If you are in school or trying to learn a new skill, studying will be a fixture in your life for the foreseeable future. If you’re having a hard time motivating yourself to hit the books, the following tips will show you how to stop procrastinating and start studying.
Read also why you’re procrastinating and how to stop it, as understanding the motives behind your behavior can help you move from inaction to productivity.
Get yourself started
Face procrastination head on
Everybody procrastinates sometimes. It is one of the most powerful coping strategies against anxiety. But unfortunately, it is not a very useful strategy in the long term. Whatever it is we are trying to avoid will still be there, and the pressure to get it done will only increase.
For many people, this increased pressure only makes procrastination worse. This phenomenon is known as the Procrastination Cycle [1].
Unless you understand the reasons why you procrastinate, even the best study tips in the world will not help you. This will take some self-reflection, but some of the most common reasons for procrastinating include:
All of these emotions are bolstered by unhelpful thoughts or assumptions. For example, if you procrastinate due to a lack of interest, you may think, “Studying means I’m missing out on something fun.”
Challenging these assumptions is the best way to break out of the procrastination cycle for good. Taking the above example, you can reframe that unhelpful assumption by telling yourself, “There will be plenty of time for fun after my study session is over.”
The University of Manchester put together this handy guide for identifying the root causes of procrastination and disrupting the cycle: Now or never? Understanding The Procrastination Cycle. Try the “interrupting the cycle” strategies for yourself.
Once you have a plan for addressing your procrastination, you can work on improving your study routine.
Know your study preferences
Just like every individual has a preferred learning style, some study methods will work better for you than others. The VARK model is one of the most popular assessments for categorizing learning styles.
According to VARK, learning preferences tend to fall within one of the four categories: Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic. However, your learning style could be a combination of two or more of these modalities. If you’re not sure of your learning style, take the VARK Questionnaire.
By matching your study methods to your VARK learning style, you may find that your study sessions are more productive and engaging. The table below can give you a few ideas to start experimenting with.
| Learning Modality | Definition | Suggested Study Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | Prefers information graphed out using charts, patterns, and varying forms | – Creating comparison charts – Mind maps – Note system with colors and shapes – Flow charts |
| Aural | Prefers information relayed through spoken language or conversational writing styles | – Mnemonics – Group discussion – Video lectures |
| Read/Write | Prefer information relayed through text | – Note-taking – Summarizing text – Supplemental readings/information |
| Kinesthetic | Prefer to learn by doing or going through the steps of a process | – Role-playing – Virtual simulations – Create a poster, model, or visual presentation |
While study preferences don’t have to align perfectly with your learning style, it is a good starting point for testing methods that may work for you.
Schedule a set study time
Studying effectively requires surplus brain power. Establishing and following a routine makes it easier for your brain to anticipate upcoming events. Since the brain uses prediction as an energy-conserving strategy, creating a study routine can free up valuable cognitive energy [2].
Scheduling a recurring study session may be as simple as entering a reminder on your planner or calendar. However, if you have a schedule that is constantly in flux, you can try the following planning strategies:
Habit Linking — Instead of studying at a specific time of the day, start your study session before or after a particular habit.
For example, you can decide that you must study for an hour before watching TV or always study after you walk your dog. This way, the chain of events remains predictable even if your timetable isn’t.
Fill Your Dead Time — Dead time is the waiting period between activities. This can include a commute on public transportation or waiting in your doctor’s office lobby. If you have more dead time than free spaces in your schedule, you can dedicate these in-between moments to studying.
This strategy works best if you can access your study materials on a portable device, like a tablet or smartphone. If your textbooks are too heavy to carry around, try photocopying a few chapters at the beginning of the week and bringing that around with you instead.
When you choose a study time, consider the following questions:
Set up a study space
Your environment plays an important role in habit formation. Once habits become ingrained, we tend to perform them automatically and unconsciously. However, since many of our habits are context-based, your brain uses its surroundings as cues to trigger behaviors [3].
Think about it. You may have a habit of taking your shoes off once you get through your front door, but likely, this habit doesn’t kick in at your workplace.
In the same way, you can design your study space to trigger the desire to study. If you make conscious decisions about your learning environment, you will be better positioned to reach your study goals. Here are a few ways you can make any space more appropriate for studying:
Sit in a chair — Studying on the couch or in bed can make it easier to lose focus, as your mind associates those spaces with sleeping or relaxing [4]. Further, your body position can impact your memory recall.
You are more likely to remember information when you are in the same position you learned it [5]. Since you’ll most likely take your exam seated at a desk, it’s best that you study that way as well.
Use good lighting — Studying in a well-lit space will reduce eye strain and fatigue. If you use a digital device to study, make sure that the surrounding light is brighter than the screen [6]. You can also enable a dark mode feature to reduce eye strain [7].
Decorate your space — There is no law that says your study space has to be boring! While you should remove unnecessary clutter and distractions, sitting in a well-designed space can actually boost your motivation [8]. Consider sprucing up your space with candles in energizing scents like lemon, photos of family and friends, and inspirational messages.
Write goals for your study session
Many people avoid studying because they feel overwhelmed by the amount of material they need to review. Putting down a study plan on paper is a great way to sidestep your procrastination.
Like with any other type of goal setting, you should limit what you plan to accomplish in one study session to around 3 to 5 goals. If you’re not sure where to begin, try using the Eisenhower Matrix method to prioritize your tasks [9].
Created by the United States’ 34th president, the Eisenhower Matrix labels every task under one of four categories:
Urgent and Important – These tasks have upcoming deadlines and will make a major impact on your learning outcomes.
Important but not Urgent- These tasks will have a major impact on your outcomes, but the due date is not in the near future.
Urgent but not Important – Tasks that must be done within a certain timeframe but do not directly impact your outcome.
