Buzz
Studying is a crucial part of attending school, but it's also an activity that many students find difficult to tackle. You're not alone in struggling to approach your studies seriously! To make progress, try establishing a study routine at the same time each day, break down your tasks into manageable chunks, and set a reward for yourself once you've completed your work. Over time, you can transform studying into an effective part of your day and overcome procrastination and guilt.
Steps
Motivating Yourself
List the reasons why you need or want to study. Whatever your reasons are, write them down and place the note somewhere you’ll frequently see it. Whenever you feel the urge to procrastinate, read that note to remind yourself why it’s important to study hard.
- There are countless reasons to study hard, such as wanting to achieve good grades to get into a great university, aiming for a scholarship, or simply not wanting to face the consequences of poor academic results. No reason is too big or too small to add to your list!
Tip: Remember, you won’t always feel fully motivated, and that’s completely normal! What matters is being able to stick to your plan even when motivation is low.
Make dull content more engaging to make studying easier. Ask yourself, “How is this content relevant to my life?” or “How can I apply this to real life?”. For example, if reading for an English lesson feels boring, try to connect with the characters in the book to make the reading more enjoyable. Or, if you're struggling with Biology, think about how this knowledge helps you understand yourself and the living world around you, which might spark your interest.
- It’s not always easy to be interested in everything, and some subjects may not excite you. However, try to relate the material to your everyday life. Personal connections can make learning more enjoyable!
Set a timer to know when your study session will end. Nobody wants to study for hours on end without a break. Give yourself regular breaks throughout your study time. You can also set a timer for when your study session ends, so you know how long you’ll be focused.
- For more structured study sessions, set a timer for 30-50 minutes of studying, followed by a short break before returning to your work. You’ll be more efficient if you know the timer is ticking down.
- If you choose to study after school, you might study until dinner time and then take a break afterward. Or, if you study at night, set your study timer to end 30 minutes before bedtime so you can unwind.
Try the Pomodoro Technique: After 25 minutes of study, take a 5-minute break. Continue studying for another 25 minutes, followed by another 5-minute break. After four 25-minute study sessions, take a 15-20 minute break.
Reward yourself after each study session to stay motivated. The reward doesn’t need to be extravagant; it could simply be enjoying your favorite candy after each session, scrolling through Twitter or Instagram for 5 minutes, or petting your animal during a break.
- You can also plan a bigger reward after completing your exams, like celebrating with friends over coffee, relaxing in a bath, or buying something you’ve had your eye on – choose something you enjoy to make the accomplishment feel even more meaningful.
Seek help from a classmate. This doesn’t mean you’ll sit down and study together, but rather, this is someone you can “report” to daily to help keep you on track. If you have to message them at the end of each study session to “report” whether you’ve completed your goals, it can help motivate you to keep going even when you don’t feel like it.
- You can also ask your classmate to check in on you if you haven’t “reported” in a few days. This can help you get back on track before wasting too much time.
Plan your study schedule
Study at the same time each day to establish good study habits. If you’re an early riser, consider waking up early to study before school. If you’re a night owl, building a habit of studying a few hours each night may work better for you. Alternatively, if you prefer getting things done early to relax afterward, you can focus on studying right after school.
- If you don’t have a study schedule yet, try creating a daily timetable. You can use a calendar app on your phone or create a paper schedule to note your study times. Plan each day’s study session so that you avoid other distractions during that time.
Remember: Weekends might have a different schedule since you don’t have school. You may need to allocate more time for studying and working on projects during the weekend.
Create a study schedule for exam preparation so you can start reviewing early. As soon as you know the dates for each subject’s exams, write them into your timetable. If your teachers provide the exam schedule at the start of the semester, take some time to input all the exam dates and deadlines into your study calendar.
- For example, if you know you have an English exam next Friday and an Algebra exam the following Wednesday, you’ll know to prioritize English study first.
- Another useful tip is to set up reminders a few weeks before the exam date to start reviewing! For instance, if you have an important English exam in three weeks and want to spend two weeks preparing, set a reminder to start studying before the exam date.
