Feeling unmotivated for exams?

Maria Rondon

Maintaining a consistent and efficient study plan with every ounce of focus directed towards it is a very common struggle shared with many students around the world. With the cause of your short attention span at your fingertips and the addictive algorithm of the internet, it has proved to be difficult to keep motivation and focus. But your reason for reading this article is not to blame the media, but rather to overcome its doings.

I aim to help you create as little distractions as possible, create an environment that keeps you inspired, and have efficient studying techniques that will take your studying to the next level.

Distractions

• Phone management

I have always found it difficult to keep a constant focus while studying, so limiting any sources of distraction have helped tremendously. I suggest keeping your phone on “Do Not Disturb” and at times, leave your phone far away from your workspace so there is less chance of you reaching for it. A single notification may take your focus elsewhere and at times, returning to your thought process isn’t as simple as it sounds.

• Sounds

Another tip I would advise is using noise cancelling headphones/earphones with some relaxing music. Using sounds such as brown noise/white noise or “40Hz alpha waves for concentration” on Spotify allows you to ‘stay in the zone’ and helps tune out any external noises that may stray you from your revision.

Environment

• Workspace

As materialistic as it may seem, redecorating your desk and adding wall adornments creates a peaceful study environment that will motivate you to sit down and work away. The mess during exam season is, dare I say, inevitable but starting it off with a space that makes you smile at the thought of it might just help.

Changing your study location from time to time may also allow you to avoid feeling enclosed and isolated. Carrying out your revision in a coffee shop or in different parts of the house gives you a change of atmosphere that may allow you to overcome the burnout of exam season.

• Organisation

Keeping organised is also a significant help during stressful times. Folders on your laptop for each subject allows you to browse your study resources with ease. Less panic when you’re looking for that one study sheet created 3 years ago that you remember to be particularly useful.

Also having physical folders for each subject is a good idea as it prevents the build-up of seven different subjects worth of papers towering over you in the corner of your desk.

Sticky notes are also useful to stick on your wall as it is a constant reminder of things you would like to get done. Having many subjects to study for is not an easy task and a few reminders may take your organisation to the next level.

Study methods

Something that helped me and may help you majorly when studying for content-heavy subjects, is watching videos. As a visual person with a short attention span, I found them to be extremely helpful (“Cognito” and “freesciencelessons” on YouTube were particularly useful). It is also easier to multitask when watching videos; eating while watching a video so you don’t feel unproductive. Watching a video also allows you to stay productive when you may not feel motivated to read a 300-page science book.

After watching the video, writing what you remembered on paper allows you to know what you retained from it. Then add in what you didn’t remember and work on memorising that. This method is called blurting and is by far one of my favourite study techniques.