How to Study Better and Make It a Habit: 5 Motivation Techniques for Overwhelmed Students

By Farida Elshazly

19-year-old Farida has been sitting for nearly five hours in a café where most people go to study. She looks around and sees almost everyone working productively while she can’t even finish the five-page lecture in front of her.

She keeps thinking, “When will all this end?” while staring at her phone, desperately wanting to escape.

The lecture is easy. It’s even one of her favorite subjects, anatomy. But she just can’t focus.

Hi, I’m Farida, and this was me. If you’ve ever felt like this, I’m here to make your life a whole lot easier.

Before We Start: Change Is Not Easy (And That’s Normal)

I’m not here to tell you to wake up at 4 a.m., take ice baths, and suddenly become a new person. I don’t do that. I wake up at 5 because I have college, not because I’m obsessed with studying. I’m not a productivity robot, and let's be honest, most of the people you see on the internet aren't either.

People fall into the same habits and keep going down a rabbit hole they can’t get out of. That’s normal. Our age is about discovery and curiosity. When you sit to study, you’re not just supposed to “get it over with.” You’re supposed to ask why, how, and actually learn something new every time.

So if you feel stuck, distracted, or exhausted: there’s nothing “wrong” with you. You just need better systems, not more self-hate.

Here are 5 motivation techniques to help you study better and actually make it a habit.

(Note: THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL MAGICALLY OBTAIN THE ABILITY TO DO THIS IF YOU READ IT!!! I AM NOT A WIZARD, SIMPLY JUST A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF TRIAL AND ERROR)

1. Rethink Your Study Schedule

Everyone I know (including me) makes this same mistake: It’s 3 a.m., you’re half asleep, and suddenly you decide to “fix your life.” You grab a pen and paper and write a big 30-day schedule to change everything...

Instead, try something smaller and more honest:

Document it. Be proud of it. Even if you wrote “Study Lecture 3” and you only read it once, that is still progress. Even if you did nothing, write: “On this date, I did absolutely nothing.” Why? Because now you’re tracking reality, not living in a fantasy.

2. Set Realistic Short-Term Goals (Not Just Big Dreams)

Of course you know your big goal...

Short-term goals give you a sense of control right now and turn huge dreams into small, doable steps. Make studying feel like progress, not punishment.

3. Teach Yourself the Material

Sometimes you “understand” a lecture… until someone asks you to explain it. Then your brain goes completely blank...

Before you close your book, ask: “Can I teach this?” Try to explain it to the air, a friend, or pretend you’re explaining it to a child. Notice which parts flow easily and which make you hesitate — those are your weak spots.

4. Review More Than You Think You Should

Reviewing is your secret weapon. After finishing a lecture, you might think: “I studied it. I’m done.” No. You’re halfway done at best...

Reviewing strengthens connections, makes it easier to remember next time, and turns vague familiarity into solid memory.

5. Reward Yourself (So You Don’t Burn Out)

This is the part most students skip. We love to punish ourselves with guilt, pressure, no breaks, and no fun...

After studying, do a hobby you enjoy: drawing, reading, going out, listening to music. Have a mental reset day once a week. Your brain will thank you.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Broken, You Just Need Better Systems

You’re not lazy or broken. Start small: honest daily plans, short-term goals, teaching material, reviewing consistently, rewarding yourself. One lecture, one review, one small habit at a time.

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