To be blunt, studying sucks.

Willingly putting aside all the other things you could be doing in order to sit and take notes from Powerpoints and textbooks regarding things you probably don’t care much about and perhaps won’t be using later in life is treacherous.

We can’t guarantee that work can be made fun or exciting (that would be a miracle), but we can certainly offer some advice for making the most of your study time.

Properly and productively studying for one hour can actually be more beneficial than 3 hours of distracted studying! Being in the correct mindset truly helps you make the most of your studying.

Study at times you know you are at your prime.

For me, that is the morning. I know that there’s pretty much nothing else I could really be doing to distract me in the morning.

Even the infamous Facebook is obsolete, as nobody is up posting statuses and videos at 5 AM!

The morning consists of my most productive hours, and I take advantage of them.

Many people try to study late into the night, but end up losing focus and getting very little done, often at a very slow pace.However, some people might study better at night, and that’s great!

Shower.

Going through a “morning ritual” can help you feel fresh and prepared, no matter what time it is.

I consider this my “pre-game” to studying. A shower leaves you feeling awake and alert, like a brand new day. It is perfect for the morning or when trying to get rid of the grogginess of an afternoon nap.

Brushing your teeth and having a small snack such as a bowl of cereal or some carrots is good, too. Some people like to have something to sip on as they work; If caffeine helps, just make sure you wont crash, or if you do, make sure you can afford to (meaning you have time for a nap, are already heading to bed or have time to hit the gym).

Plan your time.

If you devote specific blocks of your day to studying, you are much better off than those who do not. This way, you know exactly how long you have and know what needs to be done.

Also, you are aware of the fact that you have other things planned for the rest of your day, so you can’t try to push studying off.

This creates a pseudo work-under-pressure-effect and helps kick the urge to procrastinate.

Ease into it.

Don’t go from not studying to ripping your hair out over complex problems. Instead, smoothly transition from whatever you were doing.

Play some relaxing music while you get comfortable. Clean your study area of any clutter that isn’t absolutely necessary. Get into comfortable clothes, sit down and start off with something light. Then, gradually knock off everything else you need to do.

Yes, studying sucks, but it doesn’t have to be the worst thing in the world. If you follow the aforementioned tips, you can stop avoiding it and make studying part of your daily routine.