5 methods to force Yourself to seriously study

Studying is such an important part of school, yet it’s often one of the things students struggle with the most. If you have a hard time studying seriously, you’re not alone! Get into a habit of studying at the same time every day, break down your work into small tasks, and pick something to reward yourself with when you’re done. With time, you can make studying a fruitful part of your day and break the procrastination and guilt cycle. 

Method 1 of 3:

Motivating Yourself

1. 
   1
   Keep a list of the reasons why you need or want to study. Whatever your reasons are, write them down on a piece of paper and keep them somewhere you can see them often. When you feel like skipping out on studying, read them over to remind yourself of why you need to work hard.[1]

   • Reasons to study can range from wanting to get good grades so you can get into a good college to keeping a scholarship to simply not getting in trouble for getting bad grades. No reason is too big or too small to add to your list!

   Tip: Keep in mind that you may not feel motivated all the time, and that is okay! What’s important is that you can use self-discipline to keep yourself on track even in those times you aren’t feeling the motivation.
2. 
   2
   Make boring information more interesting so it’s easier to study. Ask yourself, “How does this material relate to my life?” or “How can I use this in my life?” For example, if you’re bored by the book you have to read for English class, ask yourself how you can relate to the characters in the book to keep yourself engaged. Or, if you’re struggling with studying for biology, get interested in how much you can learn about your yourself and all the living things around you.[2]

   • It can be difficult to be interested in everything, and some subjects just won’t captivate you. But, try your best to figure out how everything you’re learning can apply to your own life. That personal connection could spark enough interest to keep you going!
   
   
3. 
   3
   Set a timer so that you know there is an end in sight. Nobody wants to study for hours on end without a stopping point. Give yourself frequent, regular breaks during your study time. You could set an end time for the day, too, so that you know at the latest how long you’ll be studying.[3]

   • For your actual study blocks, set a timer for 30-50 minutes and then take a timed break before getting back to work. You’ll study more efficiently if you know a timer will be going off soon.
   • If you study right after school, you could commit to working until dinner time but then give yourself the rest of the evening off. Or, if you study at night, set a timer for 30 minutes before your bedtime so you can wind down.

   Try the Pomodoro Technique: set a timer for 25 minutes; once the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Study for another 25 minutes, and then take another 5-minute break. Every 4 25-minute blocks, let yourself take a 15-20 minute break.
4. 
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   Reward yourself at the end of each study block to keep yourself going.This can be something really small, like getting to enjoy a piece of your favorite candy at the end of each block of time, getting to check Twitter or Instagram for 5 minutes, or taking a break to cuddle your pet.[4]

   • You could also plan a fun reward for the end of each exam to celebrate all your hard work! Getting coffee with friends, taking a long bath, buying something you’ve had your eye on—make it something that you love to do so it feels more meaningful once you’ve taken a test.
5. 
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   Enlist the help of a study-buddy. This doesn’t have to mean you actually sit down and study together. Rather, this is a person you can check in with every day to help keep you on track. If you know you have to text someone at the end of the day to tell them if you hit your goals, it could help you stay motivated to study when you don’t feel like it.[5]

   • You could ask your study buddy to check in with you if they haven’t heard from you in a few days. This could get you back on track with your plans before too much time passes.