Break down your study material into smaller parts. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content you need to study, break it down into manageable sections. Additionally, make sure to write a summary of each section so you know what to focus on each time you study.
- For example, if you need to revise for a chemistry exam with 5 chapters and several concepts, focus on one chapter per study session and create a few flashcards to help remember key points.
- Focus on completing one task within each study session. Once done, mark it off to track your progress. This will help you stay motivated and better manage your study time.
Schedule regular breaks and relaxation time. Expecting yourself to study for 5 continuous hours is unrealistic – your brain needs rest! You should take short breaks of 5-10 minutes every 30 minutes of study. If you can focus longer, try studying for 50 minutes before taking a 10-minute break. During these breaks, get up, move around, breathe fresh air, snack lightly, or give your eyes a short rest.
- On a larger scale, plan for “rest days” during your revision period. If you know you’ll be studying hard for a few weeks, allocate an entire day where you don’t have to worry about studying. This will give you something to look forward to during your intense study days!
Minimize distractions
Eat healthy snacks and drink water before studying to help you focus. Hunger and dehydration can cause distractions while studying. Avoid sugary foods that may cause an energy crash afterward. If you want to drink something caffeinated, limit it to 1-2 cups of coffee or one soda to avoid feeling jittery.
- Healthy snack options include vegetables, fruits, nuts, cheese, popcorn, yogurt, and hummus.
Boost focus by taking a quick walk before studying. Release anxiety and increase endorphins with a 10-15 minute workout. This way, when you start studying right after, you'll find it easier to concentrate and retain information.
Tip: You could try studying while exercising. Bring your study materials to the gym and review them while walking on the treadmill. Both your body and mind will feel refreshed after you’ve completed everything!
Choose a place where you won’t be distracted by your surroundings. If you feel the urge to tidy up your room or live in a noisy environment, find a quiet spot to study. Similarly, if you want to study with friends but find yourself easily distracted, set clear boundaries to help you stay focused.
- Generally, a place with minimal distractions, like noise or clutter, is ideal for studying.
Tip: Place a blank sheet of paper on your study desk. Whenever a thought about something you need to remember or do pops up, jot it down on that paper.
Turn off all unnecessary electronics during study sessions. If you need to use your phone as a timer, remember to switch it to airplane mode to avoid notifications. Don’t leave the TV on while studying, and place your phone somewhere out of reach, like in another room.
- There are now many apps that can help limit your phone usage. Some apps block access to specific websites for set periods of time. Do whatever works best for you, whether it’s turning off the internet or setting some restrictions.
Consider listening to music while studying. For some people, music can be a distraction. However, for others, soft background music can help them focus. Try both listening to music and studying in silence to see which works best for you.
- If you’re studying in a public space, listening to calm music with headphones can help block out the surrounding noise.
- Instrumental music is generally very effective for maintaining focus.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and start studying! This may sound simple, but getting started is often the biggest obstacle you need to overcome in order to study seriously. Set your timer and commit to completing the task. Once the timer goes off, set another one for 15-20 minutes before your first break. Once you begin, it will be much easier to continue.
- Don’t worry if you feel it’s too late or regret not starting earlier. Starting now is better than doing nothing at all!
Tip
- To achieve good academic results, make it a habit to review your notes every day from the start of the course. You can also rewrite or type them out to retain the content longer.
- Make the most of your classroom time. Instead of daydreaming or zoning out, stay focused on the lesson and take thorough notes. You’ll feel more confident in your studies and won’t need to spend as much time revisiting what you’ve already learned.
- Don’t neglect sleep - a good night’s sleep will help you retain information better and recharge you for your next study session. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day for optimal results.
- It’s best to hand your phone over to your parents or siblings to avoid distractions while studying. If you need a break, don’t reach for your phone. Instead, try drawing, doing crafts, or talking to a family member. This is your time to relax. You can always reward yourself after finishing your study session.
