How to increase your motivation and get things done

Posted on December 7, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under Motivation, Productivity

Are you finding it difficult to maintain your motivation to complete assignments?

It is likely that during the busy academic term you have several assignments to work on and that need to be submitted soon. Are you finding it difficult to get started? Are you waiting to feel like writing your assignment, or do you feel you need to do more research? Perhaps you have several tasks and not sure which one to do first?

Do you feel that you want to get your work done, but wonder whether your efforts will produce the results you want?

It is common to have these questions when doing academic work, particularly when deadlines are approaching.

Take a moment to consider why you go to lectures, go to your part-time job, watch a TV programme, or read this blog post. You probably will notice that you have a variety of reasons underlying your decision to engage with any activity.

So, how do we decide what to do with our time, our capacity to pay attention and our energy?

What is motivation?

“Human beings have an active will toward health, an impulse toward growth – the actualisation of human potentials.” (A. H. Maslow)

Maslow (1971) believed in people’s fundamental drive to want to learn and develop their abilities. He called it the drive towards self-actualisation. He was concerned that people might not make efforts to develop their potential and therefore leave their abilities unused. He thought it was a missed opportunity and that it could lead to feeling unhappy, so he focused on encouraging people to engage with activities to develop their potential.

“To be motivated is to be moved to do something.” (Ryan & Deci).

Our motivation can be influenced by what we focus on, where we put our attention. When we are motivated we are more likely to sustain our efforts because we are interested in the subject, and we can see that we are making progress and as a result we can derive a sense of achievement (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

When we are interested in the topic, and it feels relevant to our lives, it is called intrinsic motivation. We can develop it by focusing our efforts on making progress, and this promotes the desire to continue persevering as we want to complete the task and derive a sense of achievement.

When we are motivated by external factors it is called extrinsic motivation. For example, if we want to meet others’ expectations, or for a specific reward, or we are thinking about specific grades and their implications for the future. We can produce behaviour change in the short-term provided we are interested in the reward. However, it may lead to loss of motivation once the reward no longer is of interest. It can also lead to surface learning, and it can reduce taking risks particularly in situations of uncertainty. This is likely to be due to wanting to avoid making mistakes, or avoid having a sense of failure (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

We all use these two types of motivation at different times. For example, we get up early to go to work as we know it is necessary to fulfil our obligations, or we do the dishes because we need clean plates for dinner. And we do things for our friends and family because it is meaningful to us, even if the task may require a lot of effort, or time. So, if you want to increase motivation identify those factors that are of interest and meaningful to you.

How motivated we feel is influenced by our mindset. This refers to our mental attitude, how we think about our abilities and about the work we have to do. If we think our intelligence is fixed and therefore not able to develop, we are more likely to feel stressed by the grades we get. This maybe due to viewing them as evidence that our academic ability is not as good as we would like it to be. Therefore, if the grade is low (or not what we were hoping for) we are likely to feel disappointed and concerned about our ability to manage the academic demands of the course.

Research shows that our brain is plastic, therefore we are capable of learning new things at any age, that we are capable of developing our abilities by making dedicated efforts. This is called the growth mindset (Dweck, 2017). To continue to nurture our interest in developing our knowledge and experiences we requires a flexible attitude and being willing to put the effort into learning new things.

So by maintaining a flexible attitude, an open mind, and reflecting on what is of value to us, we can maintain our motivation to learn. We need to maintain our energy level to sustain our efforts and to tolerate the frustration or disappointment when we don’t meet our expectations. The key is to continue to make consistent efforts so that we can make progress, and monitor that the tasks we do lead to achieving our goals.

Our internal perception of how we feel about a task can be influenced by our sense of self-efficacy. This refers to our belief in our abilities and our capacity to get things done (Bandura, 1997). As human beings were fundamentally curious, and it is curiosity that leads us wanting to explore new interests.

Another dimension that can influence our level of motivation is our perception of control: whether we can decide how to manage the task, and whether we have the resources to do it. If we notice that our efforts are producing the results we expect, and we notice progress, our motivation will increase. If the task is of value to us, and we can see that our efforts are making a difference, we are more likely to persevere until we complete the task. By doing deliberate practice, where we persevere with our efforts, practise each step to learn to develop our skills and in time learn to master a skill (Ericsson & Pool, 2016).

We are also motivated by social rewards, such as having a sense of belonging and having a sense of approval from others (Usher & Kober, 2012). Often we are distracted because we do not have confidence in our capacity to complete the task well enough, and our perception of how others may view our work can prevent us from exploring our potential, in case we may not do it well enough. Our self-judgement prevents us from persevering with the task. To manage these feelings it can be helpful to keep in mind that each person learns at their own pace, and rather than compare with others focus on your unique contribution.

So what can we do to increase motivation?

“If you are open, flexible and creative in trying out new approaches, you will develop into a more rounded personality and effective learner.” (Cottrell).

To increase your motivation and confidence focus on building your sense of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997). Think about what you want to achieve. What does doing well look like? How will you monitor your progress? Consider what you can do to improve your skills, what resources will you need, what experiences can help you to develop your strengths?

Keeping these questions in mind can enable you to shape your future. By reflecting and developing your self-awareness you will be more in tune with what your interests are, and what is important to you. Now is the time to plan and decide what goals you want to focus on. This will guide you to identify your priorities so that you can decide where you put your time and efforts. Be open to possibilities, and adopt a flexible attitude (Cottrell, 2015).

Consider the context in which you plan to study: perhaps you work better in the library, in a classroom, your room, or a different part of the house or flat. Identify your preferences and look for an environment that allows you to study. Then, plan your study time so that your mind and body get used to a routine. The routine will allow you to develop the habit of studying consistently, reducing the need to make decisions every time that require effort.

By repeating your routine it will allow you to increase the opportunities to work on your tasks, and this in turn will increase your motivation as you notice you are making progress. To deal with new tasks break them down into smaller steps and start with one task and if it does not appear to be interesting at first glance, search for something meaningful. If you find you are feeling stuck, explore what facotrs may be blocking your progress.

Developing self-awareness

When reflecting on the meaning of the task you can build your confidence in your ability to do that work. Think about what things you are interested in, what you’re curious about, as knowing what grabs your attention you can increase your efforts to work on a task. As you notice progress it is likely to increase your interest as you derive a sense of achievement.

It is normal to have a sense of doubt, particularly when learning new things, and to feel some uncertainty about how well we’re doing. We tend to be very subjective in our evaluation of our work as we aspire to do well. Keep in mind that when learning something new it takes time as we develop our understanding of the topic. We’re putting ourselves outside of our comfort zone so not knowing about the subject can challenge our confidence in our skills, or we may be unfamiliar with the strategies to complete the assignment (Molinsky, 2017).

