OzTREKK Ambassadors: Staying motivated at home during COVID-19

Hey everyone, Jennifer here! In case we haven’t met yet, I’ll do a quick recap on who I am: I am currently studying a Master of Teaching (Early Years and Primary) at Monash University‘s Clayton campus.

A fun fact, I have not had any in-person classes yet, so I am fully experiencing the online lesson plans and the changes going on right now!

I was supposed to start my very first placement at a local primary school on April 27. Unfortunately, about a week before my placement was to start, I found out that it had been postponed until July. 🙁

I chose Monash specifically because I was going to get 85 days of placement, 15 days more than other programs I researched. Because of this, the news was incredibly disappointing, especially because I now have a three-week break where I get to hang out at home for that time.

There were definitely a lot of times throughout these three weeks that made it hard to stay motivated. Here are some of the tips and tricks I found helpful, and maybe they can help you too if you are also struggling to stay motivated right now.

#1: Make a list of things that you are looking forward to once restrictions have lifted

Even though this may seem counterproductive, it allows you to see what you have to look forward to in pen and paper, not just in your mind. You can also try to adapt that list to do some of those things at home. For example, if you’re excited about getting drinks with your friends, try a Zoom “happy hour” call with a fun theme. This gives a little change but helps make things feel a bit more normal.

#2: Do research

This helped me a lot, since I didn’t want to feel like I was on a different page when I started my practicum. In a way, this makes it feel like you’re preparing for whatever has been postponed, and it has the added bonus of helping you get one step ahead and be more knowledgeable on the topic, which in my case was the Victorian and Australian curriculum.

#3: Stay busy

Honestly, the main thing I found that helped me was to stay busy. Whether that be through walks and exercise, trying out new recipes, or reading books. This helps keep your mind busy, by giving you less time to focus on what isn’t happening and rather pay attention to what you are currently doing. I’ve lived away from home throughout university, when I studied abroad, and when I worked at Disney World, and this has new normal has honestly been the hardest experience to adapt to.

As hard as it is right now, remember you have people you can turn to, whether that be for a motivational speech, or a friend with an ear to talk to. Everyone is going through this together, and we are all handling it in our own ways. This is the time to try out new hobbies or something else you never have before. Time is on our side, take advantage of that!

If you ever have any questions, feel free to message me on Instagram. Keep an eye out for other news posts and Instagram takeovers from the other social media ambassadors.

Stay home, stay safe, and have a great rest of your day!

Are you interested in learn more about Australian teacher education schools? Contact OzTREKK’s Teacher Education Admissions Officer at kaylee@oztrekk.com to find out if studying in Australia is right for you.