8 strategies to overcome demotivation before some oppositions

The study of oppositions to any job offered by the public administration is an option that more and more people choose to ensure a stable future of work. However, this path to become professional goes hand in hand with a stage of preparation for oppositions that in most cases is difficult to manage on a psychological level.

Motivation is one of the most important aspects that must be kept constant in all students, since it Without it, it is difficult to achieve each and every one of the objectives that we set ourselves during the process of oppose. And since the human being is not always a "rational animal" in all aspects of life, it is very easy to fall into a self-sabotaging dynamics even when we have already decided to dedicate several months to improving our profile as opponents. That is why it is very important to know strategies that, combined with each other, help us to motivate ourselves before some oppositions.

• Related article: "Types of motivation: the 8 motivational sources"

How to face and overcome demotivation when preparing for oppositions?

These are the main strategies that we can put into practice to overcome demotivation during study and preparation for oppositions.

1. Create a startup routine

Creating a daily study session start routine is the best way to acquire an optimal work rhythm and to automate a series of habits that will be very useful in the future to ensure success during the process.

There are many ways to create a daily study routine, such as taking off our wristwatch and placing it on the table. These actions end up becoming a representation that indicates the start of a study session.

In the same way, by establishing a weekly routine we can leave a day of rest that allows us to load strength and rest or perform activities that we cannot carry out during the study days weekly.

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2. Take short, frequent breaks

Take very frequent short breaks in study sessions (every 40 minutes) it is essential for restoring attention span and also helps to rest your eyes and stretch your legs for a few minutes.

These breaks help the student to regain strength and disconnect briefly from the study and in them they can eat something briefly, refresh the face and many other activities such as checking the mobile, all with the aim of increasing the motivation.

3. Set short-term goals

Setting very short-term goals constantly will allow us to have objectives in the future that can be achieved in a matter of minutes, which also helps us feel better and more motivated to continue forward.

Maintain a constant rhythm of small goals that we are achieving in a matter of minutes during the day it contributes very positively to our motivation, mood and mental health in general.

4. Remove distractors beforehand

Eliminate distracting elements before we start studying It will allow us to fully devote ourselves to studying and will help us maintain a constant work rhythm, making studying more fluid.

The main elements of distraction that we have daily are the mobile or other devices electronics, television, internet connection or other people with whom we can talk and distract ourselves during the study.

Each of these elements prevents us from being consistent in studying and takes up time during the day, making studying tiresome and frustrating.

5. Avoid comparisons with others

During the process of studying for oppositions it is important not to compare yourself with other study partners, friends or with anyone who is immersed in a similar study process.

Comparisons of this type can make us feel very bad, undermine our motivation or lower our self-esteem precisely because they promote a vision skewed from our progress, since we have incomplete information about what these people do, and if we see how others seem to study faster than us it is easy for us to start feeding a very pessimistic framework of interpretation of reality.

Instead, we should only compare ourselves with ourselves and try to improve day by day, trying to break our own study “records” in a day or a week.

• Related article: "Impostor syndrome: when we don't value our successes"

6. Apply relaxation techniques at key moments

Put relaxation techniques into practice daily to "disconnect" from the oppositions once the study day is over or A few minutes before starting can help us reach a state of optimal relaxation, motivation and calm that we can maintain throughout the day. day.

Relaxation techniques help us overcome states of excessive nervousness, as well as symptoms of anxiety, stress, general malaise, suffering or anguish caused by the study itself.

Some of the most common relaxation techniques can be yoga, meditation, conscious breathing, progressive relaxation and Mindfulness.

7. Self-administration of prizes

During the study we can put into practice a series of strategies that keep us more motivated throughout the day.

One of these strategies consists of self-administering prizes or gifts when we reach a goal determined, such as a meal or snack that we like when we reach a certain number of pages studied.

8. Exercise and eat right

Eating well not only means maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, but also has to do with spending enough time digesting to avoid possible organic problems that may bother us during study sessions.

That is why whenever we eat at any time of the day we must make sure that we take enough time to do so and do not eat too quickly or impulsively. It is also important to allow ourselves a rest time to digest.

Regarding the type of food that we eat daily, we must ensure that they are not too fatty or heavy, since heaviness can be an inconvenience to study. In addition to that, it is important to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid ultra-processed foods, too sweet or sugary drinks.

In addition to following a correct diet that allows us to stay healthy and energetic, it is also It is important to put into practice a series of much-needed eating habits such as weekly exercise or diary.

Practice sport at a moderate level it will keep us in shape and help us reinforce our motivation by stimulating the production of endorphins.

Are you looking for professional psychological assistance to prepare for oppositions?

If you are interested in having professional psychological support for a personal or professional project such as studying for oppositions, please contact me.

My name is Thomas Saint Cecilia and I specialize in cognitive-behavioral intervention for problems such as poor stress management, problems concentrating, poor time management, and more.