Guest blog: Lucy Timbrell, <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-fashion-media-marketing">BA (Hons) Fashion Communication</a></strong></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">As creatives, we all know what it’s like to hit a creative wall. Sometimes it is hard to get those ideas flowing, staring into mid-air desperately hoping for inspiration to appear. But there’s no hope in sitting around and waiting, you need to get up and do something about it to overcome that wall.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Creativity won’t come to you if you aren’t feeling your best! Boost your mood, do something that makes you happy, whether that’s watching a feel-good film or treating yourself to your favourite food. Being in a more positive mindset will get you that step closer to finding that creative solution you’ve been searching for.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Remind yourself why you are here, what is the purpose of your work? Working hard and completing your work will only get you further. You’ve got this! Writing a list and defining your goals will help your ideas flow and is a great starting point. Personally, I find mind mapping helps me to set a clear vision, these can consist of anything, from keywords and images to drawings. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Look at the bigger picture. What are you working towards? It could be this piece of work that gives you that dream internship. Visualise yourself finalising your project and handing it in, happy with the outcome. Imagine stepping foot into a top art gallery showcasing your work or capturing content for the brand you have always wanted to work for. Dream big, work hard and you will get there. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The idea of being sat in your bedroom repeating “I will achieve great things.” is cringe, to say the least, but positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes. Self-affirming statements will help you achieve your best and take control of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. <br /></p>
Dream big, work hard and you will get there.
<p dir="ltr">It’s time to switch off Friends, Grey’s Anatomy or whatever your current choice of binge worthy TV is. Remove all distractions, once you have got past that wall you can press play. Any distractions will only slow you down and make the process more tedious.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Enjoy the process! This is the beauty of attending an arts college: it's a perfect time to explore your creativity and have fun with it. Next time you are struggling to feel motivated try these tips and thank me later… <br /></p>
