We all have days where we don’t feel like studying. Sometimes that feeling can last a whole week. You’re tired, a bit grumpy and just want to relax. You’re jealous of all your friends who aren’t studying, who can come home from work and do nothing if they want to.
But the most successful students are those that don’t wait until they feel great to study.
These students know that it’s important to keep pushing the needle: doing a bit of studying every day. Just because you don’t feel like studying doesn’t mean you can’t get sh*t done and achieve something. In this blog post I share with you 15 things you can do when you don’t feel like studying.
But first, sign up to my free resource library where you can download my bloomin’ awesome study session planner AND tons of other printables and worksheets to help you become a happier, more confident and more successful student.
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There are two important caveats to the advice in this blog post.
First, you must distinguish between feeling like you just can’t be bothered to study and feeling like you’re burning out. There’s a difference between feeling a bit tired, bored or unmotivated and actually feeling exhausted.
If it’s the latter then take the night off. Allow yourself some time to relax guilt free as it’s important to look after yourself. Refuel with some good food, drink plenty of water, have a bath, watch some trashy TV, read a book, go to bed early…
Take time for yourself and come back to it tomorrow.
The second caveat is to either study or rest INTENTIONALLY.
Either get up and do something productive or have some down time and relax. It’s of no use to anybody if you ditch studying to spend a few hours on Netflix but can’t relax as you feel guilty the entire time. I’ve done this before and the next day I also haven’t wanted to study as I didn’t feel like I really relaxed properly the night before…*cue vicious cycle*.
The next time you feel like you probably should study but can’t be bothered make 1 of 2 choices.
Take 1, 2 or 3 things from this list and kick some studying butt.
Or, if resting tonight will leave you refreshed tomorrow, make the most of some down time and get back to it tomorrow.
I’ve separated the lists with a guide to how long each might take you. When you have some spare time before bed, on the bus home, waiting for the washing machine to finish…pick something and get it done.
When you have 10-20 minutes spare
1. Tidy your desk
2. Write a list of the most important 3-5 things to accomplish tonight or tomorrow
3. Review your latest notes – do you understand them? Can anything be clarified? Could you add an example or note down a concept that links to it? Jot down any additional thoughts
4. See if there’s any past exam papers you can download to get an idea of possible questions
5. Any questions on your next assignment? Email your tutor for some quick guidance that could really help in a few days when you start your essay
6. Look at the month ahead and see if any dates, appointments, events clash with your essay or exam dates. Make a plan to ensure your study fits in
7. Read one of my highly-informative, best-information-around blog posts and learn some new study skills!
When you have 30-45 minutes spare
8. Look up your next essay question and make some quick notes on any ideas, concepts, examples that come to mind
9. Create or adapt a diagram you want to use in your next essay. I use Microsoft Powerpoint
10. File your notes
11. Take notes from a topic and turn it into a 1 page revision mindmap
12. Start some online research, bookmarking links to use later.
When you have 1-2 hours spare
13. Finish off taking notes on a section of the text
14. Plan your next essay – set up the document, type out the question and guidance, list any key ideas you want to develop, define some of the key terms
15. Take notes from a topic and create some flash cards of key points.
Let me know in the comments below which tip you’re going to try out.
And don't forget to sign up to my resource library and grab alllll my best resources to help you save time each week, improve your study skills and achieve the grades you've always wanted.
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More from my site
How to Get Your Studying Done When You Say You Will
Bad Note Taking Advice and What You Should Do Instead
Are your study habits hindering your success?
7 Ways to Study Effectively with a Full-Time Job
It’s Time to Get Strategic With Your Studying (Studying Restart Challenge Day 3)
Superb Studying Lessons From Elle Woods
Venturing over from the Problogger challenge. Love the content, really like the idea of breaking it up by how much time you have to spare. One thing that struck me right away was that most of these are appropriate for any work tasks, too, not just studying. At least, anything where you’re working against a deadline. #1 is my favorite and a go-to, #11 I should do more.
