How to Stay Motivated in Class, to Study & to Do Homework

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The best tips to help you get motivated and stay focused
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Do you have those days when you say to yourself, "I don't need school," or when you just can't find the motivation to pay attention in school or get your homework done? You're not alone, but doing well in school will set you up to have the life you want down the road. We're here to share all the best tips to keep yourself motivated in school so that you can succeed and achieve your goals.

How to Motivate Yourself at School

  1. Set concrete goals to work toward.
  2. Break assignments into smaller chunks.
  3. Reward yourself when you finish a task or reach a goal.
  4. Turn off your phone and work in a dedicated study area.
  5. Track your assignments in a planner or with a list.
  6. Take care of your mind and body to prevent burnout.
  7. Remember that doing well in school now will help you achieve your goals in life.
1

Set concrete academic goals.

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    If you just want to “do better” in school, does that mean an A? Or a B? Are you just trying to pass? Sit down and set specific benchmarks for yourself. You might say you want to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, or that you want to get at least an A- in history this year. [1]
    • Use the SMART method to set concrete and meaningful goals for yourself.
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2

Stay focused with mindfulness tricks.

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    Whether you're in class or sitting at your desk at home, you might find yourself nodding off or getting lost in a daydream because you're bored. A good way to bring your mind back into focus is to practice a mindfulness trick that “reactivates” your senses and brings you back into the moment. Bobbing your knee, performing deep breathing exercises, pinching yourself, or holding an ice cube are all great ways to wake your body back up. [2]
    • Create a simple but distinct action that sends a clear message to yourself.
    • It should be something you don't do regularly—wiggling your toes, for example.
3

Break big assignments into small chunks.

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    Don't get overwhelmed by a class presentation or a long paper. Remember that you don't have to finish a project in one sitting. [3]
    • List all the different steps you must complete to finish the project.
    • Make a schedule that forces you to finish one small piece of the project per day.
    • For a paper, you might read and summarize one source on day one. Then, tackle another source on day two, a third source on day three, and synthesize their arguments on day four. Then, you can write your paper over the course of the next few days.
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4

Study efficiently.

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    It’s easy to just sit in front of your book and read passively without really absorbing the information. Study in a way that makes the most sense to you. If you find it most efficient to focus on one subject at a time, do that. If bouncing between a few similar subjects helps you stay on task, that’s fine, too. [4]
    • Review everything you learned at the end of each study session. This will help you commit the material to memory.
    • It’s better to spend 10-15 minutes studying every night than to try and cram everything into one study session the night before the big test. Research has shown that cramming is one of the least efficient ways to prepare for a test, so avoid it at all costs. [5]
5

Take breaks when you’re working.

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    Studies have shown that taking a break to recharge when you feel like you’re running out of energy will help improve your productivity. It’s a lot easier to stay motivated if you know you’re going to get to relax eventually, and a little brain break can be life-changing when it comes to maintaining momentum during a study sesh. [6]
    • You might try the Pomodoro technique if you want more structured breaks. Basically, you choose a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, and then work hard for the entirety of that block, then take a 5-minute break. After 4 blocks (so, 2 hours total), take a longer break—usually 30 minutes. [7]
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6

Shut your phone off so it doesn't distract you.

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    For most students these days, the phone is the single greatest distraction. Don’t tempt fate by keeping your phone on you when you’re studying or doing schoolwork. Shut the thing off or put it on silent and leave it in another room. [8]
    • If you really struggle with not checking your phone, give it to a parent or roommate when you want to study and say something like, “Don’t give me my phone for at least 1 hour. I need to finish this paper.”
    • The same goes for social media. If you find yourself popping over to Facebook or Instagram every 15 minutes when you’re reviewing lectures, set up a website blocker to ban those sites when you’re studying.
7

Reward yourself for accomplishing your tasks.

