How to Stay Motivated When Life (and College) Gets Hard

By Dr. Mary C. Kelly, Economist, Leadership Expert, and U.S. Navy Commander (Ret.)

A young man asked me recently,
“How do you stay motivated to finish college, and even earn multiple degrees, when it gets really hard?”

It is a great question, because let us face it: college is hard.
But so is life.

And the sooner you understand that hard does not mean impossible, the faster you will build the discipline that success requires.

I responded, “college isn’t just about earning a diploma, it’s about figuring out what you’re good at and learning how to turn that into a meaningful career or business.”  College is just another step in the process.

That does not stop after graduation.

It applies to every stage of adulthood — work, family, finances, and all the big, messy, beautiful things that make life worth living.

College Is Practice for Real Life

College teaches you more than algebra or economics. It teaches you how to show up when you are tired, how to think when you are confused, and how to finish what you start.

That is preparation for everything that comes after — jobs, families, mortgages, deadlines, and all the grown-up responsibilities that do not come with a syllabus.

Because here is the truth: adulthood is full of homework, too.

You will have projects you do not like, people you disagree with, and obligations that do not inspire you. But just like college, you will have to find the reason that keeps you moving forward when it is tempting to quit.

Motivation Does not Come from a Feeling, It Comes from Decision

We often think motivation is a mood.
It is not. It is a decision.

The most successful people, whether they are finishing a degree, building a business, or being a good spouse, do not wait until they feel motivated. They take action first, and the motivation follows.

Sometimes, all you need to do is take two steps in the right direction.
That is it. Two steps.

Progress creates energy. Energy creates momentum. Momentum creates confidence.

And if, somewhere along the way, you realize you are going in the wrong direction?
Then change direction.

Changing direction is not failure, it is adjustment. It is wisdom. It is learning from experience and using that insight to make better decisions next time.

So, take two steps forward, keep going, and when necessary, pivot. That is how you keep growing.

Finding Motivation as a Grown-Up

Let us be honest: life does not always feel inspiring.

Sometimes you are just doing your best to keep everything from falling apart.

So how do you stay motivated when “adulting” feels like a full-time job?

Here is what I remind myself when things get tough or you just get tired.

1. Remember Why You Started

You did not go to college, start a business, or take that job just to quit halfway through.
Revisit your “why.”

What problem are you trying to solve?
What dream are you chasing?
What happens if you keep going?

Write it down. Look at it every day. That is your internal compass when life feels, off course.

2. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

Whether you are earning a degree, paying off debt, or getting healthier, success rarely happens in a straight line.
Do not wait for perfect conditions. Just take the next right step. Two steps forward every day adds up fast.

3. Surround Yourself with People Who Get It

Motivation dies in isolation.
Find people who push you, challenge you, and remind you that the struggle means you are still in the game.

4. Celebrate the Grown-Up Wins

You made dinner at home. You kept your temper in traffic. You got through the meeting without caffeine (is that even possible?) or conflict.

Small wins are proof you are making progress, even when life does not hand out report cards anymore.

Life Gets Harder and You Get Stronger

As you move from high school to college to career, the challenges do not disappear, they evolve.

Deadlines become projects.
Tests become clients.
Grades become performance reviews.
Expectations only grow.

But so does your ability to handle them.

You learn to prioritize, plan, and persevere. You get better at recognizing when you are off track and stronger at course-correcting.

That is not failure; that’s maturity.

The Bottom Line

Motivation is not a spark that appears when life feels easy. It is the quiet determination to take two steps in the right direction — every day — even when you do not feel like it.

Eat the apple instead of the chips. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Finish the report before you leave for the day.

College helps you discover at what you are good.
Adulthood helps you apply it with purpose.

So, keep going. Keep learning. Keep doing the work even when it is not glamorous.

That is real motivation. That is real success.