She says: “Before I knew it I was having to study in the evenings and take occasional weekends off to finish off TMAs at the last minute, all of which led to me not getting out on the bike anywhere near as much and snacking continually while I was having a study session. I’d give myself little rewards for managing to get a certain amount of studying done, but where it started off with a treat for every hour it seemed to relax somewhat to every 15 minutes or so.”
So what spurs you on? Carrie rewards herself with foodie treats but what’s your motivation to get that TMA in on time, to sit down and revise or complete an activity? Do you reward yourself as you go along or wait until the end of the course and splash out on something bigger? Or is completing the course reward enough?
We’d like to hear your thoughts and there are three OU goodie bags up for grabs. Please leave your comments in the Platform comment box below by August 31 and three winners will be selected at random to receive an OU canvas bag filled with treats. Please note that in order to comment, you’ll need to be logged into Platform with your OU username and password.
*SEE BELOW FOR LIST OF GOODIE BAG WINNERS...*
(8 votes)
Comments
*AND THE WINNERS ARE....*
Picked at random the winners of the goodie bags are Claire Lucas, Danielle Lloyd and Owen Manuel. If you could drop me an email at platformeditor@open.ac.uk and let me know your address, I'll pop your goodies in the post.
This 'competition' is now closed but please feel free to continue sharing your motivations and study treats
Thanks, Robyn
I reward myself with Maltesers. I create a maze from pens and rulers and books and run a Malteser to the other side and then I'm allowed to eat it. Not particularly profound but taxing enough to give me a few minutes to break for renewed concentration.
Once I've finished my course, I am going to treat myself to a holiday in Paris learning to cook traditional French cuisine.
Hi, I’m also new to the OU so some might say that all the "things I needed" (which is what I keep telling my husband) are a treat in them self’s after all don’t want them gathering dust now. But once I crack on with the studying I would treat myself (and the hubby oh and not forgetting the dog's, as after all they would have put up with the "did you knows!!", "you'd never guess what's!!" etc. (poor dog's what he's not at home lol)) Is little break away to his favourite place of Weymouth. After all if it wasn't for him saying "you can do it" and the support I probably would never have signed up, so I think he'd deserve a treat also. Oh but please don’t tell him that one, he'll get too big headed. ;)
But on the way through the studying, a bottle of beer might appear lol :)
Happy studying people and good luck
Pamela :)
My OU study treat is ususaly something that will take my mind of off both work and study just so I can give myself a break.
When I have done some studying I will curl up on the sofa and maybe watch a film or read a book with a nice hot cup of tea. If I dont feel like that I will paint some models.... yeah i'm a big kid at heart :)
Clare Hi,
I am new to OU but i believe your way to tread yourself is really nice and safe , i will try to follow you and do a bit of the same scenario :)
Hi there, thought I'd enter the competition, and here it is!
Usually I sit down with my homework, on the bed. I take a snack with me to eat whilst studying- and often I stop in the middle of my studies (when my brain starts hurting) then I go and eat another snack, preferably an apple... I spur myself on by telling me that at the end, when I've finished studying, I can go and do something I enjoy, like watching telly or going to walk the dog. I find this helps me.
I'll admit to snacking on chocolate and sweets whilst I'm writing my TMA's but my overall motivation to get my studying done is the end reward. The degree that I've been pining after since I had to quit uni four years ago due to a heart problem. I'm finally back on track to getting what I want and there isn't a better reward than that!
My motivation is coming home from a horrible job everyday and knowing i am working towards a qualification which will one day get me a job where i am happy, and also when i have finished with the TMA's i will sit down with a cup of tea and some cake and just relax.
I've only just joined the OU, but the thing that keeps me determined in my studies is purely the belief in myself.
Sometimes it's really hard to carry on and to believe that I can do it, and that I can understand things and that I'm not as useless as I used to think.
I've been through alot in my life, and been through some tough times where I had no self belief at all, but now, deep down, I know that I can do things that I set my mind to, and if i'm determined, I can do it well.
I've tried and failed alot in my studies when I was younger, which is what makes me even more determined to get it right now, it's a second chance for me to prove to myself that I can be the person I always wanted to be.
well this is new to me but my motivation is i work in a job i hate and getting my degree will help me improve myself thats enough
well this is new to me but my motivation is i work in a job i hate and getting my degree will help me improve myself thats enough oh my sorry guys computer glich
well this is new to me but my motivation is i work in a job i hate and getting my degree will help me improve myself thats enough
Following my submission of a TMA my treat is to have one full weekend day away from study to allow me to make the journey to visit my mother. Although we talk with each other a lot, it is much better to meet up in person. She is 81 a great motivator and an inspiration to me, with her own studies. Her motto is: live like there's no tomorrow, but study as if you'll live forever. Even at 49 there's no substitute for a hug from Mum.
Following my submission of a TMA my treat is to have one full weekend day away from study to allow me to make the journey to visit my mother. Although we talk with each other a lot, it is much better to meet up in person. She is 81 a great motivator and an inspiration to me, with her own studies. Her motto is: live like there's no tomorrow, but study as if you'll live forever. Even at 49 there's no substitute for a hug from Mum.
