How to Stay Motivated to Earn Your GED

by · August 30, 2024

So, you’ve decided to earn your GED. You start out completely motivated, keeping your eyes on the prize, then. . . . life happens. You have to pick up extra hours at work, you fail a GED test, etc. How do you get back on track so that you can meet your goal? Everyone’s experience is different, but here are a few ways that you can stay on track even when life throws you obstacles.

  1. Set goals. Make sure that your goals are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely), and write these goals down. It may even help to post your goals somewhere you will see them everyday (like on a bathroom mirror).
  2. Prioritize your goals. Getting your GED should be one of your main priorities. Right from the start, promise yourself that you aren’t going to let anything get in your way of this goal. Then, when obstacles do arise, remind yourself that you aren’t going to let anything stand in the way of you getting your GED.
  3. Baby Steps. This goes along with setting realistic goals. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure, so make lots of small goals that lead up to your ultimate GED goal. An example of a small goal might just be to learn how to enter fractions on a calculator.
  4. Reward Yourself. Then, as you accomplish each objective, do something to reward yourself. Maybe you allow yourself to buy a cup of specialty coffee that day, or maybe you allow yourself a little extra time in front of the television that night. The main point is that you celebrate. Success can be a type of addiction, an addiction that you want to get. Dopamine is released in your brain whenever you take time to celebrate, and that feeling will be something that you want more of.
  5. Create a support system. Tell your friends and family about your goal, and if you start to doubt yourself, contact the most supportive people in your life. Allow them to lift you up and remind you that you are capable.
  6. Make a study area in your home. Maybe its just a corner of your dining room table or a spot in your bedroom, but if possible, dedicate one place in your home where you study consistently. After a while, you will have trained your brain to be prepared to study whenever you go to your spot. Try to pick a spot with few distractions so that you will be more likely to stay on task.
  7. Stay positive. You most likely will have setbacks, but how you view those hindrances makes a big difference. Remind yourself that you knew it wouldn’t be easy and that the end result will make all the difficulties worth the effort. They will even make you appreciate your certificate more.
  8. What can you do after you get your GED? There are reasons you want to earn your diploma, so remind yourself of these reasons. After you earn your certificate, can you get a better job, will you have more self-confidence, can you go to college, etc.?
  9. Follow your heart. Think of someone who will be proud of you when you get your certificate, and post a picture of that person on your mirror beside your goal. Sometimes people can find motivation to do something for someone else easier than they can be motivated to accomplish something just for themselves.
  10. Watch motivational videos/read motivational articles. When you are feeling down, go online. Find a video or story that inspires you to keep going, and keep that motivational material handy so that you can refer to it often.

Deciding to get your GED is your first step, so guess what? You are already there. Reward yourself for your desire, then get busy. Join a class, a Facebook group, etc. and get ready to put in the time. Your future self will thank you.

You are welcome to contact me at any time for an inspirational boost!

Check out my TPT store for some GED materials that will help you have fun and learn a lot on your GED journey. Good luck!

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