A Guide to Motivation: Study Motivation

In our last blog post, we discussed the topic of motivation psychology and dug deeper into its details. In this blog post, we’ll discuss a form of motivation psychology: study motivation, its details, and some suggested tips.

1- What is Study Motivation?

Studying often feels like a chore. No one would rather sit for hours reading textbook after another instead of going into a deep and comfortable sleep. To be able to get up, move and sit through these long and exhausting hours alone is considered an achievement. Well, believe it or not, this is study motivation. The fact that you actually ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ.

2- What Causes Someone to Be Motivated to Study?

𝔄- ℑ𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔇𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢:

You can be motivated by an internal drive to learn as much as possible.

𝔅- 𝔈𝔵𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔫𝔞𝔩 𝔇𝔯𝔦𝔳𝔢:

You might be motivated to study by an external prize like a good grade, a fulfilling job, or someone gifting you something.

3- Tips on Getting Motivated to Study:

𝙖- 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝘾𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙠:

Yeah yeah, the gold ole “clean desk clear mind” saying! But honestly? It is a really great tip. When you’re surrounded with neatness, your brain functions better, and in turn, so does your body! According to Harvard Business Review, scientists at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute have used fMRI and other approaches to show that our brains like order, and those constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources and reduce our ability to focus. They also found that when participants cleared the clutter from their work environment, they were better able to focus and process information, and their productivity increased.

𝙗- 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨:

These speeches are my personal favourite! They’re so motivational that when I listen to them, I get the urge to dive deep into the ocean (I can’t swim). (NEVER DO THAT).

My go-to motivational speeches are by Motivation2Study. They have a variety of motivational speeches to choose from (including some tips from people of experience), and I’m sure they’ll give you the push you need!

𝙘- 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮:

I’m someone who’ll probably die of lung failure and dehydration as I rarely drink water (hypocritical much?). But NO ONE can deny how important it is for the brain, focus, productivity, and motivation levels. According to Heights, Water helps your brain cells communicate with each other, clears out toxins and waste that impair brain function, and carries nutrients to your brain. This all falls apart if your fluid levels drop.

Staying hydrated has been linked to:

• Faster decision-making and improved performance on cognitive tests
• Better concentration and enhanced short-term memory
• Higher test scores in an educational context
• Improved focus and decreased mental fatigue
• Stronger cognitive functioning across the board, including more alertness, less confusion, and even improved learning.

Also, according to Brita, keeping your water intake up will help you keep a clear head and promote productive quick-thinking.

𝙙- 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡:

I’m a night owl and have a non-existent sleep schedule (again, hypocrisy). BUT, I am aware of how enough sleep affects the brain and a student’s energy (I can tell, I barely have any), which in turn, affects their motivation level.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adequate sleep contributes to a student’s overall health and well-being. Students should get the proper amount of sleep at night to help them stay focused, improve concentration, and improve academic performance.

Children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries.1–4 They are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can contribute to poor academic performance in school.

𝙚- 𝙇𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙐𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨:

Contrary to what many believe, listening to songs while studying isn’t THAT bad (that’s for me, of course). I find listening to actual songs with lyrics makes me focus better while studying (unusual, I know), especially motivational songs.

Now, of course, it’s fine if you can’t listen to lyrical songs while studying. Thus, you can result to Lo-Fi beats, classical music, and white noise.

𝙛- 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙:

Studying methods are a great way to motivate yourself to keep going. They vary and are used differently, like (arguably the most famous method) the Pomodoro Technique, Blurting, and many more. These methods either ensure you take breaks between sessions, or teach you how to study effectively, or “smartly” instead of tiring yourself. I’ll be discussing each method in detail in my upcoming blog posts!

These are some of the tips I find helpful to be motivated to study. Many other tips are found (like exercising for example), and the list doesn’t end there. It’s all about your lifestyle, finding what best fits you, and then putting in the action. Realising your mistakes is halfway through there; the other half is about DOING!

If you need more tips regarding study motivation, school tips, how to deal with exam anxiety, and many more, I kindly suggest following Thy Academia’s official Instagram account as it will contain many tips for romanticizing your studying and educational year.