Three Methods to Build a Study Habit
Here are your ways to start a daily 30-minute study habit.
1. Break it down into small pieces.
Instead of straight 30 minutes, study 6 times a day for 5 minutes, or three times a day for 10 minutes.
When I began my life transformation I started multiple 10-minute disciplines, because I felt like I can do anything for just 10 minutes.
Among several initial disciplines I studied German and professional documentation for 10 minutes a day. I wasn’t passionate about any of them, but I persisted for few months with the first one and almost two years with the second discipline.
2. Plan (and execute of course).
As you can see, you have a fair chance of sticking to your studying schedule if you only plan it well enough.
There are multiple hacks to this method:
-plan the exact time of your study session
-plan the exact place
-plan the exact scope (e.g. “I’ll read about…” or “I’ll write the assignment” or “I’ll practice…”)
-write down your plan on paper an evening before (I’ll study psychics from my textbook from 7:30 am till 8:05 am in my room”) and put the plan in a visible place, so you won’t forget about your plan the next morning
-design additional punishments/ rewards and put them in your plan (… and if not, I’ll run all the way to school …and I’ll treat myself with a chocolate bar afterwards).
The tricky part is unfortunately “execution”, thus:
3. Give yourself no other option.
The extreme example is to construct a time bomb and connect it to your online test results.
Well, only movie heroes have both technical skills and guts for such extremes, but you got the idea. Find below a handful of possible options for common mortals:
Eliminate every distraction. Turn off your mobile and computer, if you don’t need it for studying.
If you have to work on the computer, install and activate multiple block sites plugins (or configure your firewall or router to cut off access to distracting websites).
Tell your spouse/ parents/ roommates to close you in an empty room with your text books and exercise books for 30 minutes.
Give your mean sister all your savings and tell her she can keep it, if you don’t study for 30 minutes.
If you don’t study a given day, don’t eat as well (if you are not used to intermittent fasting, it will be a great motivator).
Originally published in Quora.com.
