Simple techniques to stay productive and excited throughout the studying process

With the semester in full swing now, the one thing all of us students are trying to do is study. This can get difficult to accomplish when there are other activities arising that seem a lot less dull than sitting at a desk for way too long. Personally, I have always loved going to school but I have struggled with this as well, especially during my education after high school. 

However, this fall I started law school and because of my excitement over this new beginning, I have somehow been managing my study habits better. The way I get through studying is by trying to make it fun, and I end up genuinely enjoying the process while also being efficient. 

The first thing I like to do is make sure I have a tidy space before I get started. I cannot focus properly when I’m within a clutter of things because then all that’s going on in the back of my head is how messy everything is. When my space is organized, my mind feels that way and I can then diligently do my homework. 

Another thing I like to do that allows me to get studying done is whenever a random idea or thought pops into my head, I jot it down on a list. This way I can get back to my task without worrying about forgetting about what I just thought about. Once I’m done studying, I go back to that list and see which things I thought about need to get done or can wait for some other day when I’m freer. 

To initially even begin making studying fun, I created a visual motivation board on Pinterest. It consists of different aesthetically pleasing pictures of study environments or set ups, which when I view, inspires me to create my own and utilize it. Over time, I’ve been able to create temporary and permanent study setups where I can enjoy myself and be productive. 

During study periods, I like listening to music that helps me hone in on the material. I’ve got separate playlists for when I need to motivate myself, read material or write out notes. I typically listen to phonk music when I’m doing any of these tasks related to my academics. Occasionally I’ll put on a classical music playlist from YouTube when I’m writing for long time periods. 

Sometimes when I’m really struggling to focus, I pretend like I’m in a movie, playing an expert in the topic and that I need to know the material because it’s a do-or-die situation. Like it’s the last part of the puzzle that’ll finally answer the main plot of the movie. This can trick my brain into making the studying as exhilarating as studying can get, and then when I’m in the zone, I end up forgetting the fictional role I gave myself in the first place. 

I like utilizing all kinds of studying supplies such as sticky notes, highlighters, pens and notebooks. When picking these out, I get excited to use them which allows for studying to be even more fun. I cannot tell you how many of these supplies I have, and I make sure to use them on a consistent basis. For example, I use sticky notes daily. They allow me to stay organized with my readings and mark down areas I need to revise a couple times. Plus, they come in all kinds of cute colours so how can I resist from using them?

Switching up my environment is a necessary component to making studying enjoyable. If I stay in my room and only study there, not only would it become tiring fast, but I would stop associating my room as a relaxing place. This is why I have a variety of study spots that I go to on a regular basis, whether they’re on campus or within the city. This is a great way to simultaneously explore new places and spend time with my peers through group study hangouts. 

During my study sessions, I make sure to take breaks in between. This is crucial because even if I go through all the effort to make it fun, I will end up burning out fast without breaks. What I like to do is go for coffee breaks between set study sessions I’ve planned out for myself. I even will go on a walk, with or without the coffee, and then come back to the same place I was studying at or go to a different place to study. These breaks allow me to be refreshed and go back to studying with that same positive mindset. 

When I’ve accomplished academic tasks, I’ve set up a reward system. These rewards are dependent on how minor and major the tasks are. For example, if I just finished a bunch of readings for my classes, I’ll reward myself with watching a movie and a face mask. However, if I’ve just written a midterm and did well on it, I may reward myself by buying something I want. This allows me to stay motivated to keep going and look forward to studying.

The trick with making studying a fun experience is incorporating a variety of things. This prevents it from becoming dull because it isn’t an identical process day after day. Once you’re able to curate your own routine like I have, the studying process will not only become more enjoyable but it’ll be more appreciated.