Struggling to study…Try this
Studying tips for students who want to study but don’t want to
All Images curtesy of Sakina: Fashion Journalism and Content Creation student
Don’t bother asking me how many ginger teas I have had lately. It is November and the drastic weather change has affected my uni outfit choices and my studying patterns. If you’re like me and just want to hibernate, but you know your assignments won’t write themselves…grab your mugs and hear me out.
I wrote myself a list of things to do when I don’t feel like studying. You can use these and adapt it in a way that suits you too:
PRAY
One thing I will never deny is that I can’t do it alone. I usually start my study days with a prayer filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be able to study, as well as a request for wisdom and guidance on how to make the most of my time. When I find myself in a rut, I have a quick chat with Jesus on what to do. My last chat is what inspired the following steps in this blog post…
EAT
Did you forget to eat? Believe it or not, it’s not writer's block, you’re just hungry (maybe hangry). I know as students, between high living costs and time efficiency, food doesn’t always come as a priority. But something my sisters told me when I started uni was no matter how hard uni gets, make sure you are eating. You are not dumb. You are able to do this work. You just forgot to eat and your brain is struggling to catch up. Grab a snack or meal then get back to work. You’re not you when you’re hungry.
LIST
This one almost always works for me immediately. You can have 101 things to do but if you have no sense of order, you will get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing. Get organised. List everything you need to do. Choose three that you will do, and do it. If you have time, add more to your list. Three things might not seem like a lot when you look at how long your list may be, but you will end up being three more steps ahead than you were before. Break down your tasks before you have a breakdown.
CRAWL
I saw this term on Tiktok recently and realised it was something I already do. Go on a study crawl. This is where you have a study day, but split up your time into various locations. Maybe you can do your reading in the library. Then make some notes in an open access study room. And finish off your day in the cantine writing a section of your work. Changing environments keeps your mind active and alert so you don’t start to slack off and feel too comfortable and settled in one area. When you start daydreaming, it means it's time for a new location.
WALK
Or maybe, you actually need a break. There is not a single person I know who advocates for studying without including physical wellbeing. My two inspirations: @veekativhu and @unjadedjade both excel in their respective careers and have both shared their physical wellbeing journeys. Whether it is going for a run in the middle of the day, or practising some breath work and stretches, it is so important to exercise your body the same way you are working your brain. In all honesty, this is the one I personally have to work on. I do feel refreshed after a quick walk, it’s just up to me to include it in my study schedule.
SING
This is more for your at-home-study-sessions. When I am feeling low, I turn the volume up on my motivational playlist. I’ve mentioned previously in my tiktok how music can affect your mood and how even the GOAT Simone Biles uses it to hype herself up before a competition and boost her confidence. You need to tell your mind that you believe in yourself. A good playlist can act as words of affirmations and after singing one good song with all your heart, you just might have enough ammunition to continue working.
Here is a list of songs on my playlist that you can add to yours:
Million to one - Camila Cabello
Try everything - Shakira
High Hopes - Panic at the Disco
Daydream - Lily Meola
Make it shine - Victorious OST
Get Back up again - Trolls ost
Don’t stop believing - Journey
Unstoppable - Sia
A million dreams - The Greatest Showman OST
On top of the world - Barbie Princess Charm School
RAIN
On the other hand, you might need silence that’s not really silent. I need some sort of noise when working and music can be distracting while studying at times. This is how I discovered: rain sounds. It might just be a London thing, but there is something very comforting about hearing the rain while being inside and locked in on an assignment or project. On sunny days I usually want to be out enjoying the heat, but rainy days get me really focused and set the right mood. I usually put a continuous video of rain on youtube, but iphones also have a white noise function that you can choose from. Experiment which works best for you.
BOND
As humans, we should not be doing life alone. That includes uni. If you are not able to motivate yourself, find yourself a study buddy. Not a friend. A study buddy. There is a difference. Not someone you can yap with, someone you can work with. Luckily, I struck gold finding people in uni that are both friends and study buddies with goals and discipline to put in effort. Identify that person and send a quick message scheduling your study date - chances are they need it as much as you do.
If you are reading this thinking “I can’t think of anyone” don’t worry, I’ve considered that too. When I need a study buddy at the last minute, I find them on Youtube. Search, study with me, for whatever duration you’d like, and put your phone, laptop or ipad next to you as the video plays and get to work.
SWITCH
Uni is not the only thing you got going on. This might even be the reason why you can’t focus on your studies. So switch focus for 30 minutes. Answer emails, schedule appointments, do whatever extra task is on your mind for a limited time then switch back to your work. Working in 30 minute increments keeps your brain active and ready to work more efficiently because you have stricter internal deadlines. I usually edit Youtube or Tiktok content then switch back to uni assignments, each for 30 minutes for up to 12 hours in a day.
Or…
If all else fails, close your laptop for the day. Even if some days aren’t the best, at least you tried your best. Have a shower, wear some cute pjs, have a treat, watch a movie and try again tomorrow.
I had a full study day planned, but after two hours sat down in front of my laptop, my eyes started to close, the words on the page started dancing and my fingers were aching. Mind you, I am someone who has done the 12 hour study day challenge multiple times and it honestly has not fazed me, so to tap out at the 2 hour mark was not an option.
Starting to get distracted, I began to look out the window at the bare trees; Nature is slowing down. We don’t see it, but our body and minds feel it. Animals are calling it a day and looking forward to the type of nap I will need once I graduate. So instead of fighting what I was feeling, I’m learning to work with it.