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    If you want to stay motivated in school, you need something to look forward to. Bargain with yourself: if you study for two hours, you can watch your favorite TV show at 8:00. If you get an A on your paper, you'll take the whole weekend off and just relax. [9]
    • Remember that nobody can work all the time. Give yourself a little time off when you deserve it.
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8

Set up study groups for difficult subjects.

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    When you study with friends, it doesn't feel so painful! But you have to make sure you stay on task instead of joking around and having a good time. [10]
    • Study groups should have no more than 3-5 members so they don't get unruly.
    • Meet at least once a week on a regular schedule. You can meet at school during a free period, or after school at somebody's house.
    • Volunteer to be the group leader/coordinator. You will determine what classes and projects the group will focus on in a given week so that everyone's working together and helping each other instead of randomly working on their projects.
9

Keep a physical calendar and to-do list.

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    Stay on top of all of your obligations and track important assignments and dates. Buy a daily planner to help keep track of the schedule you created in the previous step. Write down all your homework in this calendar, as well as due dates for long-term assignments and projects. [11]
    • Set lots of reminders for yourself! Remember to write reminders about long-term projects in the days leading up to the due date, so you don’t forget about it until the last second.
    • You can also use a calendar app on your cell phone to keep track of your obligations. However, there’s really strong evidence that physically writing things down helps you remember them, which is kind of the whole point with a planner. [12]
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10

Maintain a dedicated studying area.

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    If you’re working in a hectic area, then you might struggle to stay focused. Having a dedicated area for schoolwork will also make it easier to get into the flow of a productive headspace when you work. Make sure your study space is set up to help you enjoy your study time as well as you can. [13]
    • Keep your desk neat and clean so you don’t get frustrated by how sloppy it is.
    • Keep your tools (pencils, highlighters, staplers) neatly organized so you can find them easily.
    • Make sure the space is well-lit. Dim lighting can give you a headache, which definitely won’t help you stay motivated.
    • Figure out if you work best with silence or with a little background noise. Some people are distracted by noise, while others can’t work without a little music playing in the background.
11

Set aside time each week to study and review.

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    If you don’t set yourself up to do well in school, you’ll hate facing it every day. By creating a regular schedule for after school and the weekends, you’ll bring up your grades, improve your self-confidence, and appreciate school more. [14]
    • Set a patterned routine. Successful people often stick to regular routines to help them stay on task and achieve their goals. [15]
    • There might be some variation throughout the week — for example, you might have a club or practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but not the other days. Make sure that every week, you know what to expect from each day.
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12

Participate socially at school.

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    This doesn’t mean that you should be talking through class or passing notes, but it does mean making school more enjoyable by embracing your classmates. Enjoy your classmates’ company and you might even find yourself looking forward to school. If your classmates aren’t fun enough for you, have a club, sport, or extracurricular you enjoy waiting for you. [16]
    • Make good use of your downtime at school. Lunchtime and the time between classes is a great time to recharge your energy before your next class by having a good laugh with a friend.
    • Join after-school clubs and teams to find people who share your interests.
13

Remember your overall purpose.

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    Whether you’re passionate about science and want to become a biologist or your main goal is to just want to be wealthy enough to not have to go to school ever again, find the connection between what you want in life and the work you’re doing now. It’s a lot harder to stay motivated if you don’t see the relevance in what you’re doing. [17]
    • Say you want to own your own business one day and you’re staring at some boring algebra homework thinking, “I’ll never need this…” Well, to own a business you need to be good at math. How else will you manage payrolls or inventories? You may not need algebra per se, but the skills you’re honing will 100% help sharpen your number skills in the future.
    • Alternatively, say you want to be a doctor. Well, you need to get into a good medical school. To get into a good medical school, you need to do well in college. To do well in college, you need to master the skills you’re learning right now! It’s all connected at the end of the day.
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14

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    Spread the news: you're setting a high bar for yourself. Tell your friends, your parents, tell everyone you know that you plan on bringing your English grade up to a B by the end of the semester, or that you're going to ace the chemistry test. By telling other people about your goals, you’ll feel more accountable. [18]
    • If you work your best and still fail to meet those goals, don't get discouraged. Redouble your efforts. With hard work and time, you'll meet your goals.
15

Take care of your body.