Not Important and Not Urgent- Tasks that can be completed at any time and don’t have a meaningful effect on your outcome
| Task Type | Examples | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent and Important | Class projects, assignments, studying for upcoming exams | Set these tasks as your priority for your study session |
| Important but Not Urgent | Assignments due at a later period, practice exams | Schedule these tasks in your study plan so that you can complete them in a timely manner. |
| Urgent but Not Important | Note taking, talking to classmates | Delegate. You can use an app that automatically records and transcribes lectures. You can also batch all your questions for your classmates and send out messages one time per day. |
| Not Urgent and Not Important | Making notes look pleasing | Drop. These tasks are usually not worth your time to complete. |
Stay in the zone
Now that you have your study plan in place, you can start implementing your study routine. The following tips will help you stay focused during a study session.
Reduce distractions around you
When you’re studying, you’re grappling with internal and external sources of distraction. Other people in your environment, like roommates, partners, kids, or pets, may distract you while you are studying.
You may also face a stream of distractions from your phone or internet browser. Finally, your own brain may distract itself through a phenomena known as “mind-wandering” [10]. Rather than focusing on the task at hand, your brain may turn its attention to thoughts about the past or future.
You can reduce many of these distractions by preparing your environment in advance. For example, share your study schedule with anyone who lives with you and let them know you will be unavailable.
You can also reduce distractions by installing a site-blocking app on your phone and laptop. Some apps allow you to block specific sites on all of your devices for a set period of time. If you really have difficulty focusing, you can create a separate user profile on your computer with only the tools you need for studying.
Internal distractions are probably the most difficult to tame, but it is possible. You can keep a fidget tool in your study space to give you sensory stimulation and boost your focus [11]. You can also add a short meditation to the beginning of your study routine to reduce mind wandering [12].
Sometimes, letting your wandering mind do its thing is the best course of action. A Harvard University’s Schacter Memory Lab study found that daydreaming breaks do not necessarily impact cognitive performance [13]. Just make sure you consciously return to the task at hand.
Diversify your study schedule
Willpower alone will only get you so far. You will sometimes become bored with your studies, and the temptation to procrastinate will grow stronger [14]. For this reason, it is important to introduce novelty into your study routine by scheduling several types of activity in a single session.
If you’re a college or graduate student taking multiple classes, you could dedicate a portion of your session to studying for each course. If you’re studying a single subject, use a variety of methods in your session. For example, you could review flashcards, watch a supplemental lecture, and then finish with a writing assignment.
Choose a study playlist
Quiet environments are the golden standard for studying and taking tests [15]. However, many people find it easier to concentrate when listening to some kind of background noise.
If you prefer a bit of aural input while studying, consider the following options:
If you listen to the same playlist during every session, the music itself can trigger your motivation to study [19].
Fail-proof your study plan
Keep the momentum going by sticking to your study plan every day. For best results, try these fail-proofing strategies:
[1] Centre for Clinical Interventions. (n.d.). The Doing Cycle. https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Procrastination/Procrastination—Information-Sheets/Procrastination-Information-Sheet—02—Vicious-Cycle-of-Procrastination.pdf
[2] Abdullahi Ali, Nasir Ahmad, Elgar de Groot, Marcel A. J. van Gerven, Tim C. Kietzmann bioRxiv 2021.02.16.430904; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.16.430904
[3] Gregory Ciotti. (2014, August 7). Want to Change Your Habits? Change Your Environment. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/habits-not-hacks/201408/want-change-your-habits-change-your-environment
[4] Centre for Clinical Interventions. (2016). The Doing Cycle. https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Procrastination/Procrastination—Information-Sheets/Procrastination-Information-Sheet—02—Vicious-Cycle-of-Procrastination.pdf
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[9] EISENHOWER. (2011). The Eisenhower Matrix: Introduction & 3-Minute Video Tutorial. Eisenhower. https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/
[10] Matthew A. Killingsworth, & Daniele T. Gilbert. (2022). A Wandering Mind Is an Unhappy Mind. Danielgilbert.com. http://www.danielgilbert.com/KILLINGSWORTH
[11] Crystal Raypole, & Lindsay Boyers. (2019, November 18). Fidget Toys for Anxiety: 18 Options. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/fidget-toys-for-anxiety
[12] Columbia School of Professional Studies. (2021, May 10). How Meditation Can Help You Focus | Columbia University School of Professional Studies. Sps.columbia.edu. https://sps.columbia.edu/news/how-meditation-can-help-you-focus
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[15] Sarah Garone. (2021, September 24). 8 Ways Silence Can Give Your Health a Boost. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mind-body/physical-and-mental-health-benefits-of-silence
[16] Lehmann JAM and Seufert T (2017) The Influence of Background Music on Learning in the Light of Different Theoretical Perspectives and the Role of Working Memory Capacity. Front. Psychol. 8:1902. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01902
[17] Nadon É, Tillmann B, Saj A and Gosselin N (2021) The Emotional Effect of Background Music on Selective Attention of Adults. Front. Psychol. 12:729037. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.729037
[18] Da’Naesha Herring, & Jason Scott. (2018). Emerging Investigators. https://www.theneighborhoodacademy.org/editoruploads/files/JEI-2018-HerringScott.pdf
[19] Tay RYL, Ng BC. Effects of affective priming through music on the use of emotion words. PLoS One. 2019 Apr 16;14(4):e0214482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214482. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2019 Sep 18;14(9):e0222965. PMID: 30990819; PMCID: PMC6467386.
[20] Johanna Peetz, Marina Milyavskaya, Mariya Davydenko; When Time on Task Is Seen as a Reward: Autonomous Motivation Increases Preference for Pursuing Goals More Often for Less Time. Collabra: Psychology 1 January 2020; 6 (1): 13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.285
