Schoolwork can easily become a dreaded, mundane part of your schedule. It seems to drag on and on until you’re bored out of your mind and stuck re-reading the same sentence for hours. But what if you could change that mindset? What if your studies became something you find yourself looking forward to—less of an obligation and more of a hobby? You can do this by “romanticizing” studying and homework—aka making it seem more appealing than it really is. Read on for five tips to help you do just that!
1. Get inspired
Having the right role model makes all the difference with any goal. For inspiration, go on a hunt for movies, TV shows, and books that shine a positive, desirable light on schoolwork. The early 2000s TV series Gilmore Girls (available to stream on Netflix) and the 1989 film Dead Poets Society (included with an Amazon Prime Video subscription) are perfect examples of what you should be looking for. Be sure to keep an eye out for driven characters as you watch, as they could end up being just the example you need. Creating a Pinterest board of the aesthetic you’re going for could also help boost your motivation.
Related: How to Fight Procrastination and Find Your Motivation
2. Create an incentive
It’s much easier (and more enjoyable) to complete a task when you have a reason to do so. As for what that reason may be, you know better than anyone what will prompt you to reach your goals. Try being creative! You could make a habit of starting every study session with a delicious coffee or treating yourself to 15 minutes of screen time during your study breaks. Whatever you choose, it’s important to keep a consistent routine to make achieving your daily goals even easier.
3. Switch up the setting
Sometimes all you need to cure a studying slump is a change in scenery. If you’re spending too much time getting sidetracked by your phone or bedroom, consider relocating to a new spot. Being outside of your element can prompt better productivity, similar to the way some students thrive under the pressure of a close deadline. Not sure where to go? Local coffee shops and libraries often provide free Wi-Fi and allow you to stay for as long as you please. If you’re unable to leave your home, ambiance playlists (like this dark academia one from YouTube) are the perfect option to virtually transport yourself to another reality.
Related: Video: College Study Spots
4. Stop dreading your assigned reading
Academically assigned reading material is infamous for being boring and, thus, often put off until the last possible moment. But it doesn’t have to be that way! One of my favorite ways to make assigned reading more engaging is to keep a couple different colored highlighters with me when I read and assign a specific purpose for each. For example, you could use yellow for honorable quotes, blue for dates and times, and green for metaphors. This system will force you to be active enough to catch the things you need to highlight. I also recommend tracking your progress with an app such as Goodreads to have a visual representation of your day-to-day achievements. Additionally, it’s beneficial to have a second novel of your choice to read in intervals with the assigned reading as extra motivation.
5. Keep a journal
Having somewhere to digest your thoughts and stay organized is essential for students on a strict class regimen. You can use a journal to track your moods, record highlighted lines from your assigned books, and map out your study plan. If you’re more creatively inclined, you may also enjoy rewriting scenes you read while studying, or even fictionalizing moments from your day. Taking notes of everything you remember at the end of your study session will boost your memory comprehension, and reading back over these notes regularly will make it easier for you to recall the information when you need it. Ultimately, what you write is up to you. Dedicate a page here and there to doodling or a crossword if that’s what you want to do—just remember to have fun with it.
Related: 3 Mindful Activities to Help Students Beat the Winter Blues
For the amount of time you spend learning and studying, it shouldn’t be something you dread. I hope these five simple tips to romanticize your school experience have inspired you to transform your studies into a more enjoyable activity. Good luck and happy studying!
Need a quick study break right now? Browsing our College Lists & Rankings is another fun way to step away from your schoolwork but still make progress in your college search!
