What to do when you really don’t want to study.
I think we’ve all been there - the class is important and you know you need to study but when you sit down you end up feeling grOSS AND YOU don’t want to. So here are some tips to overcoming that:
Take a deep breath and reevaluate why you need to study. Try to stay positive.
When I’m not motivated I keep saying things like “what if I just don’t do it?” And then - surprise! - I end up not studying and suffer/regret it later. When coming up with reasons to study, try to keep it positive. Don’t say things like “if I don’t study I’ll fail the class.” Instead, say things like “if I study, I have a better chance at doing well on the exam. Future-me will be so proud of current-me.”
If you truly cannot find a single reason to study, set your studying aside for later and do another productive activity or take a long break.
Drill it into your mind that you really don’t need motivation to do well.
Even if you find the reason to study, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are very motivated. Sometimes we feel like no motivation = unable to study. This isn’t true.
Make a deal with yourself. Try studying for ten minutes. And actually try to study. If by the end of ten minutes you feel like you can continue studying, great! Keep going! If not, then you can take a break and do something else.
Choose a study scheduling method that works for you.
Some people feel great studying for hours on end once they get in “the zone.” Others feel the need to take quick breaks every half hour. Studying and scheduling methods are different for everybody! Play around with scheduling to find out what works for you.
In high-stress times, work (studying, assignments, etc.) can feel pretty overwhelming. To organize all the stuff you have to do, write it down! This takes some of the stress of remembering tasks off from your brain, so that your brain can focus on the more crucial things.
If you’re making a to-do list, keep the general list short. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed by too many tasks. (You can keep sub-lists on separate paper/sticky notes to break down each task.)
If you’re making a time-table, keep your schedule loose. Give yourself buffer time to complete each task, just in case you overestimated your efficiency.
It’s totally okay to overestimate efficiency! - ifyou do, you learn more about yourself and how you study best.
Small (pomodoro) breaks
Pomodoro technique in a nutshell: 25 minute blocks of working with 5 minute breaks in between. Feel free to change the length of the blocks according to your preferences! During your breaks, you can
Get more water
Get snacks
Make tea/coffee
Stretch
Do a tiny bit of yoga
Walk around the room/building
Stretch
Five-minute meditation
Head massage
Try to avoid looking at a screen. When you look at a screen, you stimulate your brain and it won’t get its rest. Also, the internet might suck you in and your break could last longer than intended. (cough tumblr)
Long breaks
Sometimes I really really really really reALLY don’t want to study. Or do anything. And I feel kind of gross and am on the verge of a mental breakdown. If you feel this way, stop.
Take a hella deep breath. And another one. One more. Aaaaand one more just for good measure.
Get away from your desk. I associate desk with studying, so getting away from it helps me relax. Lie down on a bed, or move to a different room if you can. If you can get near a window, try looking into the distance to relax your brain and eyes.
Breathe for a couple of minutes, then evaluate how you feel. Again, try to stay positive. Instead of “I feel shitty and I don’t want to do anything,” try “I feel tired right now and resting can help me feel better.”
Based on this evaluation, estimate the amount of time you need to rest. If you have a lot of studying to do, try to keep it under an hour. Set a timer for the amount of time you have decided on. (remember to include buffer time!) Getting back to work on time can make you feel more productive, which conduct better productivity!
During a long break, do an activity that makes you feel good and takes your mind off studying. You can
Take a long walk. If you live near a park or a trail, try strolling around in it.
Eat healthy food. Junky comfort food can make you feel groggy, especially foods that are fried. Instead, try eating some fruits or nuts.
Take a shower/bath
Talk with a friend
Make some art
Enjoy a long coffee break. (avoid caffeine if you feel anxious/panicky, though)
Play with a pet
Take a power nap
Longer meditation/yoga
Again, try to avoid looking at screens. Also, avoid thinking about studying. Let yourself have the luxury of NOT THINKING ABOUT STUDYING for a while, so you can return to it with a fresh mind.
Mental health days
Sometimes everything is just too much and you might feel the need to stop everything for a day. If so, take a mental health day!
Think of mental health days as physical health days. If your body isn’t feeling well, you are allowed to stay in bed and sleep/not do anything for a day. Similarly, if your mind isn’t feeling well, you are also allowed to stay in bed and sleep/not do anything for a day.
Let your parents and teachers know that you don’t feel well and can’t go to school. From my experience, most teachers are pretty understanding and will let you have the day off. (You might have some work to make up later, though.)
Do not study on mental health days. Don’t even think about studying on mental health days. Instead, just focus on getting better. You can
Sleep in
Clean your room
Take a super long bath, complete with bath bombs and candles
Watch a good movie
Read a good book
Sing your favorite songs really loudly
Literally anything that (IS HEALTHY and) makes you feel good about yourself.
Study groups can keep you going, even when you kind of don’t want to
Setting up a time (like a date!) can keep you on track
Study with someone you trust to keep you accountable. Don’t study with someone you know you’re going to gossip or watch cat videos with.
If you really feel the need to cancel a study date, it’s ok! Just like canceling any kind of date, it’s 100% okay to back out if you feel uncomfortable.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and happy studying!
