But I don’t really feel like it…
For one young man, this saying was used every day when trying to get tasks done while away at college. Now that he didn’t have his parents nagging him to do things, he would always push off his assignments and plans because he felt as if he’d rather lay in bed and watch videos than be proactive. Yet, even when he did have that burst of energy, he would only get halfway through a task before leaving it again. This trend then left him surrounded by half-completed or not even started tasks, hindering his motivation. Since he was constantly reminded of the things he still needed to get done, he felt as if it was all too much for him to handle, so he would rather not do any of them at all.
As time went on, his lack of motivation caused him to have a messy room, dirty dishes in the sink, almost no social time in his day, and even failing grades in his classes, all of which not only took a toll on his mental health but his life overall. As time passed and he still didn’t turn assignments into his professors, he was put on academic probation, and if he didn’t fix his GPA soon, the University told him that he would be unenrolled from their college. This then worried the young man’s parents who had put a lot of time, money, and effort into getting him to where he was, and they feared if he didn’t learn how to stay motivated without their help, then he would never reach adult-level independence. However, with the correct help, reaching this goal wouldn’t be impossible.
When in college, finding, along with keeping motivation can be exceptionally difficult. Independent life can quickly become stressful between school, socializing, chores, and work. This stress can then cause students and young adults to feel as if they don’t want to do anything at all. They may feel as if it’s not worth it because nothing they do will ever be done by the deadline, causing them to fall behind in classes and other responsibilities as well. When speaking to college students a source explains how “79% said staying motivated was a problem.” (Markowitz, 2020).
With such a high percentage, it’s no surprise that being unmotivated happens to a lot of young adults. At times, schoolwork, a bad day or week, and even the unrealistic expectations they had of college can make them lack the drive to get things done, but what many don’t realize is that this can cause more issues than falling behind in school. It can also cause them to become isolated because they have no want to socialize or hang out with their peers, it can cause their homes and their own hygiene to become unkept and can even prevent them from reaching their fullest potential. When speaking about lacking motivation, a source explains how “You can’t start or finish even simple, everyday tasks. Getting off the couch to wash the dishes or drive to the supermarket can feel like climbing Mount Everest…” (Watson, 2022). When simple tasks become hard to do, young adults may experience the “fear of adulting” and are at risk of not graduating, moving out and becoming independent, starting and finishing tasks, and so much more, which is why it is so important for them to be able to maintain a sense of motivation in their everyday lives.
At the College Life Skills Program, we teach young adults with or without neurodiversity’s the skills that schools simply do not, such as executive functioning, and social, emotional, and life skills they need to become well-rounded. We professionally coach those who are college bound, in college, and after college develop the skills needed to excel in life. Our team of Doctoral and Master level professionals uses our individualized, proprietary, evidence-based approaches developed with the real-life experience of thousands of students over three decades to aid young adults in their journey to adult-level independence. So, if you’re worried that the educational system is not teaching the essential critical skills that may cause your young adult to fall behind, the CollegeLSP is more than qualified to help.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Markowitz, E. (2020, October 12). Data shows college students struggling to stay motivated. Fierce Education. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.fierceeducation.com/best-practices/data-shows-college-students-struggling-to-stay-motivated
Watson, S. (2022, August 26). Avolition: Causes, symptoms, and treatment. WebMD. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-avolition#:~:text=Avolition%20is%20a%20total%20lack,feel%20like%20climbing%20Mount%20Everest.