Developing our understanding of our unique way of learning can enable us to improve our study strategies. By reflecting on what influences our mood and decisions to study we can identify when we work better and more effectively. By on our indunderstanding how we learn we can identify when we work better and more effectively.

How to get things done: Strategies to increase productivity

“Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity” (Seneca)

1.Be curious: identify the areas that draw your attention, what do you find interesting? How does it relate to what you know? How can you apply the knowledge?

2.Make a choice: Decide what task you’re going to focus on, break it down into smaller tasks. Plan study periods, you may already have a method of working, or perhaps you would like to try the pomodoro technique (https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique).

3.Set goals: make them very specific so that it is clear what you need to do. Visualise the steps to take, and identify a way of monitoring your progress.

4.Take breaks: to restore your energy, and prevent symptoms of stress, so that you can maintain your motivation and increase your concentration.

5.Manage thought patterns: notice negative thoughts, observe them without judgment. Be understanding or yourself as you would be of your best friend. You can use mindfulness techniques to notice the thoughts without attachment, instead, let them go by and practise bringing your attention back to the task again.

6.Maintain your energy level: maintain healthy habits, eating well, do some exercise, go outdoors, and establish a good sleep routine.

7.Develop an optimistic attitude: if you feel you have made a mistake, or things don’t work out the way you hoped, give some space for your feelings of disappointment or frustration, and then focus on what you can learn from it. Then, reframe the situation and consider what steps you can take next to make progress.

References:

Bandura, A/ (1997) Self-Efficacy. The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for success. Personal development and employability. (3rd Ed.) London: Palgrave, Macmillan Education.

Dweck, C. (2017) Mindset. Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential. Updated edition. New York: Ballantine Books.

Ericsson, A. & Pool, R. (2016) Peak. Secrets from the new science of expertise. London: The Bodley Head.

Molinsky, A. (2017) Reach. How to build confidence and step outside your comfort zone. Great Britain: Pengui Random House.

Pintrich, P. R. (2003) “ A motivational science perspective on the role of student motivation in learning and teaching contexts.” Journal of Educational Psychology, 95(4), pp 667-686.

Ryan, R.M., & Deci, E.L. (2000). “Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.” American Psychologist, 55, 68-78.

Usher, A., & Kober,, N. (2012) “What is motivation and why does it matter?” (pp 3-5). PDF download retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED532670.pdf

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under social connections

CREATING NEW RELATIONSHIPS AT UNIVERSITY

Making friends

When moving to a new place to go to university everything is likely to feel very different. This may be particularly noticeable if you just arrived from a different country. But the environment may not be what you notice the most, it is likely that your attention is on the people around you hoping to make new friends.

Now that you have been a few weeks at university, or perhaps you are returning after a period away from your studies, you may be wondering whether you can make friends with your flatmates or other students in your classes.

Perhaps you feel a little apprehensive at first contacting people you don’t know. You may wonder what you can talk about with them, or may find it difficult to keep the conversation going to find some common ground.

At times, it may feel as if others are getting on with their activities and you may feel a little as if on the outside. Rather than focusing on the difficulties, treat yourself with kindness as you would speak with those you care about (Kneff, 2011). Notice the self-judgments that are affecting your self-confidence, notice the feelings of uncertainty, and experiment anyway so that you can contact others an begin to make connections (Brown, 2010).

Establishing new relationships takes time, and while things are still new you may be missing your friends back home. And it is good to maintain contact with them to see what they are doing and share your experiences. However, it is also important to approach others, without comparing, so that you can begin to create new relationships.

How we communicate

Communications via smartphones or internet are easier now as they allow us to communicate with family and friends via Skype, Facetime or Whatsapp. Technology makes it possible to maintain relationships despite long distances and different time zones.

We can also write a text or comment online without having to engage in a long conversation. Increasingly, people seem to be relying more on sending a brief note adding emoticons to illustrate or convey an emotion. It is also possible to include pictures to share what we are doing so that it can feel as if we are creating a sense of closeness.

In addition, smartphones can show notifications to let us know when we have a message and allow us to respond instantly so that it can feel almost like having a conversation. In some cases this can bring people closer, although it can also lead to misinterpretations and become a source of tension when others do not respond promptly, or when it seems the communications are not including everyone. This may lead to having the feeling of not being included.

As most people tend to keep their phones in their pockets or bags it creates an expectation that a response should come almost instantly. And if they don’t respond soon, particularly when not knowing people very well it may lead to wondering whether they want to be in contact. The likelihood is that they may be busy, or perhaps do not have access to their network so they may have not received the message.

The challenge is that it is easy to get used to this form of communication so that when being face-to-face with others it may feel awkward to maintain a conversation. Often people sitting at a café or at a restaurant can be seen looking at their phones instead of talking to each other, preventing them from establishing a meaningful conversation.

Communicating via our digital devices can be very useful, and essential to keeping in touch with people far away, but it can also prevent having a sense of close connection with those around us. It can prevent interactions from feeling spontaneous and authentic. However, it all depends on how we use technology in our relationships. By becoming aware of how much we rely on our digital devices to keep in contact with people we can make efforts to increase the face-to-face time with them, to experience a sense of connection and allow relationships to grow.

Loneliness

It is human nature to need social connections and to seek meaning. People differ in their need for social contact – some may like more social contact than others, and this is normal. Everyone can feel at one time or another a bit lonely even if for a short while, particularly when moving to a new place as there hasn’t been time to establish social connections yet. Feeling lonely is a subjective experience which can feel a bit like having physical pain (Cacioppo & Patrick, 2008).

In fact, it is the physiological reaction that the body experiences to signal it needs social connections. Just like when we feel hungry we seek something to eat, or when we feel thirsty we reach for a glass of water. In the same manner, when feeling lonely it is a signal to reach out and connect with others around us. It is not a signal that something is wrong with us, instead, the feeling is indicating that we need to do something. Just like when feeling thirsty it is a signal to hydrate ourselves so is loneliness a signal to connect with other human beings.

Our brains are wired for us to collaborate with others. So we have developed the capacity to be aware of others because this helps us to identify whether others will cooperate and help us, or not (Cacioppo & Patrick, 2008). For some people this can turn into an ongoing preoccupation with how others view them, and increasing feelings of distress if they don’t feel others respond as they expect. Generally, when feeling low one can become more sensitive to the negative aspects of a social situation and miss the positive aspects that could help to lift the mood to reach out and make contact with others.

It might appear as if it is harder these days to make close friends, to feel connected and understood by others. The sense of feeling lonely may trigger apprehension making it more difficult to take the initiative to contact others. In order to cope with feelings people may tend to use negative coping mechanism such as alcohol, smoking, or withdrawing from social contact (Cacioppo & Patrick, 2008). This in turn may affect people’s health.

