College is one of the most exciting times of our lives. And when you’re busy spending your year going to parties, attending society events, and winning extracurricular competitions, you’re not left with a whole lot of time to attend classes. And that’s fine, because you were smart enough to get into one of the best engineering colleges in Ahmedabad, and you can always borrow notes from your friends. Right? Not quite.
Before you know it, it’s exam season, and now all those missed lectures are looking impossible to catch up on. Even looking at your textbook feels like too much. So, in times like these, how do you motivate yourself to study so you can actually ace your exams? Well, have no fear, because we’ve got you covered. Our tips and suggestions will ensure that you can stay motivated and finish your exam preparation. So, stop procrastinating and let’s get started.
Go outside
Okay, it may sound counterintuitive at first, but when you don’t feel like sitting down at a desk for hours, don’t. Instead go outside and take a walk. A little bit of movement and some fresh air will clear the cobwebs in your mind and make you feel more productive. You don’t need to run or do anything strenuous, even a small stroll outside will break the bubble of monotony you were feeling and set you up in a good mental space to learn. And if you want science to back our theory, we’ll give you enough facts. Moderate exercise and physical activity can produce endorphins which increase motivation and improve your mood. Plus, it’s Newton’s first law – an object in motion stays in motion. Once you’ve managed to go outside and take a walk, you’ll be more motivated to continue your progress and finish your studies.
Don’t multitask
When you’re struggling to reign in your motivation and start your revision, getting distracted by other things (even if they are productive ones) is not a good idea. You may think listening to a recording of your physics class while you’re cleaning your room is a smart thing to do, but it won’t actually improve your concentration or memory capacities. Instead, try to narrow your focus to a single task at a time. And that means prioritising. Make a list of the chapters you have to study in order of importance – what is foundational, what carries the most weight in your exam? Then work on that list one at a time. If you start out with multiple priorities, you’re giving yourself an out every time one of them gets boring or difficult. So, study in a sequential pattern for the best results.
Organise your workspace
There’s no way you’ll be able to motivate yourself to study if you’re working somewhere that’s cluttered or full of distractions (and yes, that includes your bed and open social media tabs on your browser). So, make sure that your environment is neat and clean. At the same time, you don’t want to have to break your flow and get up every time you need your laptop charger or a different book. Ensure that you have all the materials you need, preferably organised by subject, so that you’re giving yourself the best chance to have a productive study session.
Find a technique that works for you
When it comes to studying and motivating yourself, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. You have to use trial and error to figure out what works for you. You could use the Pomodoro technique if you find it difficult to concentrate for large amounts of time or use different note-taking methods like the Cornell method or mind maps to help you memorise easily. Once you’ve found and developed a habit that works for you, you’ll find it a lot easier to motivate yourself to study as you’ll have a clear idea of what you need to do.
Start simple
Look, we get it. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to study. Especially after you’ve spent a whole semester attending online classes from your PG in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, you’re pretty tired of working on your own. Well, the key to kickstarting your motivation is to get it into motion. You need to overcome your resistance first, and then you’ll be right in the zone. So, trick yourself into getting started by choosing a low-stakes first task. This can be as easy as attempting a free-write of all you can recall, or even making a list of past questions that are important for you to study. As soon as you start filling the page with material, you’ll find it’s easier to focus than when you haven’t even begun. So, give yourself an easy beginning and your study session is sure to go smoothly.
With these five simple techniques, you’ll be able to beat your procrastination and motivate yourself to study. Remember that self-discipline is key to success and don’t get overwhelmed by the uncertainties that aren’t in your control. Now you can stop reading this blog and start studying!