A key part of university life — and one that profoundly impacts students’ mental well-being — is the experience of joy in learning. While academic success is often associated with discipline and perseverance, the intrinsic pleasure of learning is equally vital for sustaining motivation. As educators, we have the opportunity to foster this joy in our students and make learning more engaging and fulfilling.
We caught up with Dr Esther Murray, Reader in Health Psychology at Queen Mary University of London and a health psychologist, to explore the connection between joy, motivation, and students’ emotional well-being. We also discussed some strategies for educators to create a joyful and motivational learning experience. One belief she strongly advocates is that joy can and should be part of the educational journey.
“You can see in tiny children that learning is a pleasure. There’s no reason we have to lose that sense of joy as we grow older.”
Why joy matters in learning
Motivation, Esther explains, is often misunderstood. Many students wait for motivation before they begin studying when in reality, motivation emerges from engagement.
“One of the pitfalls people fall into is thinking, ‘I’ll just wait until I feel like doing it. But motivation has to work the other way around. You start doing it, and then it becomes motivating.”
She highlights the concept of flow, as proposed by Prof. Emeritus Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1990 — a state in which learners become so absorbed in an activity that they lose track of time — as a crucial factor in sustaining motivation. When students experience flow, they develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for their subject.
“A flow experience happens when you’re engaged in something that’s just challenging enough to keep you interested, but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating.”
Joy in learning also fosters resilience and well-being. By shifting the focus from extrinsic rewards (such as grades) to intrinsic satisfaction, students develop a healthier relationship with their studies. A key question for educators, then, is how to create an environment that encourages students to experience a state of flow and sustain their motivation.
Strategies for educators: How to cultivate joy in learning
As educators, Esther suggests we can take intentional steps to make learning a more joyful experience. Here are key strategies to integrate into teaching practice:
- Encourage reflection on progress – Prompt students to recognize how much they have learned. This helps them see their growth over time and builds confidence in their abilities.
- Foster meaningful connections – Help students link concepts across disciplines and apply knowledge to real-world situations. This approach makes learning more meaningful, helping students see the value of their studies and stay motivated to explore further.
- Offer the right challenge – Design learning tasks that are challenging yet achievable, ensuring students remain engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
- Model intellectual curiosity in shared discovery – Encourage small-group learning where they share knowledge and perspectives. On top of demonstrating enthusiasm for the subject, educators can model curiosity and a willingness to learn by embracing what they don’t know, showing that learning is an ongoing process. This helps students feel confident in their expertise and fosters a culture of shared discovery.
- Navigate through challenges with students – Acknowledge when students find a topic difficult and offer guidance on how to approach challenges constructively. Provide them a safe space to experience failure and grow.
- Leverage strengths of neurodiverse learners – Recognize that neurodiverse students may have deep knowledge in certain areas, making them valuable peer educators. Acknowledge that they may engage with learning differently and create structured yet flexible environments to support their success. Providing clear schedules, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and allowing varied methods of engagement can help sustain motivation and enhance their learning experience.
Find out more: Further reading & research
For educators looking to deepen their understanding of joy in learning and its impact on student well-being, Esther recommends the following readings:
- Chapter 4: Learning together under fire – Pirate Care in Acts Against the Criminalisation of Solidarity – Valeria Graziano, Marcell Mars & Tomislav Medak.
This chapter explores care and community in challenging political and economic conditions. It serves as a call to action, urging educators to reconnect with their radical roots and recognize the transformative power of teaching and learning. - The Rediscovery of Teaching – Gert J. J. Biesta. As the title suggests, this book is an essential read for anyone in education. It offers a refreshing perspective on the fundamental purpose of teaching, reminding educators why they were drawn to the profession in the first place.
You can learn more about the challenges affecting university students' well-being, as well as various assessment strategies which can enhance motivation and support their well-being, in Assessment strategies for student well-being.