Experiencing feelings of loneliness might seem paradoxical given that social media allows us the opportunity to connect with others no matter where they are, and instant messaging allows us to have immediate responses giving a feeling of that people are closer. However, research indicates that despite the accessibility of digital connections high use of the internet may lead to feeling lonely, and to having a sense of unease in social situations (Turkel, 2011).

It is important too, to be aware that we all need some quiet time, where we can have the opportunity to reflect and recharge our batteries. Spending time alone does not mean that one is lonely. On the contrary, learning to be comfortable in our own company is necessary to focus on what matters to us, to understand ourselves and to regulate our emotions (Beer, 2008).

Yet, despite what appears to be the negative side of technology, we can take action by reframing the situation and changing our perspective. By raising our awareness of the potential drawbacks of digital communications and its potential to trigger feelings of loneliness, we can then focus on the benefits we can derive from using digital communications. By being proactive and taking the initiative to meet new people we can develop the skills and the confidence to discover new people we can be friends with.

What may get in the way of connecting with others

It may be that past experiences in school or college may trigger feeling sensitive to what others say or do. If our attention is on negative experiences we may tend to interpret aspects of current situations as confirmation that similar things continue to happen in the present.

The risk is that by focusing on the negative aspects, we may be personalising things that are not being meant in this way. Furthermore, in order to prevent potential negative experiences we may decide to withdraw and reduce contact with others. This reaction can exacerbate feelings of apprehension making it harder to try to make social contact, and it can further affect self-confidence (Leary, 2007).

It is helpful to keep in mind that it is normal to feel some unease when meeting new people, particularly when in a new environment where everything is different. Give yourself credit for your efforts to contact others even if you feel nervous and self-conscious. You can also keep in mind that generally most people are focused on what is going on in their world, and they are likely to want to meet new friends too.

If you notice that when you make efforts to socialise you find that you worry a lot and feel nervous, you can use some mindfulness techniques to relax your mind and give yourself some time to restore your energy (Kabat-Zinn, 2018). You can set yourself an activity, for example when you are next in a lecture and before the lesson begins, ask the person sitting next to you about the topic of the lecture, or find out what they are interested in.

Perhaps, when you go to the shop or cafeteria ask the student in front or behind in the queue what would they recommend. By focusing on day-to-day topics you can engage others in conversation and this can lead to further topics. Practising taking the initiative to speak with others on a daily basis will gradually turn into a familiar activity, while at the same time it will increase your self-confidence.

Taking the first step

“We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone…and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.” (Sandra Day O’Coonor)

We are social beings and we want to be part of a group. We want to feel accepted and to have a sense of belonging (Fiske, 2010). When we feel we can relate to others we feel better as we can participate in activities and have fun. We also need to have contact with others who we can trust to share our experiences.

If at first it feels as if the social contacts are not as close as those relationships you have with your friends back home, it is understandable. Your relationship with your friends back home have developed over years giving you the opportunity to get to know them, and they got to know you.

It is best not to compare your new relationships with your long-term friends as you are beginning to get to know them. It will take time to develop a sense of ease with the new people you are meeting.These are normal feelings when beginning to establish social connections.

One thing to consider is that we all have different temperaments, some people tend to be very outgoing and others are more reserved. This does not mean that those who are quieter do not want to socialise, instead, they generally are more comfortable in conversations within a small group. When getting to know new people it is helpful to identify their preferences, and that you express your preferences. You will eventually find people you feel comfortable with and by nurturing the relationships they will gradually grow. In some cases, you may realise that you have more in common with a few people and these are the relationships that you choose to nurture.

In any social group there will be a variety of ways of relating to others. Some people seem to naturally become popular as they are more outgoing and can engage others in conversation with ease. It may appear that they are the ones who have more friends. Sometimes, when socialising it can feel as if going against the majority could be problematic, possible wanting to prevent the possibility of criticism or feeling left out.

As social beings it is important to us to feel accepted by our peers, so that if you notice that others seem to be getting on with each other and your point of view is not considered, it is understandable that you may feel distressed and worried. If this is the case, acknowledge your feelings and reflect on what is important to you. Sometimes, the issue may be something that is not a priority for you so can let it go by. However, when you feel it is important you can express your point of view respectfully, and agree to disagree. It may feel uncomfortable at first, although with positive communications you can clarify differences and find common ground (Pristein, 2018).

At first, you may notice that although you have met a few people it still feels uncertain, and you may have a sense that it is too early to tell whether they will become friends. Perhaps you may be feeling a bit disappointed that things are not working out as you hoped.

At times, it may feel rather awkward if you perceive that others seem to be doing more interesting things and appear to be having a good time. In these situations it can be helpful to remember that what you are observing on social media for example is not necessarily a reflection of how things actually are for them, or how they feel. In addition, when feeling shy or nervous it is more likely that you may perceive that others socialise more easily.

Experiment with focusing on the future possibilities of meeting new people. Even if you feel uncomfortable focus on the fact that everyone wants to establish meaningful social connections. Take the initiative to contact others anyway maintaining the view that others are likely to want to make new friends too. As you practise notice how gradually it becomes less challenging, and with the added bonus of getting to know more people who can become friends.

References

Beer, J. (2008) “The importance of emotion-social cognition interactions for social functioning. Insights from the orbitofrontal cortex.” In Social Neuroscience. Integrating biological and psychological explanations of social behaviour. Eds. Harmon-Jones, E. & Winkielman, P. Chapter 2, pp30.

Brown, B. (2010) The gifts of imperfection. Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are. Minnesota: Hazelden.

Cacioppo, J. & Patrick, J. C. W. (2008). Loneliness. Human nature and the need for social connection. New York: W.W.Norton & Company.

Fiske, S. (2010) “Social cognition: Making sense of others.” In Social Beings. Core motives in social psychology. (2^nd Ed). Chapter 4, pp127-175. USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Hari, J. (2018) Lost connections. Uncovering the real causes of depression – and the unexpected solutions. London: Bloomsbury.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2018) Meditation Is not what you think. Mindfulness and why it is so important. London: Piatkus.

Kneff, K. (2011) Self-compassion. TGhe proven power of being kind to yourself. New York: Harper Collins.

Leary, M. (2007) “The sociometer, self-esteem, and the regulation of interpersonal behaviour. In Handbook of self-Regulation. Research, Theory and Applications. Ed. Baumeister, R.F. & Vohs. Chapter 19. pp.391.

Prinstein, M. (2018) The popularity illusion. Why status is toxic but likeability wins all. London: Vermillion

Turkel, S. (2011) “Alone Together”. Why we expect more from technology and less from each other. New York: Basic Books.