Hey Les, thanks for the comment. I agree with you about #1 – I’m a naturally untidy person but spending just 5-10 minutes sorting out my desk makes me feel calmer and ready to start the day 🙂
The words “I don’t feel like doing it” often come to your mind. “I don’t feel” like it is a tragical common phrase for students and for people working in creative fields, and it’s really something that limits your potential and that limits your productivity when you’re trying to get things done. Our thoughts on this are here:
http://www.chewtab.com/posts/what-to-do-when-you-don-t-feel-like-studying
Thank You! For the awesome read.
Hi im a normal student who used to be a great one but since i got to high school i started losing my power of studying hard, i feel there is way too pressure one me and i cant handle it and i lost everything because of this stupid , silly feelings
Not only did i lost the power to study hard but also i hate school and its like hell to me
I mean when i go to school it seems as though im in hell
And im always nagging about it
Im just hoping if anyone could help me
thanks for reading my stupid story have a nice day .
I’m sorry you’re going through a hard time at high school. As we progress through the education system the responsibility for our learning shifts from our teachers to us. This can be really difficult to adjust to. I definitely struggled with having to become an independent learner. I want to urge you not to give up. You may feel hopeless right now but small tweaks can lead to big results.
Here are some of my blog posts that might help you.
https://chloeburroughs.com/growth-mindset/
https://chloeburroughs.com/become-independent-learner/
https://chloeburroughs.com/stay-motivated/
https://chloeburroughs.com/improve-your-university-grades/
Have a read and send me a message on my contact page if you need more help.
Chloe
Well, thanks they were indeed helpful and now that i think about it, that day when i uploaded that comment i wasnt actually feeling good and now i just recognised my biggest problem which is, im a moody person
You see me happy in a moment and just five minutes after that im depressed, and this goes on and on
Since you are so devoted i was wondering if you could please give me some help about being so moody if it is possible
Thanks i dont know how can i just thank you here from the internet
Hi I am a student from Bangladesh and i am about to sit for my O’level after 4 months I really want to get good grades in all my subject but the thing is I don’t feel like studying and whenever i say to anyone that i really want to get good grades in all my subjects they’ll be like “Really, Can you get good grades?” This things make my confidence level very low. And i really feel bad for myself 🙁 I feel like I am good for nothing.
hey I have o levels this year glad to find someone to relate to
I try hard and bring good grades. But seriously, I am never satisfied ( unless it’s a full mark) by the way, I have a hard time doing 1. And I hope I just don’t burn out myself by doing these things every 2 mins
I always got good marks from grade 1 to 5 but I’ve always knew that I’m not intelligent. When I got to grade 6 I was struggling but I managed and I passed then I failed my grade 7. It was hard for me but I got over it, for my grade 8 I was doing bad I actually thought I was going to fail but when I got to grade 9 I managed but it was still not good enough. I’m now in grade 10 and it keeps getting hard, I can’t even focus in class all I think about is going home.and if I don’t understand a question I never ask because I don’t even know what to ask because I wasn’t focusing… but if I get home and revise on what we did it’s much better but I can’t study on my own I need someone to help me. It’s hurting because ever since I lived with my mom I’ve never made her happy, it’s not that I don’t want could you please help me. This is long I don’t know if you are going to read but thank you very much
Hey Chloe, loved your blog, as of now i am in the 11th grade and i dont know if you know this but here in India 10 and 12 grades are the most important ones and like your whole life ahead depend on them, so after my 10 th i dont know why but i didnt feel like studying and so i was just browsing thru the net and found your blog so it really helped me. THANKS
Hi I am a University student in first year and the work is so overwhelming and what is mostly depressing is that we are all doing it online due to the COVID-19 pandemic now there are some network issues where I live to an extent that when I had to write a quiz which was for marks I couldn’t answer even a single question while the time was already counting down then I submitted zero. So I am worried because I do not want to fail at all and I am trying to study at home but still it doesn’t feel like I am doing so I don’t know why
Please tell me what to do.