Study Motivation for When You’re Feeling Uninspired

My Top 8* Tips on How to Keep Going

*New tip added!

Different things work for different people, but how to stay motivated is one of my most frequently asked questions, so here’s a summary of the things I do when I find motivation lacking. (I apologize in advance if they’re obvious! What I’ve noticed about study motivation is that it’s not so much about the tips, but about how ready you are to hear them.

8. Use my phone to film myself studying

I know, I know. It sounds so weird. Something that only millenials would think of, right? But it actually works! Filming a quick timelapse of yourself studying works for two reasons, I think.

First off, you feel like someone is watching you, so you’re on your best behavior. No slacking off, no opening YouTube and getting lost in random cat videos, no messaging friends.

Secondly, it’s really really fun to go back and watch it. It’s really satisfying to watch those few seconds/minutes of productivity (you’d be surprised how an hour of studying can be condensed into just a few seconds). And don’t feel like you have to share it with anyone – it can be just for yourself; that way, there’s no issue of feeling self-conscious.

It’s a rather unorthodox approach, I think, but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures hehe.

7. Plan my to do list before going to bed

Somehow, this works almost every time. When I plan my day out the night before, I actually envision myself studying (picture Elle Woods preparing for her LSATs studying) and I usually get excited to make that vision a reality. Then I go to sleep having something to look forward to: an ultra-productive day, and that positive outlook goes a long way.

It’s also helpful because when I wake up refreshed, I don’t have to spend precious energy on determining where or how to start: I’ve already got my game plan, all ready to go.

6. Reward myself (pre- or post-study)

Studying day-in, day-out is incredibly draining, so I find ways to keep my morale up. This often comes in the form of food (which isn’t the healthiest, I know) or delicious coffee. It’s much easier to talk myself into getting started with a revitalizing, yummy coffee in my hand. Since I’m an “instant gratification” kind of person, I usually reward myself PRE-study session, before I’ve even gotten anything done, but it still works.

5. Change the scenery up

This is my go-to tip for long bouts of studying, as in during our 6-week exam period. The monotony of sitting in one place day after day can take its toll, which is why I often find new spots to study. I rotate between three types of locations: cafes, libraries and studying at home. I’ve explored my city enough to know which cafes permit me to study long hours with minimal purchases, and I know the pros/cons of the libraries I frequent.

If you can’t study effectively in someplace other than a library, for example, consider switching rooms, or even desks. A small change can make a big difference.

4. Find a study buddy

Misery loves company, didn’t you hear? Humans are social creatures and spending hours upon hours in solitude can be draining. If you’re able to study well with a friend, call them up and ask if they’re up for a review session. Or just simply sit and study in the same room, taking breaks together — the laughs we have over lunch really reenergize me for the afternoon study session. Whenever we feel like life is too monotonous and we’re in severe need of study motivation, my med school friends and I schedule a cafe study day that we know might be less productive, but way more fun.

3. Listen to inspirational music

I prefer not to constantly listen to music while I’m studying, because studies have shown that even a bit of multitasking can be detrimental. But if I find myself losing focus or feeling demotivated, music can really lift my spirits. I’ve put together a Spotify playlist of my favorite inspirational songs (and as it’s collaborative, I’ve gotten tons of suggestions from you guys. You can find it here.) if you need inspiration of what to listen to.

Edit: adding a new playlist – this is a list of just movie soundtracks that I adore. Here’s the link to that one!

2. Take a guilt-free break

Counterintuitive as it may seem, sometimes taking a break is exactly what I need to get pumped again. Taking a deliberate break is significantly more useful than spending hours procrastinating and feeling dejected. Here, the key is the “guilt-free” part: there is absolutely no point in taking time off from studying if you will spend it beating yourself up.

If you can afford to, take a break and enjoy it. Watch a movie, spend a few hours binge-ing a TV show, get a drink with a friend. Try your best not to overdo it (don’t stay up late and ruin your sleep schedule, or waste a study day with a bad hangover) but enjoy yourself. Eat some yummy food, work on your hobby, or read a book.

The next day, you’ll be as good as new: well-rested and itching to get studying. Remember, forgive yourself. Everyone needs breaks.

1. Find your intrinsic study motivation

No one, except you, can motivate you. People come to me (and other Instagrammers) looking for study motivation, but sadly this motivation has to come from within yourself. Here are some tips on how to discover (or reignite) your intrinsic drive.

• Flicking through motivational quotes: “Remember why you started,” and “I didn’t come this far to only come so far,” are some of my favorites.
• Gratitude: when I remember how lucky I am to be where I am, studying what I am, it really puts everything into perspective.
• Envisioning your future, the goals you’re working towards. What you do today will get you closer to that, I tell myself. And it helps, as I imagine interactions with my future patients or answering questions correctly on the wards.
• Tumblr: I made a list of my favorite medblrs (these accounts motivate me because I know that I’ll be using my newfound knowledge to treat patients, as they are); sometimes I also search “studyspo” and scroll a bit.
• Instagram and Pinterest are other sources of motivation for many.

Remember that medicine is hard (read my brief blog post on how), law is hard, economics is hard. Whatever we are experiencing in the moment may seem hard, but we are not alone. Find some communities of students who are going through the same things you are, and connect and learn from each other. Instagram is great for study motivation within a community, but there are a ton of other platforms out there as well.