Settling into university life

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under Managing transitions

To all new students welcome to the University of Reading, and welcome back to all of you who are returning to continue with your studies. Well done for your efforts and achievements to get to this point. And to those who took resits, well done too for your efforts to make progress.

Those of you who are about to start a new course this may be the first time that you are away from home and living independently. Some of you may be coming to university as a break from work to improve your career opportunities and are looking forward to learning about your chosen subject. At the same time, it may feel a bit strange to be a student again. And some of you may have travelled a long distance from your home country to come to study in the UK.

Whether you have travelled a long distance or have come from a nearby area, there will be many changes that you will experience as you start your new life here at Reading. And for those of you who are continuing with your studies starting a new academic year will also bring some changes that will require some time to adjust to.

A new beginning
Any new beginning is a time of many changes. Whatever the environment and activities you were involved in before now you will notice many differences as you begin a new chapter in your academic and personal life.

Whenever we decide to do something new it is because we want to grow, develop and make things better. We want to make progress so that we can gain knowledge and experience by seeing, doing and learning new things.

Starting a new life at university will bring many new experiences that will be interesting and motivating. However, sometimes you may have moments of uncertainty, frustration or perhaps disappointment. Most people going through a period of change are likely to experience some of these feelings, particularly when they have invested a lot of resources, and made great efforts hoping for greater opportunities for the future.

Most of you probably made the decision to come to Reading to study something that you hope will be stimulating, and that will include developing the skills and knowledge for your future professional career. Furthermore, when in a new place all hope to make new friends and establish relationships where it is possible to feel comfortable to talk and share experiences.

Often in new situations there are some things that we do not like so much, if this is the case consider that these too are part of the experience. Imagine that these events will become your stories that made a difference to you and that you can share with others in the future.

Developing relationships
The first few weeks at university are likely to fill you with a sense of curiosity, interest and excitement. Making a transition into a new situation can be an experience that triggers a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, in your previous environment you knew the people around you and had established relationships with them. Now it is necessary to take the initiative to meet new people who at first you do not know whether you can relate to and develop a friendship.

In the beginning you are likely to notice differences and perhaps may compare with what you are familiar. At first it may feel awkward and uncomfortable, and this may be a bit unsettling. Keep in mind that these feelings are normal when going through a period of change. After a few days, as you get to know more and you begin to find your way around in your new environment, you will gradually notice that things begin to feel more familiar and that you are getting to know other students who you can relate to.

In addition, when being away from home you also have to establish a new way of relating with your families and friends who now cannot participate in your new life. Fortunately, technology enables communications so that you can keep in contact with them to share what is happening and how things are developing for you.

Managing transitions
Transitions begin with endings. Whenever we make a change it means we leave something behind. Sometimes we may miss what we left, such as family, a group of friends, a familiar environment, and a sense of feeling confident about how to do things as we were used to the way things were done in school, or at work.

Whenever we move to live in a different environment there is a natural process of reorientation. This is when we have to adapt to a new situation where a lot of things are very different to what we have been used to. During this process we also go through an internal process of adaptation where we reorient how we see ourselves, and how we relate to others.

For some, starting university can be an opportunity to make a new start and make changes that will allow them to feel better. This could be due to having had a difficult experience either in their personal life or perhaps after a period of illness. Some may be learning to live with a chronic health condition, and others may be adjusting to living with a complex family situation.

In order to adjust to the new situation it helps to trust your experience of how you adapted to other situations before, and focus on the present where you will find new and interesting opportunities and discover your strengths and build your resilience.

As human beings we have the tendency to compare the new situation with our past experiences, sometimes we feel where we came from was better than the current situation. At times we may feel that the new people we meet are not like our friends and family back home, who we know for a long a time and who understand us without having to give explanations.

Sometimes we may experience doubt and worry about what would be best so it can be difficult to make decisions. If things do not work out at first how you hoped they would it does not mean that you made the wrong decision. For example, if you feel disappointed that the module is not what you expected, or that your accommodation is not quite what you hoped for. Instead, you can look for some aspect of the situation that can provide you with useful information and decide what you can do to make things better next time.

Transitions are times of renewal and they provide us with the opportunity to make changes that bring us positive feelings and experiences. We are motivated to improve and to have a sense of achievement. We feel good when we can have a sense of satisfaction for having done something that is meaningful.
Each day look for what was good about your day, and what you learned. If there were some disappointing or frustrating experiences decide what you can learn from the experience, and what you may do different next time.

Things to do to manage the transition and adjust to your new environment:

1.Develop healthy routines:
Starting a new life at university will bring a lot of changes, both in terms of different ways of doing things, new information to take in and adjusting to relating to new people. It will also bring a lot of internal changes in terms of how you feel about your choices, your feelings and how you see yourself. Your whole body will be experiencing changes, from noticing the difference in food, how people do things around you, or how the bed is different from the one you have been used to. A change of environment can have an impact on how our body reacts, for example, it may take a bit of time to adjust your sleep pattern.

During transitions it t is important to maintain our energy level as we need it to process information and manage our emotions. To maintain your energy it is essential to develop healthy routines such as eating well to nurture your body, exercise to strengthen your fitness, and sleep well to maintain an optimum level of energy. This is fundamental to feel well and confident as you go about your day.

2. Communicating in a second language:
As you are absorbing significant amounts of new information your brain is working hard to process all of it so that you can use it in your day-to-day. For those who are coming from other countries you will be working hard as you are getting used to doing all of this in a second language, and it will require time to build language proficiency and confidence in your skills.

Even though you might feel self-conscious speaking in English focus on practising the language as much as you can. Instead of trying to speak the language without errors, keep in mind that what matters is to communicate with others. If you do not understand something do ask others to repeat, and others will be understanding as they also want to communicate with you. After a while you will build your confidence and will gradually become more fluent.

2.Focus on learning:
You will experience many new things during this academic year, particularly in the first few weeks when you are adjusting to being in a new place. If you experience something very different to what you were expecting, or something doesn’t work out as you hoped for, it is likely that you may feel disappointed or worried. Give yourself a bit of time to acknowledged these feelings. Then, look for new information and what you can learn from it.

3. Adjusting to academic workload:
At first, you may notice that you are not sure what is expected, and may feel that the workload is greater than you were used to before. If so, pause for a moment and give yourself time to learn new strategies to manage your studies. Give yourself time to adjust and to find out what works best for you.

You can contact your Tutors and ask for advice. You can check the Study Advice website where you will find useful information on study techniques, and more. You can also arrange a visit to ask questions which will enable you to make good progress with your assignments.

