This article was co-authored by Jai Flicker and by wikiHow staff writer, Annabelle Reyes. Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
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When you have mountains of homework and studying ahead, getting started can seem like an impossible task. We’ll teach you how to get into the right frame of mind before you start studying and shake yourself out of a motivation slump. Read on to learn how to stop procrastinating, focus even when you're tired, and get into the mood for a great study session!
How to Find Study Motivation: Quick Tricks
- Set study goals and break larger ones into smaller, concrete chunks.
- Create a daily schedule and set phone timers to remind you of when to study.
- Reward yourself when finishing a task. Watch a video, eat a treat, or take a break.
- Study with friends or a tutor to keep yourself accountable and divide up the work.
- Set a 25-minute timer, work until it goes off, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat!
- Remind yourself that studying now will help you achieve your long-term goals.
Steps
Study Schedule Template
Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I avoid getting distracted when studying?Jai FlickerJai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
Academic TutorThe first step when you are feeling distracted is to identify what kind of distractions are occurring. There are a few types of distractions, including digital distractions, internal distractions, and human distractions. Digital distractions can be handled by putting your phone on silent or Do Not Disturb. Internal distractions are commonly stress-related. Try to put aside your stress for the moment and finish your work or attend to what is causing the stress enough so that you can come back to your work. Human distractions can be dealt with by communicating the need for some space and finding a quiet part of the house to study. -
QuestionHow can I get more energy and motivation?Jai FlickerJai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
Academic TutorIf you are struggling with motivation, try to do one simple thing a day to modify your environment. Whether that's making your bed or cleaning your desk off or putting up some posters, shaping your environment can help fuel motivation. -
QuestionHow can I remember my goals everywhere?Community AnswerSet your phone's background to a picture related to your goal. Set alarms to go off every couple of hours on your phone with reminders. You can even find apps that will send them to you at random times. Put a Post-it note by your bedside so that it's the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
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Make an effort to take good notes during class and keep them in an organized notebook or binder. Use these to help you with homework, projects, and upcoming exams.Thanks
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Sometimes it can be about changing your perspective—try framing your thoughts as you get to study, rather than you have to study.Thanks
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If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or professor. Visit during their office hours or ask if you can set up a time to speak with them about the subject. Make sure you ask questions in class, too. If you ask questions, it will show that you’re motivated and want to do well in their class.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- Sometimes, motivation can come after you've already started studying. If you don't feel like studying, just try doing it for five minutes, and check in with how you're feeling after that.
- Be sure to get a good night's sleep to help you retain the information you’ve studied. Aim to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
References
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ https://graduate.rice.edu/news/six-strategies-staying-motivated-during-covid-19-pandemic
- ↑ https://help.open.ac.uk/study-goals
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/08/your-to-do-list-is-in-fact-too-long
- ↑ https://cps.unh.edu/blog/2018/10/self-care-tips-increase-your-student-bandwidth
- ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2019/08/healthy-snacks-to-power-studying/
- ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
- ↑ https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk
- ↑ https://www.edology.com/blog/study-and-careers-advice/effective-study-space/
- ↑ https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters
- ↑ https://healthybrains.org/pillar-physical/
- ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/tips-studying-motivation.html
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21508527/
- ↑ https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/best-study-music-and-benefits/
- ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/tips-studying-motivation.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5256450/
- ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02522/full
- ↑ https://opentextbc.ca/studentsuccess/chapter/memory-techniques/
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices#examples
- ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination
- ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination
- ↑ https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/study-lab/study-skills-tools-resources/pomodoro-technique
- ↑ https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.2014.1901
- ↑ https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/study-lab/study-skills-tools-resources/pomodoro-technique
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-rewarding-yourself-with-treats
About This Article
If you’re having trouble getting motivated to study, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted, and turn your phone on silent or place it out of sight so you won’t be tempted to look at it. Set concrete goals for each study session, like learning how to solve a specific math problem or reading and comprehending a complete chapter in your textbook. Reward yourself with a snack or a break when you meet your goal. For tips on making a study schedule, keep reading!
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