I like handing in the work and getting my results, but I'm not very good at motivating myself and the work itself isn't enough incentive for me.
I tell myself that I can't watch TV, read a book or play computer games until I've done what's needed for my OU studies. Once I've got that knocked off, I can treat myself.
My study treat is a big bar of hazelnut chocolate and a glass of ice cold shandy
My study treat whilst studying is diet pepsi and a bag of sweets or cashew nuts. I take myself away from my study and have proper breaks like at work also-usually watching tv or catch up on i-player of something ive missed through work or study like Dragon's Den.After submitting an Ema definately a glass of wine and lots of smiles
My study treat is a night off from reading the course books and set texts, and instead curling up on the sofa with a bestseller and a cup of hot chocolate!
I learn hard, i am on S104 and MU123 in Oct, cant wait
Motivation...Jack Daniels and a ...boiled egg, one should never drink on an empty stomach
lol.
I treat myself with a fizzy drink! Either pepsi or if the workload is tough a redbull!
Chocolate is also a sin - but justified as I really do believe sugar helps me think, gives me more energy.
At the moment, my motivation and treat is if i get my next 2 tma's out of the way, I get to have a couple of weeks off and go away for a weekend. I definitely need a break!
Submission night is always fajhitas night - spicy chicken, salsa, peppers and a crate of garlic! I don't sit down to eat until I'll hit that button and the assignment is gone. More often than not, my extreme procrastination results in me getting up to cook at midnight. But it's always worth it, and by that point I'm normally craving calories to grow back the brain cells I've destroyed! The only downside is my boyfriend not wanting to come near me for the rest of that day (such is life)!
(also, those tiny bars of cherry and dark chocolate Green and Blacks are quite nice!)
Motivation and reward will always relate to food
though sometimes at this time of year and weather dependent, the reward will be the chance toi just collapse on the sun lounger with a psycho death maniac thriller for a while
Bourneville chocolate and coffee! It helps keep my brain alive after being up in the night with my one year old.
I risk sounding like a boring girlie swat, but given that I live with three noisy kids, a food/walk obsessed dog and a house that it complete chaos and noise, my reward for completing a TMA is simply the absoulutre pleasure of pressing the 'send' button. It always feels like an impossible task, paricularly given that I have to shut myself away (at the dining room table) in between finishing work and cooking dinner whilst blocking everyone and everything out. Nothing is more satisfying that hitting that button. Beats chocolate any day!
I have a little girl so i resort to taking waking night; either at work or home, i give myself a target and every time i reach that target i reward my self with a cup of tea or warm water. I also make sure throughout the process, i have my gospel music playing at a low volume in the background.
When it's all finshed i get a well deserved sleep.
My treat? I look ahead at the main section I'm going to read that day, and break it up into smaller sections. When I reach the end of a small section I reward myself time on Facebook.
The other week when I received my assignment result mark back and I had passed, so I treated myself to a t-shirt and a hoodie online. I needed to treat myself, to get it my head that I had passed, and that at level 1 65% is not bad. Well that's what I told the other half anyway ha ha!!
I love to study in my PJ's with a cup of tea and biscuits to dunk. Work through a section.... dunk a biscuit! Seems to motivate me, but I'm sure I would complete my studies much quicker if I wasn't stopping to reward myself all the time! I find studying when it's sunny outside a great motivator too. Relaxing, building a tan and studying all at the same time.
Good luck to anyone currently studying or waiting for results!
I always settle down with a cup of hot chocolate and some biscuits, i try to only eat a biscuit once i've done a certain amount of studying. I then have to have a biscuit because i tend to get really tired while studying!
It all started off with cups of tea and cappuccinos whilst reading through the course books and jotting down notes for the first TMA. Frequent furtive trips to the kitchen in search of munchies, under the pretext of motivating myself, escalated during the first two TMAs. As the course progressed and my marks increased, so did my waistline! I hadn't realised the pleasures and rewards of studying. Moreover, towards the middle of the course the energy my brain needed to construct TMAs was astounding. Fuelled by muffins, crisps, chocolate biscuits or basically anything I could get my hands on (even crisp bread), I was on a roll. By the time I got to poetry I'd settle down innocently with the red wine to get the creative juices flowing and I felt like Byron and Wordsworth! Thanks to course A210 I've realised the finer pleasures in life without feeling guilty - literature and snacking. Needless to say, my 2-year lapsed gym membership has risen from the ashes - am now in full throttle trying to get rid of the spare tyre by 1 October before my joggings make a welcome return and I can settle down at my computer to start all over again on my next course. Ahh, Nirvana ....!
I use chocolate to motivate and encourage myself whilst doing an assignment. Computer, books, notes, chocolate... I'm ready to do that TMA!
It's really bad. I'm eating way too much junk food on this degree ;)
I don't really use it as a reward for myself when I've finished. I guess just the satisfaction of completing what I set out to do is enough of a reward, but the sweets keep me going while I'm working towards that.
