How to Motivate Yourself to Study Seriously

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This article was co-written by Nathan Fox, JD. Nathan Fox is an LSAT teacher, co-host of the Thinking LSAT Podcast, and a co-founder of LSATdemon. Nathan is the author of six LSAT books including the Fox LSAT Reasoning Encyclopedia. He scored 179 on the February 2007 law school entrance exam and holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

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Studying is an important part of going to school, but it’s also an activity that many students struggle to overcome. You are not the only one who finds it difficult to take studying seriously! Establish the habit of studying at the same time each day, break down the amount of work you need to complete, and choose a reward for yourself after completing the task. Over time, you can make studying an effective part of your day and kick the habit of procrastination and guilt.

Table of Contents

Motivate yourself

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List why you need or want to learn. Whatever your reason is, write it down on paper and put it somewhere you see it often. When you want to procrastinate, read the note to remind yourself why you need to study hard. ^{[1] X Research Source}

There are many reasons to study hard, such as wanting to get good results in order to get into a good university, wanting to apply for a scholarship or simply not wanting to get into trouble with poor academic results. . No reason is too big or too small to add to your list!

Tip: Remember that you don’t always feel motivated and that’s completely normal! The important thing is that you can voluntarily stick to your plan while feeling unmotivated.

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Make boring content more interesting to make it easier to learn. Ask yourself: “What does this have to do with my life?” or “How can I apply this to my life?”. For example, if you feel bored when you have to read a book to prepare for an English class, try thinking of ways to relate to the characters in the book to make reading more interesting. Or, when you have a hard time studying Biology, the thought that this knowledge helps you better understand yourself and the creatures around you will make you feel more excited. ^{[2] X Research Source}

It’s not easy to be interested in everything, and some subjects won’t keep you interested. However, try to find a way to relate the knowledge learned to real life. A personal connection can create excitement for you to continue learning!

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Set a timer so you know when the class will end. No one wants to study for hours without stopping. Allow yourself regular and regular breaks during the study session. You can also time the end of that day’s class to see how long you’ll have to study. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

To have specific study sessions, you should set a study timer for 30-50 minutes and then take a short break before returning to studying. You will study more effectively if you know the timer is about to end.
If you choose to study after school, you can focus on studying until dinner and allow yourself to rest for the rest of the time. Or, if you study in the evening, set a timer to finish 30 minutes before bedtime so you can clear your mind.

Try the Pomodoro Method: after the timer signals the end of 25 minutes of study, you will take a 5-minute break. Continue studying for another 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. After every four 25-minute sessions, give yourself a 15-20 minute break.

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Reward yourself after each study session to keep you motivated to keep going. The reward doesn’t have to be huge, it can be just eating your favorite candy after each lesson, watching Twitter or Instagram for 5 minutes, or petting your pet during a break. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can also plan a fun reward at the end of the exam to celebrate your efforts! Grab a coffee with a friend, take a dip in the tub, buy something you’ve been keeping an eye on – pick something you love to feel more meaningful after the hard work of completing the exam.

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Seek help from classmates. This doesn’t mean the two of you will sit down and study together. This is someone you can “report” to every day to help you complete your plan. If you have to text someone at the end of a class to “report” on whether or not you’ve accomplished a goal, you’ll be motivated to learn even when you don’t want to. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can ask a classmate to check on the situation if you haven’t heard a “report” from you for several days. This helps you get back on track before you waste too much time.

School schedule

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Study at the same time each day to establish a routine . If you are someone who has a habit of waking up early, consider waking up early to study before going to school. If you’re a “night owl,” perhaps getting into the habit of studying for a few hours a night will work for you. Or, if you’re someone who likes to get things done so that you can relax afterwards, you can focus on studying as soon as you get out of school. ^{[6] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a class schedule, try making one every day. You can use the calendar app on your phone or make a chart on paper to take notes. Make a study schedule for each day so that you remember not to do anything else at that time.

Remember: Weekends will have a slightly different schedule since you don’t have to go to school. You may have to spend more time studying and working on projects on the weekends.

