This person has started high school but it's taking time for them to adjust.

Hey!

It’s alright to feel unfamiliar with studying. There are lots of students that have been feeling unmotivated recently and that should be a reason to move forward.

Video games are fun, and it’s okay to play them but try to limit your time to one small quest or one storyline. It could take 2-3 hours at first and that’s a good enough amount of time to spend on video games. If you want to play more, go for 3-4 hours. But any more than that should be restricted.

Before you play video games, try to finish studying for your test or just revising the class’ notes or do your homework. However if you keep getting the urge to play, give your phone or the device you play on, to your siblings or parents or keep it locked in a cupboard or a high place out of reach. This way, it might help you force your concentration on studies and then you can choose to play.

You can turn on the music (OST) from the video games you play while you’re studying. If that doesn’t help you be motivated or concentrate, then you can try to turn on soft music, ambience sounds, or a study with me video. Study with me videos often help you think, “Ah, someone else is working hard, I should too.” The feeling of working hard with someone is a good one—try to use it next time. You can also spend 10 mins watching a study motivational speech video on youtube before studying, but don’t spend too much time watching these!

If none of these work, you can also try and clean up your desk, buy new stationary, try to study in a cafe or library. Think of the reasons you want to work hard and the sacrifices your parents have made so you can get a good education. Motivation is really hard to get if you think you won’t ever be motivated. Plus, you don’t really have to be in a good motivated, hard working mode to finish your projects or homework. Sometimes you’re in a bad stressful mode but you’re still completing your work, and you’re still doing your best. As long as the work is complete and you’re getting good grades, it should be alright if you’re not in a very motivated mood.

Your video games should be a reward and relaxation you give to yourself after the satisfaction of completing your school studies. No one is used to anything in this life. It’s our first life, so we’re all going with the flow. Do your best to adjust and ask your teachers for help and give them the impression that you’re willing to learn. Your video games will forever be by your side and you can play them at any moment you want, and you can fail a quest in the game and do it again. However, once your deadlines and examinations are over, you can’t go back and give them again.

I hope high school goes well for you! Good luck!

Thank you,

The Advice Column Team