How to Find Study Motivation When You Really Don’t Feel Like Studying

The exam date is approaching! The notes are open. Your cell phone is next to you. You say to yourself, “I will scroll for 5 minutes and then I'll study.”

One hour later, you're still scrolling.

Sound familiar?

As an SPM student, you may have received a lot of advice on study motivation, such as waking up at 5 am, creating a vision board, thinking about your dream campus, or simply “be disciplined.”

The issue is that a lot of the advice out there assumes that studying is secondary and motivation is primary.

In fact, it is frequently the other way around.

Being motivated is not always a requirement for studying. Sometimes, it's taking that first little step that sets the momentum in motion.

Why Is Studying So Hard When You Know It Matters?

It’s easy to think, “If I really cared about my SPM results, I would be studying all the time.”

However, motivation is not just an interest in something.

Research on student motivation has indicated that one's attitude to a task, including the desire to take part and the perceived difficulty of the task, will all affect participation.

Suppose you are having problems with Additional Mathematics.

But if you think you're already a “bad at maths” person, it may seem like a waste of your time to open another worksheet. When you're not finding any relation between the topic and what you like, it is even more difficult to begin.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lazy.

The task may seem too hard, too far, or too much.

And that means the solution isn’t always to tell yourself to “try harder.”

Motivation Advice That Doesn’t Always Work

“Just Think About Your Future”

A long-term goal can help you study with a purpose. Perhaps you want to study medicine, engineering, business, design or something completely different after SPM.

But telling yourself, “I need good grades because my future depends on it” may not be enough to get you through a difficult Biology chapter tonight.

Long-term goals are great for providing direction but can seem distant and difficult to achieve every day.

Instead of:

“I have to obtain 8As in SPM.”

Try:

“Before 8pm, I will answer 10 Chemistry questions.”

The second goal provides you with an action to do today.

“You Need to Love What You Study”

Would it not be wonderful if all subjects were interesting?

Unfortunately, there are topics that you are going to find boring, confusing or just weird.

Do not be afraid to learn something even if you don't enjoy it.

Having a good study habit is all about knowing the importance of studying a subject, even if you do not like it.

Perhaps studying Sejarah will get you the final grade you need. Perhaps writing another practice essay will aid in college work. Or perhaps you just want to show yourself that you can do something hard.

The effort need not be based on the subject matter being your favourite.

What Actually Helps You Find Study Motivation?

1. Make the First Step Tiny

The trick that students often fall into is considering studying to be a massive assignment.

You might think “Study Biology” means hours of work.

“Read two pages and answer 5 questions” seems like something a lot easier.

If you’re wondering how to get motivation to study, do it for 10 or 15 minutes at a time if you can. Might come to a stop after 15 minutes. That’s fine.

But you might also find that continuing feels easier once you’ve already started.

The goal is not to complete everything in one sitting. The goal is to make starting feel manageable.

2. Create a Starting Routine

Feeling prepared can be a trap. It might make you think you don’t need to study. So you study only when you feel like it, and your study schedule is based on your mood.

The problem: When you study only when you feel like it, you may end up studying less consistently and leaving important topics until the last minute. So, instead of depending on your mood, what you should do is follow a regular schedule that keeps you on track.

Create a simple routine:

Put your phone away → open your notes → choose one task → set a timer → start.

The routine will be repeated many times after which the act of repeating it can become a cue that it is time to study.

There is no need to be very motivated.

All you have to know is what happens next.

3. Give Yourself Small Wins

Consider an issue that you find challenging.

You might try some hard questions again and wind up answering them all incorrectly, getting to the point of thinking, “I just am not good at this.”

The thought might cause you to want to steer clear of the topic completely.

Begin with questions that you can try to attempt. Check your answers. Identify one mistake. Learn from it. Next, attempt a little more of a challenge.

This will help develop your confidence as you can see that you are progressing. The fact that it's an important aspect of student motivation – that their efforts can pay off – is significant.

That is an important part of student motivation: feeling that your effort can lead to progress.

4. Give Yourself Some Choice

“Study for three hours” gives you very little control.

Instead, give yourself a few choices:

• Biology or Chemistry first?
• Flashcards or practice questions?
• Study at home or in the library?
• Start with an easier topic or tackle the difficult one?

You must study, but you have some control over how you do that study.

Research based on Self-Determination Theory indicates that these constructs of autonomy, competence and relatedness can be used to support more self-regulated types of motivation and engagement (Deci & Ryan, 2000).

5. Stop Confusing Studying with Rereading

Sometimes the problem isn’t that you lack motivation. Your approach to studying might just be hindering the effectiveness of your study session.

Reading a page of your textbook three times is a great feeling of productivity, but you may not be able to remember what you read.

Use active study skills instead!

Close the book and describe the topic orally. Answer practice questions. Record your recollections and then compare them with notes.

This is called retrieval practice, and studies have shown that recalling information can aid learning.

For example:

Read one section of a chapter in Biology and then after a while, close the book and write down 5 things you remember, then go back and see what you missed.

You are not only studying more, but you are also studying better. You are using your time wisely. You are occupying your time meaningfully.

What If You’re Actually Exhausted?

It's important to note that motivation is not a problem in all circumstances.

Sometimes it is just because you're worn out.

Perhaps you have been in school, on tuition, with assignments and revision for the whole day. Perhaps you have studied for several hours already.

In that situation, telling yourself to “work harder” may not help.

Get a good night's sleep. Eat something. Take short breaks between study sessions. Talk to a trusted individual. Divide large tasks into mini tasks.

If low mood, worrying thoughts or feeling very tired or unable to function is a regular issue, talk to someone you trust, a teacher, a school counsellor or relevant professional.

You are a student, not a productivity machine.

Source: Unsplash

Try This: The 15-Minute SPM Reset

The next time you really don’t feel like studying, don’t promise yourself a five-hour session.

Try this:

1. Pick one subject.
Don’t plan your entire week.

2. Choose one tiny task.
For example, answer five Add Maths questions.

3. Put your phone somewhere out of reach.

4. Set a 15-minute timer.

5. Start before you feel ready.

When the timer ends, ask yourself: “Can I do another 15 minutes?”

If yes, continue.

If not, take a proper break and return later.

These simple SPM study tips can help you focus on starting instead of waiting for the perfect moment.

Quick Recap

Improved study motivation doesn't mean you have to feel enthusiastic about all your subjects. If you are taking SPM, a better way to go is to make tasks smaller, set goals, get more confidence from small wins, make some choices and employ some active study strategies like retrieval practice.

Most important of all, don't wait for inspiration to strike before you start!

In some instances, the first few minutes of study is what makes it.

Start small. Start imperfectly. Then let it grow.

References

Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (2000). Self-determination theory - an overview | ScienceDirect topics. Sciencedirect.Com. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/self-determination-theory