Aspiring Librarian

Try to remember that there is no single strategy that will work for everyone when it comes to studying and staying motivated.

However, there are plenty of options that you can try, to see if they work for you. If they do, you should  try and incorporate them into your ongoing study routine. If not, then put them aside and try something else.

The important thing is whether your strategy keeps you motivated, not whether other people agree with you. Try not to compare yourself to others.

Study tips:

Try not to procrastinate too much:

Avoiding work can make you feel deflated. This can be more emotionally draining than having to go through the frustration of reading for your paper. Try to become aware of the habit and gently make yourself go back to the task sooner rather than later. (That being said there’s nothing wrong with procrastinating every now and then.)

Try to understand your studying style better:

What will make it easier for you to work?

We are all prone to pleasant experiences and it is natural that we tend to avoid uncomfortable, dry chores and duties.  So try to make your study experience as interesting as possible. For example, if you’re a visual learner, try making mind maps and coloured flash cards etc.

Take a time limited approach:

Rather than telling yourself, “I’m going to complete all of these tasks today.” try to say to yourself, “I’m going to study as much as I can for half an hour.” In this way you do not get as easily overwhelmed by the volume of study you need to do.

Break the task down into manageable chunks:

A big task, such as writing an essay or revising for an extended period, can be demotivating because it seems so big.

Breaking the task down into manageable chunks can therefore help make it seem less daunting.

For example, if you have a large written assignment, break the assignments into chunks. Plan out and bullet point what you want to say for each section, then when you come to write it fully, it won’t seem as daunting and you are less likely to stress out over what point you’re trying to make.

Get into a study routine:

It is generally easier to stay motivated if your studying becomes part of your everyday life and routine. Set aside a little bit of time to read notes, plan assignments, etc. Even if you do just 15 minutes a day, you’ll feel much more accomplished.

(I find that it’s the content of a study session that matters more than the time. For example, it’s better to do half an hour of concentrated study than to do 7 hours of studying where you don’t remember anything at the end.)

Create a schedule:

The act of creating a study schedule is a form of commitment, so it will help you to stay motivated.

For example:

For each subject, make a list of the tasks you need to complete in order to be ready for the exam.

Make or download a study schedule template and block out the times you have available each day to study

Create a daily plan which lists the most important tasks to be completed for the day

Review your study schedule at the end of each week.

Assess whether you’re on track to reach your study goals by exam time.

If you’re not, adjust your schedule by finding additional blocks of time for studying.

Try the Pomodoro technique:

Francesco Cirillo invented the technique in Italy in the late 1980s. Using a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato (“pomodoro” means tomato in Italian), he found he could concentrate better by studying in short stretches.

Decide on the task that you’ll work on

Set the timer for 25 minutes

Work on the task

Stop working when the timer rings

Put a check mark on a piece of paper

If you have fewer than four check marks, take a 3- to 5-minute break, then repeat from Step 1

After four pomodoros, take a 15- to 30-minute break

Draw a line through the four check marks and start counting your check marks afresh

You’re not going to feel motivated all the time and that’s okay:

The fact is that no one feels motivated all the time. So don’t rely on feeling motivated in order to get the work done. Sometimes the motivation just won’t be there. That’s why you need a study routine and study habits, because systems always beat motivation.

For the anon that asked: