6 Helpful Tips for How to Get Motivated to Study
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Do you find studying tough?
If you do, you’re definitely not the only one! With smartphones, social media, and Netflix constantly at your fingertips, it can be hard to pull out the books and actually work.
But, if you don’t study you’re not going to get the grades you need. That’s where motivational study tips come in and we’ve got all that you need.
Find out how to get motivated to study in this guide.
1. Set Smart Goals for Yourself
When studying, it’s vital that you start by setting yourself manageable goals you can actually reach. These have to be both long and short-term that will keep the end in sight while challenging you – but keep them realistic! You don’t want to overstretch yourself or you’ll put yourself off.
Have a goal every day and post it somewhere you can see it to increase your concentration. Place it somewhere you can see it as you work, along with your long-term goals like the GPA you want to achieve. Then you’ll have a physical reminder to look at, keeping you on track.
2. Create a Schedule and Stick to It
Along with your goals, write up a detailed schedule that will help you stay on track. This will help you break down larger tasks into smaller steps, helping them to become more manageable and easy to reach. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’ll also help you deal with those feelings.
Make sure you take your schedule seriously and stick to it. Keep it realistic, as your goals are, and make sure you have enough time in the day to actually fit everything in. Studying will become a normal part of your routine and you’ll always be on top of your goals.
3. Give Yourself Rewards for Your Work
If you’re looking for how to improve the way you study, are you rewarding yourself for the work you’re doing? If you’re putting in the effort but not seeing any positive results from it, it’s going to be very demotivating. So, when you’ve reached a goal, reward yourself!
Your reward could be anything that keeps you going. Maybe it’s getting a takeaway on Friday night if you reached all of your goals, or buying yourself a pair of sneakers you’ve been dreaming of if you stick to your schedule for an entire month. Whatever it is, it’s going to give you a reason to keep on working.
4. Don’t Forget to Take Breaks Regularly
No one can sit and study for eight straight hours. If you’re not giving yourself enough time to de-stress and get away from the work, you’re going to drain your motivation very quickly and you won’t be working as effectively as you could.
There’s varying advice on how often you should take breaks, so try some different choices and see what works best for you. The research points to shorter breaks of only around 5-15 minutes. That’s long enough to get your mind off the work but not too long that you’ll struggle going back to it.
But, it is all personal. The main thing you need to remember when you introduce breaks into your routine is that for the time you’re meant to be working, you really need to be. Throw yourself into your studying and become absorbed by it; when you take a break, you want to feel as though you’ve earned it.
Your breaks can be anything you want, whether that’s looking at JustWeirdStuff.com, getting your social media fix, or chatting to your roommates. If you can, though, try and get outside for at least one of your breaks. Stepping out of your house and getting some fresh air can do wonders for resetting your focus!
5. Create the Right Place to Study
There are plenty of studying tips out there looking at how you should study, but what about where? The environment you create to work in needs to help your focus, not make it tougher to concentrate. So, it should first and foremost be free of distractions, like a TV on in the background or your phone right next to you.
It should also be comfortable, but not too comfortable. As a general rule, most people work better when they’re not laying on the sofa or in bed (although for some this can be fine). Try to have a set workspace you go to every time, like a desk in your bedroom.
Or, maybe studying outside of the house is better for you. By going to the library or heading to a cafe, you rid yourself of the distractions of being at home. No one can come in to ask you where the TV remote is or to help with a household chore; it’s studying time and that’s it.
6. Try Study Music to Pump Yourself Up or Focus
Studying for tests can be boring, but there are ways to make it more fun. One solution to studying boredom is to play music while you work. Not everyone will be able to have their favorite songs on and keep their focus, but if you can then give it a go and see if it boosts your mood!
If you find it distracting, try switching to focus music. Lo-fi hip hop beats or classical music are great choices that can make studying more enjoyable while not breaking your focus.
Keep Learning How to Get Motivated to Study
Learning how to get motivated to study is an entirely personal journey. What works for someone else may actually ruin your focus; everyone is different! Try out a whole range of different tips and tricks until you’ve pinpointed the things you can do that actually help boost your concentration.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out more on our website! We write across a range of topics, including motivation and productivity. If you’re looking for study boosts, we’ve got you covered.