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    You cannot stay motivated if your body is not in good health. Get 8 hours of sleep—especially on school nights. Eat a diverse, healthy diet and get plenty of physical activity during the school year to ensure you’re in tip-top shape.
    • If you can, take a fitness or exercise class to ensure you get some movement in during the school day.
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Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Do you want to make your studying more efficient, learn more quickly, and remember more information? Check out these expert articles.
1
Study For Exams
2
Study So You Can Remember Everything
3
Make a Study Space
4
Create Good Study Habits for Exams
5
Learn Without Forgetting
6
Retain Information when You Study for a Test

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I do to stay occupied in school?
    Laura Reber, SSP
    School Psychologist
    Laura Reber is a school psychologist and founder of Progress Parade, an organization that provides 1:1 online tutoring with hand-picked specialists to students with academic needs, ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, and social-emotional challenges. Laura works with a team of school psychologists and specialized teachers to create personalized approaches for homework support, academic intervention, homeschooling, unschooling, and more. Laura holds a BS in Psychology from Truman State University and a Specialist in School Psychology degree (SSP) from Illinois State University.
    Laura Reber, SSP
    School Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    One easy solution is to ask your teacher if you can stand up for a little bit. Sitting for an extended period of time can be difficult if you have ADHD, so standing may be a bit easier for you. Your teacher shouldn't have a problem with it if you aren't bothering anyone. Another option is to get a fidget toy and play with it under your desk.
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  • Question
    How do I enjoy studying?
    Sean Alexander, MS
    Academic Tutor
    Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University.
    Sean Alexander, MS
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Think about what you are passionate about. Aside from your classes, what do you love? Let's say you love history but don't like math. In terms of history, where do you think humans would be if they never figured out math? Try to see how your classes are relevant to what you find interesting.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Is it better to study the night before or the morning of school?
    Community Answer
    It's better to study the night before, as it will help you sleep better if your brain knows that it has already tackled all that it needs to do. Just go back through your notes really quickly in the morning before the test.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.tntech.edu/research/pdf/resources/proposaldevelopmentresources/Examples_of_Measurable_Goals_and_Objectives.pdf
      2. ↑ https://medium.com/the-blade-and-beyond/rating-coping-skills-and-distraction-techniques-ice-cube-tricks-5bf7630dc937
      3. ↑ http://www.successconsciousness.com/overcoming-laziness.htm
      4. ↑ https://psyche.co/guides/how-research-from-psychology-can-help-you-study-effectively
      5. ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/cramming-for-a-test-dont-do-it-say-ucla-researchers
      6. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/jobs/take-breaks-regularly-to-stay-on-schedule-workstation.html?_r=0
      7. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryancollinseurope/2020/03/03/the-pomodoro-technique/
      8. ↑ https://news.utexas.edu/2017/06/26/the-mere-presence-of-your-smartphone-reduces-brain-power/
      9. ↑ https://grad.uw.edu/advice/setting-goals-rewarding-yourself/
      1. ↑ https://www.unomaha.edu/maverick-advising-center/_files/advising-res-handouts/benefits-tips-and-pitfalls-of-study-groups.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.juilliard.edu/news/136771/deadlines-doom-student-blog
      3. ↑ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414241-writing-things-down-may-help-you-remember-information-more-than-typing/
      4. ↑ https://studyville.com/dedicated-study-space/
      5. ↑ Sean Alexander, MS. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.
      6. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2013/10/02/5-things-super-successful-people-do-before-8-am/
      7. ↑ https://www.bentley.edu/news/12-reasons-why-you-should-join-student-organization
      8. ↑ https://www.colorado.edu/today/2020/08/31/5-ways-find-your-academic-path
      9. ↑ https://throga.com/accomplishing-your-singing-goals/
      10. ↑ Sean Alexander, MS. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.
      11. ↑ Sean Alexander, MS. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 14 May 2020.

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