How To Study When You REALLY Don’t Want To

The best ways to study when you really don’t want to is to set mini study goals, challenge yourself to work on an assignment for 5 minutes, use food trail rewards, try a new study method, change up your study environment, figure out what time of day you are most motivated and make a study schedule around it, take short breaks when you lose focus and/or exercise before studying.

1. Set Mini Study Goals

Often feeling unmotivated to study stems from feeling overwhelmed. Luckily there is a simple fix – prioritise your to do list and set mini study goals!

Next time you need to study but you really don’t want to you should sit down with a sheet of paper or your preferred planner and create a small to do list. It should have no more than 5 things to do on it. These things should be super small, super achievable goals not broad things that could take hours.

Here are some examples of good mini study goals:

• Go through incorrectly answered questions from part one of maths exam
• Write topic sentences of the main body paragraphs of an essay
• Research ________ for 15 minutes

2. Challenge Yourself To Work On An Assignment/Homework Task For 5 Minutes

Sometimes I get unmotivated even before starting an assignment or piece of homework. I’m sure you’ve experienced this before too. I absolutely hate the feeling of knowing that you need to do something for school but not wanting to do it at all.

A really good way to combat this is to tell yourself that you will just work on that specific assignment/homework for 5 minutes with full focus. I usually tell myself that if I do the task for 5 minutes, I can stop as long as I have put in full effort for the 5 minutes.

This is a really good way to get yourself to start studying as after the 5 minutes you will probably feel super motivated to continue working. And if not you will feel really good that you have at least started it!

3. Food Trail Rewards

When you need to read something but you really don’t feel like studying, it can be super difficult to get started. The food trail rewards system is a fantastic way to bribe yourself to get started!

It’s a really simple study method that lots of students use. Pretty much you have a packet of small lollies e.g. M&Ms or gummy bears, and then you tell yourself that you are allowed to eat one for every page that you read.

Trust me, you will be reading faster than you have ever before when you start using this method!

You don’t need to have lollies as your reward for studying. You could promise yourself a bigger reward for studying for a longer period of time.

Alternative Reward Ideas

• Watch a movie after finishing an assignment
• Buy ice-cream out after studying all weekend for finals
• Eat a snack from the vending machine after you studying for a few hours in the library

4. Try A New Study Method

Another reason why you might not want to study is because you don’t like your current study method. You should mix it up and try a new method.

Some really good study methods are:

• Pomodoro Study Technique (Check Out My Printable Pomodoro Tracker Here)
• Leitner Method
• Spaced Repetition
• The Feynman Technique
• Self-Quizzing
• Mind Mapping
• Colour Coded Note Taking
• Cornell Note Taking

These Articles Have Great Information About The Above Study Techniques:

• Ultimate Guide To The Pomodoro Study Technique
• How To Study Flashcards With The Leitner Method
• How Top Students Study *Secret Methods Revealed*
• The Ultimate Guide To Taking & Studying Cornell Notes

5. Change Up Your Study Environment

Sometimes studying in the same place everyday can make you really unmotivated to study. A simple environment change can easily kickstart your studying again! Even simply re-arranging the room with your desk or even giving your desk a quick clean up could make you more motivated!

Good Study Environments:

• Local library
• Home office
• Dining room table
• Study spots across your campus

Try studying in different and new environments to test out where you feel most comfortable and motivated to learn!

6. Figure Out The Time Of Day You Are Most Alert & Motivated

Everyone is motivated to learn at different times of the day. You might be a morning or a night person. Take advantage of that!

If you are not sure what time of day is best for you, try studying at different times. Track what you get done in each of those study sessions and figure out when you are most productive. Then stick to that study schedule.

Also take advantage of the times when you get a spark of motivation to study. Stop what you are doing and study for a short period of time. Short bursts of study is really effective as the spaced out nature is better for retaining information in your memory.

7. When You Lose Focus, Take A Short Break

There is no point forcing yourself to continue studying when you are not focused. Take a short break, regroup and start again. Even simply changing the subject you are studying can replenish your motivation and make you feel much better.

Getting stuck on a single problem in a single subject can make you really dread continuing studying and make you very unproductive. It’s better to start something new in these situations and come back to it later when you are fresh.

If you struggle with focus while studying I highly recommend you try out the pomorodo study method as it is a time based method of studying that encourages maximum focus. You study for 25 minute sessions and between each session you have to take a short 3-5 minute break. I find it really handy as it reminds me to take a step back away from my work.

Short Study Break Ideas:

• Do some light exercise such as stretching, jumping jacks or running on the spot to get your blood flowing.
• Walk to a different room or at least away from your desk 
• Rehydrate
• Do NOT go on your phone. This is a gigantic distraction and you will definitely spend more than 5 minutes on it. 

8. Exercise Before Studying

Research shows that some exercise before studying can improve your concentration and focus. It also can drastically improve your mood, make you feel more positive and ultimately more motivated to study.

It’s one of the better ways to get yourself to study when you really don’t want to.

And you get the benefit of becoming fit while you are at it!

Before You Go!

Don’t forget to check out the Digital Student Planner that was mentioned in this article!