By PRA Samantha Adams
When you’re first getting involved in research, it’s easy to be excited and engaged. And why not? You’re learning new things, making meaningful connections, and getting the opportunity to explore something that you are (hopefully) genuinely passionate about. Over time, though, especially as school begins to ramp up, research may start to feel more and more like a chore. Months of reading articles, collecting and analyzing data, and writing reports can add up fast, and that initial excitement can begin to fade.
If this sounds like something you can relate to, don’t worry; you are not alone! It’s totally normal to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of being an undergraduate student and a researcher. Staying motivated in research doesn’t mean you must be 100% every day, but rather finding the little things that keep you moving forward, even if sometimes you just feel like giving up. As I reflected on what has helped me continue in research, I came up with four tips that may just help you too:
- Remember Your “Why”
One of the easiest things to lose sight of, particularly in a long research project, is why you started in the first place. When you’ve been working on a specific, drawn-out task – a literature review, for example – it can be easy to feel disconnected from the larger picture. In these moments of doubt or discouragement, it’s important to take time to reflect on why you were drawn to your research in the first place. You may be passionate about the topic, the people that it impacts, or the skills and experiences that you’re gaining along the way. Whatever it is, reminding yourself of these things can help you keep sight of your end goal and make the smaller, sometimes more “boring” parts more meaningful.
- Break Down Your Goals
Speaking of that “end goal,” it can also be daunting to think about all the things you have to accomplish before you can say, “I’m finally done.” With research, it can sometimes feel like you have a million things to do, with little time to do them. A good way to mitigate feeling overwhelmed by this is to focus on the next small thing you can accomplish. Set smaller goals for yourself and check them off your list as you complete them. Whether it’s reading three articles this week, writing one page, or finishing up that presentation, you can give yourself the satisfaction of seeing all your completed tasks. Even if you think these goals seem small in the moment, they can add up quickly and give you a tangible example that you are making progress in your larger project.
- Utilize Your Support Systems
Another great way to stay motivated is to stay connected and take advantage of the support systems around you. In your research group or lab, you are surrounded by a ton of people who can relate to what you’re going through. Your principal investigator, faculty advisor, graduate students, and other undergraduate researchers are all valuable resources to turn to if you’re feeling stuck or demoralized. Talking through your problems or worries with someone else can help you gain a new perspective on the situation or a new piece of advice. This doesn’t have to be exclusive to the people within your research group either; family, friends, and campus resources can also help you manage stress and find ways to maintain balance in your busy life.
- Take a Break!
Finally, sometimes the best thing that you can do for yourself and your research is to just take a break! It’s natural to experience burnout, especially when you’ve been working on the same problem for hours, days, weeks, and months. Taking a break doesn’t mean that you’re giving up or that you’re being unproductive. In fact, giving yourself time to step back and rest can help you come back with even more focus and energy. Whatever this looks like for you, whether it be working out at the Rec, spending time with friends, starting a new hobby, or something else, make sure you take time for yourself outside of research. Being an undergraduate researcher is certainly an important part of your college experience, but it doesn’t have to be – it shouldn’t be –your entire college experience. In the long run, you will be glad to have found and maintained a good balance between your research and the rest of your life!
No matter who you are, research is not going to be a perfectly smooth process. Staying motivated throughout a long-term project can be challenging; progress can be slow, and you may feel your original excitement fading away. Finding strategies that help you keep pushing forward while also giving yourself support and flexibility is crucial in preventing burnout and maintaining engagement. In the end, implementing these approaches will be for the betterment of you as both a student and a researcher. Remember, while research can be demanding at times, it can also be one of the most rewarding parts of your undergraduate experience, so find strategies that work for you (they may be any of these tips here, or not!). You may be surprised to see how far they can take you!