Need some motivation to study?
- Remember that little things add up to big ones. If you can’t spend hours studying, can you spend 30 minutes? If you can’t do that, can you spend 10 minutes? If you can’t do that, can you spend five minutes?
- Set process goals for yourself, not just outcome goals. For example, say, “I will study for 30 minutes per day and three hours on each weekend” not just “I will get my license by this day.” Process goals are easier to control than outcome goals, especially in aviation where getting a license is dependent on the weather and human elements like each individual’s speed of learning.
- Promise yourself a nice reward after you’ve completed a certain number of hours of studying. (A type of process goal.)
- Trust the system. In the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, he says it takes about 10,000 hours of studying and deliberate practice to become an expert. You can’t become a professional overnight. Have patience and persistence!
- Embrace the challenge. Throw yourself into it like it’s your new hobby.
- Spend time with people who are successful (or at least follow them on social media) to remind yourself that the studying will pay off. It takes a lot of work to become a true professional with deep knowledge.
- Envision yourself being successful. Research future employers and pay scales on Airline Pilot Central.
- If you feel you can’t have an extremely productive day and make progress, tell yourself that you will only do a few things so that you won’t move backward.
- Remember that most of what you are learning as a student pilot will be used in your future career. Tell yourself that you are not wasting your time if you learn it well early on.
- One of the greatest motivators is love. Consider how being successful can enable you to help the people you love.