4. Understanding homesickness:
When starting in a new place the first few days and sometimes the first few weeks can be unsettling. You may feel that although you want to go out and participate in the activities you may not feel too keen to be in a large group, or be in a situation where you do not know anyone. Although this can bring a mixture of emotions that prevent you from enjoying your time, give yourself permission to feel upset and unsettled. These feelings are not a sign that you have made the wrong decision to come to university, or that you cannot manage. It just means that you are going through a transition and that your body needs a bit of time to adjust to the new environment, and to the new people around you.

When feeling homesick there is a tendency to feel as if you are the only one experiencing these feelings. However, many students have gone through the challenges of settling into university life and have found ways to get through these times.

To manage this period you can remind yourself of the transition periods you have gone through before (eg.from primary school to secondary school), and that after a while you gradually got used to the new situation. Think about what things you like doing, perhaps you can invite another student in your flat to go out and explore the campus or you can go into town and explore your new environment.

2.Focus on the new opportunities:
You may already have explored the university website to find out what activities are available that you can explore, and where you can meet other students who are also looking to meet new people and make friends. You can check RUSU – the Students Union website, or go to their offices on Whiteknights campus to find out about what activities and services they offer.

During Welcome Week you will receive information from your department about your course, and you will have the opportunity to meet staff. You can also find out about a variety of services available to support students such as your support centre administrators.

If you wonder which of the activities available will be something you may like, but feel uncertain about trying them out, you can ask for more information to see if you want to participate in them. Perhaps you may feel that it is difficult to decide what to do first, or perhaps you may wonder how to decide which activities are worth going to as you would like to make the most of your time. As there are so many things available it is likely that you might feel uncertain about what would be best to do and not miss out on anything. Even if you do not get to see and do what you would to keep in mind that there will be many opportunities to explore new activities during the academic year.

Adapting to new situations involves taking risks, so if the activity was not what you expected, for example, if the evening out was not as enjoyable as you hoped it would be give yourself credit for having tried it. It was not a mistake as you did not know how it would turn out. You can try another activity next time and this way you give yourself the opportunity to meet new people.

Whenever we try something new we are stretching ourselves and going out of our comfort zone. This can make us feel uncomfortable, but we do this because we want to meet people and have good experiences. After a while the sense of unease decreases and a you will develop a sense of familiarity and confidence.

Learning to tolerate frustration and disappointment will enable you to move forward, and by keeping an open mind, maintaining a flexible attitude and a sense of curiosity you will be able to identify new opportunities. What is important is that you explore and that you eventually find what works for you.

Wishing you a stimulating time and that you have rewarding experiences during the year that you are now beginning.

Reference:

Bridges, W. (2004) Transitions. Making sense of life´s changes. Massachusetts: Da Capo Press.

Preparing for exams

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under Preparing for exams

Strategies to revise for resits

You may be preparing for one or more exams in the next few weeks. Perhaps you are feeling frustrated that you have to spend part of your summer holiday revising for resits instead of taking a break from academic work.

It can be difficult to concentrate on your studies when comparing with others who are not taking exams this summer. You may also be concerned about how things will turn out for you, and whether you will pass your modules to continue on to the next academic year. It is understandable that you may have these thoughts and feelings, particularly if you feel you worked hard during the year. Unfortunately, sometimes things do not work out as we hoped despite our efforts, and as a result you may be wondering what you can do differently to improve your results.

In order to manage your frustration, and save your energy for your revision, give yourself credit for your decision to take the exams again. You are giving yourself the opportunity to improve and make progress in your studies.

Perhaps your mind is focused on the hard work involved, or on the disappointment you may be feeling as you think about the things you are missing out on. Instead, redirect your attention and focus on your decision to prioritise your studies as these are important to you. By persevering with your efforts you will move closer to your goals.

“Every minute is a chance to turn it all around.” (Cameron Crowe)

So what can you do to maintain your motivation, and increase your capacity to remember the material?

1. View mistakes as a learning opportunity
It may have been frustrating to realise that you got some answers wrong during the summer exam period. Change your perspective and see these errors as providing you with information that you can use to learn and make improvements.

2. Review your study process
Look back on how you revised for your previous exams, and reflect on what you did or didn’t do well. What do you think you could different this time? Perhaps when you went over your notes you had a sense that you knew the material, and it was a surprise when in the exam you could not remember the information?

Research indicates that when studying by reading notes repeatedly it can give a sense of familiarity with the material. This can give a false sense of confidence that we know enough and believe we will remember it later. Instead, it is recommended to use questions to test ourselves on what we have read (Arnold & McDermott 2013).

When revising write out questions about the material, then close your books and ask yourself the questions to practice recalling the content. It is also recommended to space the study periods so that the material can be consolidated making it easier to recall when required (Soderstrom, Kerr, Bjork, 2016). The practice of recalling content requires effort, making us work harder to retrieve the information (Willingham, 2009). The more you use this technique the more your brain will get used to making connections, strengthening them, and with practice it will get easier to access the material you have learned.

3. Create an environment where you can study
To study effectively we need a space that is not cluttered, and one that you can associate with studying. Dedicate a space where you can focus on your revision. Check that you have a comfortable chair, good light and that you have the necessary materials to get on with your revision.

If you know that you get easily distracted by the notifications on your phone put it on silent, and leave it in a drawer where you cannot see it, nor hear the notifications. You can retrieve it during your breaks, and use it as a reward: it will be motivating to check your messages and keep in touch with others.

If you are tempted to check social media or the internet on your laptop or tablet, set your devices aside for a set period of time.You can experiment with making notes on paper for a while, to allow you to continue learning without being
distracted. Perhaps it is difficult to eliminate all distractions; however, aim to reduce the sources that could prevent you from concentrating on your task and delay your progress.

4. Create a daily routine
In order to be able to study effectively, it is important to have some structure to manage your energy level and your time so that you can concentrate and maintain your strength to persevere with your efforts. Identify a pattern that works for you.

Having a routine can help you to get into the habit of studying, and it can reduce the sense of pressure related to preparing for exams.It can also reduce the amount of effort and energy required to get started as your brain can rely on your routine to prompt you to continue studying. Develop a timetable to structure your time.

You may want to experiment with the Pomodoro technique where the aim is to structure revision by using slots of time (about 25 min) for revision, and a break (5 min). You can repeat the cycle a few times, allowing for a longer break after two or three short revision sessions. This technique can be motivating as at the end of the day you can count how many slots of 25 min you have done.

Creating a routine that becomes predictable can help to create a habit that you can rely on. This is how you can strengthen your willpower to persevere with your goals, and develop intrinsic motivation to enable you to get things done (McGonigal, 2015). When we notice progress it is motivating and can lead to having a sense of achievement. This in turn, can build your confidence in your ability to get things done.

5. Focus on learning
Research indicates that by adopting a “growth mindset” (Dweck, 2010), we can increase our mental agility. The emphasis is on having the belief that we are capable of developing our knowledge and skills. This means that by maintaining a flexible attitude, were our mistakes are viewed as part of the learning process and we expand our learning capacity.

