Tips on How to Get Motivated to Study

How to Get Motivated to Study

Let's assume that there is an assessment test scheduled to hold in the next couple of days and you are getting nervous because you’ve been so unmotivated to study that you haven’t bothered to flip through a single page! How do you spur yourself up to study?

Understandably, studying can be a herculean task for both students in secondary and tertiary institutions, teachers, including lecturers, individuals learning a skill and graduates preparing for a professional exam or presentation. Studying effectively therefore requires more than just creating time, because you could create the time to study but still find yourself unmotivated to study when your alarm goes off. 

Studying effectively requires the right mindset. It requires genuine interest and motivation. It demands an effective pull and push to learn, an open-mindedness, and apt interest in the materials to be studied.

In this article, we will discuss strategies on how to get motivated to study, and specifically how to pull yourself into the mood to study.

Let’s take a look at some of these strategies. Hopefully, you will put them into practice for a better studying habit/ lifestyle.

1. Set Realistic Goals

The first step to getting yourself motivated to study is by setting realistic goals.

You most probably feel overwhelmed and unmotivated to study because you are thinking about the big stack of textbooks, handouts and other materials you need to study.

Now why don’t we make this task a little bit easier and fun huh? Let’s start by creating a reading plan, and breaking it down into even smaller plans/goals. 

For example, instead of “Read Biochemistry Textbook”, which we both know is a herculean task because of the size and volume of the textbook, we could create a simpler goal like this…. “Study chapter 6, The Biosynthesis of carbohydrates”.

By using this method, you take a lot of burden off yourself and make studying a lot easier. You will also feel a sense of accomplishment as you complete each set goal.

2. Set a Study Plan 

As interesting and simple as the first tip is, to be realistic, it isn’t enough to get you to study effectively. You cannot study effectively if you have your daily schedule and activities jumbled up.

You need to create a study schedule that best suits your daily activities. Create a study timetable and discipline yourself to stick to it. 

As the saying goes, habits are built overtime and a well-organised routine reduces procrastination. 

Creating a study plan isn’t just about picking a specific time to study. You have to include the time for other activities, and set your study plan in such a way that you get the luxury of resting before studying to avoid burnout from stress. 

3. Determine the Core Reasons Why You Need to Study:

Another method on how to get motivated to study, is to determine and remind yourself constantly of your important ‘WHY’. Ask yourself these questions 'Why do I need to study? What do I stand to gain the most from studying? What are my academic goals? ' 

There is a popular notion that goes thus “Find Your Why”.  This notion entails that you determine your core reasons for studying, your goals, and the motives that pushes you to study, to learn. 

Your “Why” is the deep-rooted reason behind your passion and commitment to learn. Thus, to determine your core reasons to study, you should ask yourself the following questions;

1. What am I aspiring for?

2. What are my goals? 

3. Why am I taking this course of study or why am I learning this skill? 

4. How will learning this change my life?

Your core reasons could be personal knowledge and self-improvement or career advancement/professional development.

Once you have determined the core reasons why you need to study, write them down and remind yourself consistently.  Use them to motivate yourself, spur yourself on whenever you feel distracted. 

When you constantly remind yourself, you will be able to maintain focus and keep going. It should be the fuel that reignites your fire, the iron that sharpens your iron. 

4. Choose a Study Environment

An ideal study environment is one void of noise and distractions. However, studies show that many people find noisy environments more convenient for them. 

For example, I in particular, prefer a mildly noisy environment with a handful of people lingering around, more convenient for me. Places like libraries and cafes are too quiet and would make me sleepy. Hence, an open field and a lecture hall are the most convenient places for me.

You on the other hand may find my preferred study environments uncomfortable and too distracting. Therefore, it is important to figure out which environment you find convenient, whether it is a quiet room, a library, a cafe, or an open field, figure it out and utilise it. 

5. Choose Fun Studying Activities

The strategies on how to get motivated to study are inexhaustible. While some of the methods we have outlined so far might work for you, you might find yourself still backsliding. So, let's continue exploring more techniques on how to get motivated to study. 

Engaging in fun activities while studying is one of the most effective ways to keep yourself interested and focused.  Let’s explore some activities worth engaging in while studying. 

• The Pomo-Doro Method: This method is said to be extremely effective in getting you interested in continuing studying when you find yourself struggling to keep up. 

In this method, you set at-least 25 minutes of study time, and 10 minutes of break time. After the first round, you take it a notch higher by adding an extra 10 minutes to the study time, and break it off again for 10 minutes. 

This should be fun, and it is also a way of training yourself to spend a longer period of time studying. Do remember to reward yourself as you progress.

• Study Partner: This is another fun but effective method. Having a study partner or partners, could be like having a hype man. Having someone by your side, encouraging you to keep on, drilling you with questions related to the course, topic or material you are studying, can be a strong motivation to not only study more, but to retain as much knowledge as possible while at it. 

6. Minimise Stress and Create Rest Time

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy study habit is to minimise stress by cutting out excessive stressful physical activities, because stress can tremendously affect your motivation to study. 

Also, when you are anxious, your mind and body are consumed with regulating your stress level, thus making it difficult for you to concentrate and stay focused. 

There are several ways that stress affects your motivation to study, some of which are; Reduced focus, mental fogginess, reduced level of concentration or total inability to concentrate, emotional overload which can result in loss of interest, and finally, Burnout (physical, emotional, and mental depletion).

  It is therefore necessary to devise ways to minimise stress and keep your motivation level high. The following measures can be implemented to manage stress:

• Divide every stressful task into smaller manageable parts, and take it one at a time.

• Use relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation when you are overwhelmed.

• Develop active time management strategies. This will enable you to create rest time to unwind.

Benefits of Consistent Study Routine

The importance of creating a study routine cannot be overemphasised. 

A study routine is the winning chip that sets you up for success. It benefits you in tremendous ways, by helping you stay motivated and focused, and helping you improve in your time management skills.

Creating a routine also helps you create realistic study goals, improves your concentration level which in turn helps maximise your information retention ability. 

By being consistent, you build healthy studying habits that overtime become a part of you, a core habit, difficult to break. You find yourself unwilling to give in to the lure of procrastination. 

What are you waiting for? Pick up a pen and paper, construct a study routine using the tips provided in this article, and commit yourself to it. 

Summary

As important as studying is, many people struggle to get in the mood for studying.  The purpose of this article is to provide helpful tips and strategies on how to get motivated to study, for people who wish to improve their study habits. It also aimed to provide tactics for overcoming procrastination and attaining academic objectives.  

In this article, the following tips on how to get motivated to study, were discussed;

1. Setting realistic goals to enhance concentration and motivation.

2. Setting a study plan to keep you focused.

3. Choosing an ideal study environment (Library, cafe, lecture hall or an open field), that suits you best, and keeps you from unnecessary distraction.

4. Choosing fun studying activities to make studying entertaining and fun. Two examples were given, which are; the pomodoro method, and having a studying partner or team, to encourage and keep you motivated to continue studying.

5.  Reducing stress and creating adequate rest time, to keep you from burning out. Because it is almost impossible to study when you are stressed. Effective stress reduction methods were highlighted.

Practise the tips highlighted and discussed as you set out to study, and watch your study habits improve for the better! Goodluck! 

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