I had a problem settling down to study, the trouble was getting other things out of my head and getting focussed and started. My discovery was red wine. I had found that a glass or two whilst studying allowed me to think about the task in had and nothing else, so my "treat" was actually a major study aid and things got done when I put the OU and red wine together! It's a trick I am still using to my advantage!
I have two young children, so our house is always noisy. When its time for me to study, I send hubby out with the kids, so my treat to myself is complete silence. It doesnt happen much in our house!
I like to be ahead with my study when I can, just in case anything unforseen crops up, so I see every assignment as a step closer to my degree. Both my kids have teddy bears from the Build A Bear Workshop, so hubby has promised to buy me one, complete with cap and gown, when I complete my degree.
My treats depend on the time of day, the day of the week and what else is going on in my life. If it's the weekend and the weather is good, a walk or cycle ride is something to look forward to, but if I'm studying in the evenings it's inevitably chocolate!
However, when it comes to TMAs, EMAs, CMAs etc, the only 'treat' I need is the sense of satisfaction that results from the motivation that is driven by the desire to get the assessment done, and done well.
Whilst I was studying my daily mid-session treat would be a cup of coffee and a look out of the window. In the summer months this was replaced with a coffee and a walk around the garden, and a look at the butterflies if any were about. In addition, Friday saw a chocolate bar treat!
All this helped the study process and gave my brain a few moments breather. The biggest treat of all however was attending my graduation ceremony.
When I study, I reward myself with a cup of tea every 30 minutes, and a bubble bath when I've finished.
Lifes too short to worry about putting on weight :)
We are hard - working students who need the calories to keep us going!
chocolate is our fuel <3
There is more to life than studying and chocolate - there is the occasional bag of crisps, butterkist popcorn, Dulce et Leche ice cream straight from the tub with a big spoon and red wine. Elasticated waist bands are very comfortable.
That is so true
While studying for my undergrad degree, enjoyable as it was, I often found myself day dreaming instead of concentrating on my reading of countless historians views so found it important to incorporate some little treats in to my often long days. To help be get through the hours and days (!) I would plan my study ensuring I scheduled in an occasional chocolate break but most importantly the odd shopping break to wonder outside. Watching a good TV drama series also helped me through and encouraged me to break up my day/week as I used it as a treat for studying for a set time (as long as I didn't get too hooked then unfortunately days could be wasted!) As I start my MA this October I hope to have a slightly healthier study plan but also remember the importance of a good treat - however hard I try I won't be missing out on my chocolate breaks!
My 'treat' was to finish off the reading or the TMA then put on a favourite piece of music, bop around to that with a glass of dry white wine!!!
My treats during a course vary. It might be having some time off to do some cross-stitch, which helps me to switch off from studying, or maybe reading a book which has nothing at all to do with the course I'm doing at that time! Sometimes my treats are for completing a TMA and submitting on time, sometimes it's just for finishing reading a particularly dense chapter of a text book I've had to read.
Am currently awaiting my EMA results for DD101! Ooer!
I guess my treats are dependent on what day the TMA is due-if it's a Friday or Monday I'll get it done over the previous weekend then head straight to the pub for a few beers as a reward,but usually it'll be just finish the TMA,then head for fresh air and a long walk-treats can wait! I usually treat myself though whilst doing TMAs-the odd tub of Pringles for example! All the hard work is worth it when you get that result back however!!
I do not have the spare money for treats while studying but the motivation to succeed and the actual pass results are enough for me I am happy with that as I know when I pass the full degree and get a good salary I can treat myself alllllll the time!
It would make a lovely change though to win a treat!
What motivates me is the feeling of achievement when I submit the TMA. First of all, with every TMA I am one step closer to the degree no one ever expected me of attaining. Second, writing the TMA helps to remember the material and apply it to real life scenarios which hopefully will prove helpful when it comes to the exam.
Following someone on our forum posting a wonderful recipe for a giant Jaffa Cake, I'm afraid I've developed a mental link between OU study and Jaffa Cakes accompanied by a big mug of tea.
My other 'treat' is good stationary; there is no greater inspiration than a well flowing pen and a good quality notebook. Good stationary has always been a family obsession, but now I have the perfect excuse and the family don't have to think so hard at Christmas.
Must admit Jo that Jaffas kept me going during my college days-my flatmate always told me I'd turn into one if I didn't stop eating them! lol!
Oh come on Jo, you can't mention the words Giant, Jaffa, Cake and recipe without actually sharing said recipe....
I definitely agree with Cazz about piling on the pounds...and I've only just begun!
In general though I find the thought of shoes helps a lot. I think I will treat myself at the end of each module, which is an incentive to double up if ever I heard one!
Whilst actually writing and studying, I find that shoes also help me to focus. It sounds rediculous but I am easily distracted when studying in my pyjamas, I find it much easier to get on with it if I get dressed and whack on a pair of killer heels!
So really, by buying shoes at the end of each module, I am actually investing in study aids! (Yes, this is genuinely how I justify things to myself)
Mine is a fish pedicure after I've submitted a TMA. My feet feel great and I feel good about myself too.
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