A 7-step guide to staying motivated while studying at home

Studying at home has its perks: all-day food options, zero commuting, furry study buddies, track pants and controlling the playlist. But being cooped up inside all day can impact your mood and turn your productivity into procrastination. Add to that noisy housemates, nagging chores and bed… being… right… there… and suddenly the day’s over and you’re back at square one tomorrow. Want to avoid the slump and stay motivated? Follow these steps to set yourself up for study success.

1. Create a good study space

Books in bed? Bad idea. Laptop on lounge? Good luck. Having a designated study space separate to your chill-out areas is crucial. If you can, invest in the basics: sturdy desk and comfortable chair. Your desk should be big enough to fit all your study supplies and your seat should be the kind of comfy that doesn’t cause back pain. Get creative and pin some inspirational pictures or quotes about your goals to a board for when your motivation drops.

2. Minimise distractions

Social media, phones, housemates and TV can all cause you to lose focus. Set yourself up for a good study session by minimising your distractions before you start. Turn the notifications off on your phone and sign out of social media on your computer. Let your housemates know that you will be studying so that they won’t interrupt you. Sit down with a snack and a glass of water so you don’t need to keep getting up.

3. Develop a schedule

Developing a schedule will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed about your workload. You can use a paper planner, bullet journal or electronic calendar to organise your assignment and exam dates. If you have a clear idea of your weekly schedule it will be easier to organise your daily goals. If you are more productive in the morning you should schedule your social commitments in the afternoon. It’s important to create a schedule that suits you.

4. Use study techniques

There are many different study techniques you can use that make learning more interesting and engaging. These techniques also help you study more efficiently. A good way to learn new information is to use the process of paraphrasing and reflecting. This is where you rewrite new content into a short paragraph of your own words. Self quizzes involve creating your own questions and answers about a topic. Practice exams prepare you for the real thing and highlight the areas that you need to work on.

5. Manage your time

Take ten minutes before you start studying to plan out your day. Divide the sections of your day into the topics or projects you will be working on. It can also help to break down large projects into smaller ones. If you struggle to focus for long periods of time then consider using the Pomodoro technique. This involves setting a timer for 25-minute intervals of highly focused work. At the end of each interval, you take a five-minute break. You can personalise the timer to suit your own focus levels, for example, 30 minutes work and a ten-minute break.

6. Connect with others

Studying at home can feel a little isolating. Setting aside some time to connect with others will help you feel more motivated about studying. Knowing that others are also working is a great motivator, and some healthy competition will push you to work harder. You could also set up a study group with other students from your classes and create group messages to keep yourselves accountable.

7. Take productive breaks

If you have assignments due, breaks can sometimes feel like a waste of valuable time. But if you sacrifice your breaks, you won’t be doing your best work. Taking a breather gives your brain the chance to rest and reset. If you’ve been sitting for a long period of time, make sure you move your body. A walk or run outside will clear your mind and get your endorphins flowing. You might want to call a friend, get a snack or simply step away from your desk for half an hour. Make sure you save watching TV shows and playing video games for when all of your study is complete or you might find it hard to get back to work.

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