Our experiences shape how we learn.The more we focus on the learning aspects of our experiences (even if they are frustrating and difficult), the stronger the connections in our brain to consolidate the material we are learning (Soderstrom, Kerr, and Bjork, 2016).

As we notice we are making progress it can boost our confidence in our capacity to learn, improve our mood, and motivate us to persevere with our efforts to keep going.

6. Keep your priorities in mind
When making decisions about what to do during the day, keep in mind what is most important to you. This will enable you to choose what activities you will prioritise. You can dedicate time to study periods where you focus on your revision, and plan separate slots for any other activities that you are interested in doing.

Planning ahead will help to prevent feeling as if you are missing out on things, while protecting your study time. Planning, a useful study technique, will have the added benefit of increasing your concentration and motivation because it helps to manage your energy more effectively, and reduces tension. In addition, it allows you to let your friends and family know when you are going to dedicate your time to prepare for your exams.

7. Managing emotions
When preparing for exams it is normal to experience a fluctuation of your emotions. It may be difficult to focus on your revision when your mind is interrupted with negative thoughts. Perhaps you find that thoughts about what went wrong during the last exams/academic year are distracting and reducing your motivation to keep going with your revision. It could be that your mood fluctuates when you find yourself having worry thoughts, or when you are feeling tired, which can lead to low mood. Or, perhaps you are feeling frustrated when you notice that it is difficult to remember the material you are revising. This can trigger symptoms of stress which can affect your ability to concentrate on your revision.

The worry thoughts, and the symptoms of stress can be unsettling. It can have an impact on your confidence to learn the material in the time available to get through the exams. When these thoughts and feelings occur acknowledge them without believing them, and without judging yourself for having them. Instead, ask yourself “is this thought helpful?”. By practising this technique regularly you can create a habit of catching these thoughts, and learn to reduce their intensity.

So, even if you are affected by these thoughts you will have the capacity to restore balance sooner.In order to restore stability notice the triggers and your reactions to them, then pause and take time to just observe them and let the thoughts go by.

Take a few minutes to acknowledge your feelings and breathe slowly to relax your body. This is a powerful technique to restore your internal balance. You can practice some mindfulness exercises, or you can go outdoors and walk. It is essential to exercise, move and stretch, to release the tension in the body. Then, bring your attention back to the present moment and focus on what step you can take next to make progress on your revision.

Identify one task that you can do, and then move on to the next one. You may feel that you do not have time to follow this process as you are concerned that you have too much material to get through.

Although you may have a sense of urgency, trying to rush your revision is more likely to increase tension. Instead, remind yourself that you are doing what you can each day. The more you focus on each step you are taking, as you notice the progress you are making it will strengthen your confidence. This in turn, will allow you to maintain your ability to concentrate on your material.

Each step you take counts towards moving in the direction you want to go. By repeating this process each time your thoughts and feelings interrupt your concentration, you will increase your capacity to deal with these challenges.

8. Manage stress
When preparing for exams the anticipation of these can produce a significant degree of tension, particularly when feeling that the results are key to being able to pass the module/course. Although this can be challenging, the symptoms of stress are not an indication that you will not do well.

Instead, view them as your mind and body are preparing to manage the challenge effectively. To maintain your health and energy levels it is essential to have a healthy routine that includes doing some exercise such as walking. It is also essential to eat healthy foods as these provide the energy to your body and mind.

9. Optimism boosts learning
An optimistic attitude enables us to identify our strengths, increase our confidence in our ability to manage challenges, and boost our motivation to persevere with our efforts (Seligman, 1998).

It may be challenging to maintain an optimistic attitude when you feel the material is difficult, or you worry about taking exams. This can be particularly challenging if you have had negative experiences of taking exams in the past. You may be anticipating a repeat of the same situation (eg. not remembering the material, feeling tense, anticipating failure). The image of these possible future negative scenarios are understandable.

To learn to develop a more optimistic outlook you can reframe the situation and although these thoughts may be present, focus instead on your efforts to make progress. Even if you find these thoughts interrupt you, remind yourself that they are not evidence that you will not do well. Take a moment to acknowledge these thoughts, and view them as noise that can be tolerated.

It is best not to make efforts to stop them from happening. Instead, just acknowledge they are there and without self-criticism. By simply noticing them, it will gradually reduce their intensity. Then, redirect your attention to a task that you can focus on in the moment. Ask yourself “what one step can I take right now to make progress?”

By focusing on taking action it will help to reduce the tension you may be experiencing (Wilson, 2011). Also, keep in mind that you are taking a different approach this time, and remind yourself that you are giving yourself the opportunity to improve your knowledge of the material.

10. Maintain a support network
We are social beings so it is beneficial for our health and sense of wellbeing to maintain contact with others. It is important to create space to spend time with family and friends and joining in activities even if only for a short while. If you are away from home you can arrange time to connect with them. One of the benefits of the digital age is that there are a number of ways to reach family and friends across the world.

11. Be your best friend
When we support our friends we normally are very understanding, and tend to be encouraging so they can feel understood. When we feel frustrated, or perceive we have made mistakes, it can trigger self-criticism: negative thoughts about ourselves that can increase tension and reduce our confidence.

When we are dealing with challenges having self-doubt is part of the process to manage them. We may feel unsettled, and worry about the future.When learning new things it is normal to have doubts, as the material is new and we are finding our way. This extends to any new situation where we are not sure about how things will turn out. It indicates that what we are doing is important to us.

Feeling unsure is part of the range of feelings we can experience when facing new challenges, and as we persevere with our efforts we build our strength (Brown, 2010). When you notice thoughts that are self-critical, pause and notice them. Ask yourself “would I say this to my best friend?”. It is very unlikely that you would do this. Instead, the most likely reaction would be that you want to be a good friend and helpful so you probably are likely to say things like “it is frustrating that it did not work out“, or “sorry that you are having a difficult time“, and then you may say “what can I do to help?”, or “what would be helpful now?”, “is there something I can do?”.

So when you notice the self-criticism appear, treat yourself as if you were your best friend: with kindness and self-compassion. When we feel understood and our efforts are acknowledge the tension reduces and we are more able to manage challenges (Neff, 2011).

References:
Arnold, K. M., McDermott, K. B. (2013). “Test-potentiated learning: Distinguishing between direct and indirect effects of tests.” Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 39, 940–945

Brown, B. (2010) The gifts of imperfection. Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and embrace who you are. Minnesota: Hazelden.

Dweck, C. (2008) Mindset. How you can fulfil your potential. New York: Ballantine Books.

Kneff, K. (2011) Self-compassion. stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind. New York: Harper Collins books.

