How to Study When You're in the Mood for Everything but Studying

It’s that time again, exams are around the corner, deadlines are piling up, and you know you should be studying. But somehow, everything else seems more interesting. That random documentary on YouTube? Suddenly fascinating. Scrolling through memes? Absolutely necessary. Cleaning your room? A top priority.

If this sounds like you, welcome to the struggle. Here’s how to trick your brain into studying even when you don’t feel like it.

1. The Five-Minute Rule: Just Start

The hardest part of studying is actually starting. Your brain sees a thick textbook or lengthy material and panics. So instead of thinking "I have to study for hours," tell yourself: "I'll just study for five minutes."

Here’s the trick, once you start, your brain gets into the flow, and five minutes often turns into thirty. If after five minutes you still don’t feel like studying, you can stop (but most times, you won’t).

2. Romanticize Studying (Yup, Really)

Your environment affects your mood. If studying feels like a punishment, you’ll keep avoiding it. But if you make it aesthetic or enjoyable, your brain will be more willing to cooperate.

Set up a clean study space (a messy table = a messy mind), use colored pens and highlighters (your notes should look fun, not depressing), and make a study playlist (instrumentals, classical music, or whatever helps you focus).

3. The Two-Minute Trick for Beating Procrastination

Ever sat down to study and suddenly remembered you need to check WhatsApp, clean your room, or stare at the wall for no reason? Your brain is avoiding hard work. The solution?

Instead of "Let me quickly reply to this message," write it down: "Reply to messages after 1 hour." This tells your brain, “I won’t forget it, but now isn’t the time.”

4. The Pomodoro Technique: Work, Then Rest

If you’re struggling to focus, don’t force yourself to study for hours. Your brain needs breaks. Use the Pomodoro technique: Study for 25-30 minutes, take a 5-minute break, repeat 3-4 times, then take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

This makes studying feel less overwhelming and keeps your brain from burning out.

5. Trick Your Brain with the ‘Easy Start’ Method

Sometimes, you avoid studying because a subject feels too hard. The trick? Start with something easy.

Re-read your notes before jumping into a new topic. Solve one simple question before tackling harder ones. Watch a short video on the topic before opening your textbook.

This makes your brain think, "Oh, this isn't so bad!" and once you're in the flow, it’s easier to keep going.

6. Make Studying Fun (or At Least Less Boring)

Not every subject is exciting, but you can make it less painful. Turn your notes into a game (e.g., quiz yourself like it’s a competition). Use mnemonics or acronyms to memorize difficult information. Teach someone else (explaining helps you retain information). Use online resources (YouTube, Quizlet, Anki—whatever makes learning easier).

7. Use ‘Temptation Bundling’ to Trick Yourself

Temptation bundling is pairing something you want to do with something you need to do. For example: Listen to music ONLY while reading your notes. Drink your favorite drink ONLY after reading that topic.

This makes studying feel like a reward instead of a punishment.

8. Set ‘Bare Minimum’ Goals

If you wait until you feel fully motivated, you’ll never start. Instead, aim for the bare minimum to get going. Instead of "I'll finish this whole chapter," say "I'll read two pages." Instead of "I'll write my entire assignment," say "I'll just outline the points."

The trick? Once you start, you’ll usually keep going.

At the end of the day, studying isn’t about feeling motivated, it’s about building discipline. You won’t always want to study, but you can train your brain to focus using small tricks.

So, start now, your future self will be grateful you did