so i had a couple weeks where my motivation just... seemed to have taken time off. these 5 tips are those that helped me the most when i couldnât seem to bring myself to start studying. i hope theyâre helpful to others as well!
SO HERE ARE 5 TIPS FOR WHEN YOU DONâT WANT TO START STUDYING
iâll bring myself as an example: before i study i always follow these steps, in this order: i clean the desk, even if the books i need are already there, i clean it; i take a glass of water and a small plate with some almonds and 1/2 chocolates; i get a timer for the pomodoro technique (iâll talk about this later); i brain dump (iâll talk about this too); start a playlist; take a deep breath, sit down, and actually start. now, this is mine, it doesnât have to be yours, but it was to help you understand. when youâre on the couch with your phone and you just donât want to start an afternoon of studying, just... try the first step. clean that desk. then get the glass of water. and from then on it will be easier and easier to actually get to it. the important thing is to start.
start small (the pomodoro technique)
if you feel that your brain just... refuses to focus on that textbook, donât strain it. start small. if youâve never heard about the pomodoro method, i suggest you look it up online, iâll try to explain it briefly: all you need is a timer; you study for 25/30 minutes, get a 5/10 minutes break in which you get up, go to the bathroom, drink, do a mini-workout... then you start again. it really helps if the idea of sitting at your desk for ours makes you want to vomit. if even 25 minutes seems too much, donât worry. study for 5 minutes. have a break. try studying for 10 minutes. but maybe you wonât even need to do that: like i said before the important thing is to start. just that will set your brain in motion, and it will actually be harder to stop.
this simple tip has really helped, maybe more than all the others i name here. you have a lot of thoughts rushing through your mind that you just canât lock away so you can start focusing on that homework? brain. dump. just grab your planner, your bujo, a random piece of paper, and write down whatâs on your mind without worrying about the form. just write. write until your mind is blank. then try to start again.
give yourself a reward (if...then)
it can be a small thing like âif i finish this maths equation iâll eat a candyâ or a larger-scale thing like âif i study this chapter iâll watch another episode of my favourite tv showâ. our brain tends to choose the path that requires less effort and gives a bigger reward. but facing a task knowing thereâs a reward at the end might help make it seem more effortless.
just donât wait to âfeel like itâ
because sometimes you just never will. you will never âfeel likeâ spending an afternoon studying a subject you hate. but you have to do it anyway, so... try your best to make it pleasant. study in your favourite spot, listen to your favorite instrumental piece, buy a nice notebook so itâs easier to actually open it... but you have to start. just start. thatâs really the hardest part. i promise itâll get easier from there.