McGonigal, K. (2015) The upside of stress: why stress is good for you (and how to get good at it). London: Vermilion.

Seligman, M. (1998) Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Soderstrom, N.C., Kerr, T.K, and Bjork, R. A. (2016) “The critical importance of retrieval – spacing – for learning.”
In Psychological Science, Vol 27, issue 2, pages 223-230.

Willingham, D. (2009) “What will improve student’s memory?” in American Educator, Winter 2008-9.

Wilson, T. (2011) Redirect. The surprising new science of psychological change. London: Penguin Books.

When things don’t work out as you hoped: Managing fear of failure. Part 1.

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under Mistakes and failure

Sometimes, despite our continued efforts, we do not achieve the results we want. We may see this as failure.

“One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures. Instead, they need to keep the bigger picture in mind.”
(J.C.Maxwell)

Mistakes happen, and any one of us can make them. When we make mistakes, or when things go wrong we can feel disappointed, frustrated, upset, or experience a mix of emotions. At first it may be difficult to look beyond the mistake so we tend to focus on what went wrong and overlook the wider context. Having a wider perspective on the situation can allow us to find alternative ways of solving the problem, so that we can eventually achieve our goals.

Generally, people view failure as an unwanted obstacle – as something to be avoided. Fear of failure manifests in intense worry about not achieving – “what if I don’t get the grades I need to pass?”, “what if I fail the course?”, “what if I don’t get an interview/a job?”. And the likely thoughts and feelings we associate with these possible scenarios: “How embarrassing”, “What will others think of me?”, “what if I cannot do it?” and other thoughts and feelings that can bring our mood down.

Often, it is not failure in itself that worries us, but the feeling that we may disappoint those that we care about, and perhaps feeling that something is wrong with us which can lead to feeling shame and embarrassment (Tsaousides, 2015).

Whenever we do something new there is a risk of failing. The capacity to make mistakes is part of our human condition – it is how we learn and grow. It is thanks to the errors we make that we can adjust our knowledge and behaviour to make progress. Learning happens when we take the time to reflect on our actions and experiences. (Schultz, 2010).

“Failure just means that things are not going the way you expect them to go
and you need to remain flexible to get back on track.” (Mlodinov, 2018)

In sports, for example, making mistakes and failure to achieve are part of the athletes’ training to improve their performance. Each time that their efforts do not work out as they hoped they review what happened, identify what they need to change, and then they practice again. Each time they make adjustments that help them improve their skills. This is deliberate practice: persevering with efforts, learning by doing, adjusting each time, practising, correcting, and practising again. This approach to training contributes to the development of skills and improving performance. The repeated practise, while monitoring progress and making adjustments to improve, allows them to develop their expertise. The same approach is used in learning to play music or any other activity that requires mastering skills.

Why making mistakes, or failing, can be so difficult?

One factor that exacerbates our difficulty in dealing with mistakes is self-criticism. This is when we ruminate about our errors and criticise ourselves for failing to meet the standards we expect of ourselves. The repeated negative thoughts can cause high levels of stress, and can lead to further frustration and low mood. It is likely to develop as a vicious circle of negative thoughts, which in turn can fuel negative feelings that can reduce our confidence and prevent us from taking action .

The way we use language when we criticise ourselves can have a very negative influence on our confidence, and our self-esteem.The continued negative self-talk can become a regular pattern that can interfere with our productivity. It can also have an impact in our body as it can stimulate an inflammatory response that can lead to developing illnesses (Davidson, 2012).

Stress is a significant factor that can affect our health, our performance and our ability to manage difficult situations. Often we need to make important decisions under pressure, and when this occurs our brain tends to focus on the negative aspects when weighing up information (Sharot, 2011).

What can you do to manage these feelings?

Develop your sense of self-efficacy:

Self-efficacy is the belief in our ability to manage difficult situations, and that we can tap into our personal resources to find a way to achieve our goals. By strengthening your confidence in your ability to manage challenges you will build your capacity to respond more effectively (Bandura, 1977). This may include reaching out to others you trust for guidance and support, and who may offer a different perspective on the situation. By gathering information you can build your resource and your motivation to take action, so you can make the necessary changes to complete your task.

By increasing your confidence in your capacity to manage situations it will strengthen your resilience. The more you can trust yourself to be able to cope when mistakes happen, that you can deal with the possible negative consequences, the more you can tolerate frustration and disappointment. It is important to acknowledge our feelings so that we can understand what is important to us. Give space to your emotions, and without judgment. They indicate that something of value is at stake. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention, while being understanding of ourselves, to be able to find out what to do to improve things (Neff, 2011).

Redefine the meaning of failure:

What does the word failure mean to you? How do you define it? Perhaps as never being able to do things well? Or not trusting yourself to achieve results? Does it prevent you from taking action, or pursuing your goals? How we define failure makes a difference to how we react to events. Often it is not so much the mistake itself, but the consequences that it may lead to that we are afraid of.

In order to respond to failure in a constructive manner you can adopt a scientific approach, where experimentation through trial and error is an essential part of the process to find out about what works and what doesn’t. Mistakes are viewed as an integral part of learning. So as long as you continue to make efforts to learn, view mistakes as something that can happen as part of the learning process.

By reviewing the steps you took, and identifying where things went wrong, you can discover new information that you can use to make adjustments that will enable you to make progress with your tasks. By incorporating what you have discovered to your understanding of the task you can increase your knowledge, so that next time you can do something different to achieve your goals.

References:

Bandura, A. (1997) Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H.Freeman & Company.

Ben-Shahar, T. (2009) The Pursuit of Perfect. How to stop chasing perfection and start living a richer, happier life. USA: McGraw-Hill.

Davidson, R. & McEwen, B. (2012) “Social influences on neuro-plasticity: stress and interventions to promote wellbeing.” Nature Neuroscience, 15.5

Dweck, C.S. (2006) Mindset. How you can fulfil your potential. New York: Ballantine Books.

Maxwell, J.C. (2000) Failing Forward. Turning mistakes into stepping stones for success. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Mlodinov, L. (2018) Elastic. Flexible thinking in a constantly changing world. London: Allen Lane.

Neff, K. (2011) Self-Compassion. Stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind. New York: HarperCollins Publisher.

Seligman, M. (1998) Learned Optimism. How to change your mind and your life. New York: Pocket Books.

Sharot, T. (2012) The Optimism Bias. Why we’re wired to look on the bright side. London: Pantheon Books.

Schultz,, K. (2010) Being Wrong. Adventures in the margins of error. London: Portobello Books, Ltd.

Tsaousides, T. (2015) Brainblocks. Overcoming the 7 hidden barriers to success. New York: Prentice Hall Press.

When things don’t work out how you hoped: Managing fear of failure. Part 2.