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Schedule your exam time so you can start studying ahead of time. As soon as you know the exam schedule for each subject, write it down on the timetable. If your teacher tells you the exam schedule at the beginning of the term, it’s a good idea to take a moment to enter all of your exam deadlines and exam dates into your class schedule. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

For example, if you know you’ll have an English test next Friday, and Algebra next Wednesday, you’ll know you need to review English first.
Another helpful thing you can do is write a reminder a few weeks before the test date to start studying! For example, if you have an important English test in the next 3 weeks and want to spend 2 weeks studying, write a reminder to start studying before the test day.

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Break down what you need to learn. To avoid getting overwhelmed by the amount of work you need to complete, divide the content into small chunks that fit. Also, remember to write a summary of each section so you know what content you need to deal with each time you study. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For example, if the review for a Chemistry test consists of 5 chapters and some concepts, each time you review, you will study a chapter and make a few flashcards.
Focus on completing one step in each class time frame. When you’re done, put a checkmark next to the step to make it easier to track progress. This way, you will have more motivation and control over the lessons.

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Schedule a break and relax. Expecting yourself to study for 5 hours straight is unrealistic – your brain needs a break! You will need a short 5-10 minute break for each 30-minute study. If you can stay focused longer, try studying for 50 minutes before taking a 10-minute break. When taking breaks, remember to get up, walk around, get some air, have a snack, or rest your eyes for a few minutes. ^{[9] X Research Source}

To a larger extent, you need to schedule a few “days off” during the pre-exam review period. If you know you’re going to have to study hard for a few weeks, set aside a day to allow yourself to not look at the work. This is also what gets you excited about the hard study days!

Avoid being distracted

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Eat healthy snacks and drink water before studying so you can focus. Hunger and thirst can distract you from studying. Avoid eating foods high in sugar so you don’t feel tired right away. If you want to drink caffeine, you should only drink 1-2 cups of coffee or 1 cup of carbonated soft drinks to not feel jittery. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese, popcorn, yogurt and chickpea sauce are all great snacks you can choose from.

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Increase concentration by going for a quick walk before studying. Release anxious energy and boost endorphins with 10-15 minutes of exercise. That way, when you start studying right after, it’s easier for you to focus and remember what you’ve learned. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Tip: You can also try studying while exercising. Take your work to the gym and study while walking on the treadmill. Your body and mind will be more relaxed after you’ve done everything!

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Go somewhere where you are not distracted by everything around you. If you feel like cleaning your bedroom or if you live in a noisy place, find another place to study. Similarly, if you want to study with friends but feel easily distracted, set some boundaries so you can focus. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Usually, a place where there are not many things and sounds that distract you is the best place for learning.

Tip: Put a blank sheet of paper on the study table. When a thought of something you need to remember or do comes to mind, you write that thought down.

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Turn off all electronic devices not needed for studying. Or, if you need to use your phone for a timer, be sure to select airplane mode so that notifications don’t appear. Don’t turn on the TV while studying, and put your phone somewhere you won’t be “tempted,” like in another room. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Nowadays, you can find many applications that help in limiting the time you use your phone. Some applications may block access to specific pages for a specified time. Do whatever works for you, whether it’s shutting down the network or setting some limits.

Advice

For good results, you should reread your notes every day from the start of the course. You can also rewrite or retype notes to remember the content longer.
Make good use of class time. Instead of daydreaming or worrying, you should focus on the lesson and take careful notes. You will feel better every time you study without having to spend a lot of time re-learning what you have learned.
Don’t neglect your sleep – getting a good night’s sleep will help you remember your lessons better and give you more energy to complete your study sessions well. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day for best results.
It’s better to give your phone to your parents or siblings so you can focus on studying. Besides, if you need a break, don’t use your phone. Instead, draw, craft, or chat with a loved one. This is when you should relax gently. You can always reward yourself after completing the session.

Steps

Motivate yourself

School schedule

Avoid being distracted

Advice

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