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Student Success and Engagement Team under Mistakes and failure

In part 1 we looked at making mistakes and the meaning of failure. In this section we will focus on what you can do to manage situations where things don’t work out how you hoped.

“Focus on the possibility of change, to get unstuck and make progress. When you doubt
your abilities focus on the belief that you can manage the situation. It is OK not to be
perfect.”
(Mlodinov, 2018)

How to manage fear of failure and find ways to get on with tasks?

Review and manage expectations of Perfectionism:

Perfectionism triggers further tension as it creates unrealistic expectations, which if not achieved exactly can cause significant distress. The associated negative thinking that comes with unrealistic expectations undermines our hope, and changes our behaviour – we are less likely to make efforts to persevere with our tasks (Ben-Sahar, 2009).

By not giving up when things get difficult, as you face the challenge you give yourself the opportunity to explore ideas and develop your strengths. In fact, this is the point where learning occurs. It is when we have to work at understanding the problem, and by thinking differently that we may see alternative ways of working out a solution.

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare,
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.”
(Seneca)

Failure is a process. For example, not getting the grade you wanted in an exam, or not receiving an invitation to go for an interview does not mean there is no option ever again. Instead, review the process you followed, the various steps you took in your revision, or in your preparation for the job applications.

At times, it may be that you missed information, or that you needed to correct a step taken when working on the task. By reflecting on the actions you took, you can identify what needs to be adjusted so that you can deal with the obstacles that prevented you from achieving your goals. Then, make another attempt where you apply the learning from your experience.

“The way you frame the problem has a profound influence on the results of your analysis””
(Mlodinov, 2018)

The way you think about the situation affects the actions you take, and your beliefs about what you can achieve. By viewing mistakes as stepping stones, that can lead to where you want to get to, can help to overcome the feeling of being stuck. This way you can change the perception that the situation is too difficult, which can leave you feeling frustrated and disappointed.

Instead, when setting goals expect a good result, but don’t get attached to the outcome. This creates tension and limits the capacity to be creative, which in turn limits the possibility of finding alternative solutions to the problem or task we are working on.

Develop an optimistic attitude:

Seligman (1998), defines optimism and pessimism as explanatory styles: the way that we think about setbacks and when things go well. Optimism is when we believe that a) a mistake or failure is temporary, b) that we can change it and it is only this one situation, and c) that we can do something about it. Pessimism on the other hand, focuses on viewing mistakes a) as permanent, b) that we cannot do anything about it, c) that it will last forever and that it will undermine everything that we do.

To support the development of an optimistic attitude, it is essential to develop a growth mindset -this means having a flexible perspective that allows us to continue to learn and develop our abilities so that we can reach our potential (Dweck, 2006). Whereas a fixed mindset is when we think our abilities cannot change, and that we are not able to learn or develop further. This attitude prevents us from learning from our mistakes, and can hold us back from taking action, preventing us from making progress. Instead, when we adopt a growth mindset it allows us to work through difficulties to get things done.

It’s all in how you look at it. If you have a fixed view of how things should be you may be disappointed, and frustrated when things don’t work out as you expect them to. On the other hand, adopting a flexible attitude where you consider other options, you put things in perspective, can help to reduce the tension and worry about your ability to achieve goals.

“Tell yourself: “I’m not a failure. I failed at doing something. There is a difference”
(J.C.Maxwell, 2000).

The rate of change is increasing due to advances in technology, and it is having an impact on our ways of working. We need to develop our ability to manage change while maintaining our energy and our health to be productive, and live a meaningful life. Every day we are likely to face situations that we would not have faced ten or even five years ago. To cope with the changes we need to adapt, and to do this we need to change the way we think. This includes how we view mistakes, and how we view ourselves when these happen.

It is essential to learn to become less uncomfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty, and contradictions. We need to develop what Mlodinov (2018) calls elastic thinking, referring to the capacity to let go of the need for certainty, to challenge our ingrained assumptions, be willing to experiment and tolerate failure. By learning to use our imagination, creativity as well as our logical mind, we can learn to solve problems creatively and effectively.

“To raise new questions, a new possibility, to regard old problems from a new angle,
requires creative imagination.”
(Albert Einstein)

Tips to build your strength to cope with mistakes, and turn them into learning opportunities:

1.Develop elastic thinking: Adopt a broad perspective, and a flexible attitude. When dealing with adverse situations experiment looking for alternative ways in which you can interpret the event. Aim to understand what went wrong, with a view to find out what you can do different next time. By developing openness and flexibility we can expand our creativity to finding solutions that can help us to manage our tasks, or deal with problems.

2.Become your best friend: we like to be kind and understanding with our friends, we give them the benefit of the doubt and encourage them to keep going. Do the same thing for yourself, be understanding and give yourself the opportunity to learn from the mistake so that you can improve. For example, if in an exam the result was not what you hoped for, consider what happened to understand what you can do different next time. Perhaps the module/topic was more difficult, or there was more material to revise and required more time than you anticipated.

3.Reflect on your experience: by taking time to review the task and what you have done it can help to identify what went wrong to correct and make adjustments. Acknowledge your feelings, without self-criticism, and give yourself some time to recover from the difficulties you are facing.

4.Focus on the process leading up to the mistake: look at each step you took, what can you do differently? Do you need more information? More time? Who can you contact? What can you do differently? And apply your learning next time.

5.Manage stress: identify the triggers that caused you tension, and prevented you from focusing on your tasks effectively. You can do breathing exercises and use mindfulness techniques to relax your muscles and clear your mind. Do some exercise, go for a walk outdoors to absorb natural light and enjoy the green spaces around campus/home/other. You may also feel you want to talk with your house/flatmates, family and friends.

6.Develop an optimistic attitude: although it may be difficult to accept a result you were not expecting, adopt the view that this was a temporary setback, something you can work on and improve next time. Focus on building your confidence by learning to manage worry thoughts, and strengthening your belief in your ability to manage challenges.

In addition, by practising tolerating frustration and disappointment you can build your capacity to respond proactively in challenging situations, rather than delaying taking action which can lead to procrastination and feeling stuck.

7.Keep expectations realistic, and maintain an open mind: while aspiring to high standards, do not make these a “must”. That is, that the result or outcome you hope for has to be achieved or it would be a failure. Instead, use your standards as a direction to guide your actions, and that it keeps you on track. It could be that the outcomes are different to what you expected. It may not be obvious at first, but it could be that there are many ways to achieve your goals.

8.Maintain healthy routines: develop a regular pattern of healthy eating, sleeping and exercising. Taking care of your body nurtures and strengthens your mind.

References:

Bandura, A. (1977) Self-Efficacy. The exercise of control. New York: W.H.Freeman & Company