Revision Tips - How to find motivation to revise

Studying for a new course or qualification can be an exciting experience, but it’s easy for your motivation to wane after a few weeks or months. This is especially true for those who are studying on a part-time basis, as it can be even harder to maintain the motivation to study when the demands of work and life are contending with your resolve to study. 

Lack of motivation to study is a huge hurdle to overcome on your road to gaining a new qualification. Therefore, it’s important to familiarise yourself with some techniques that will help you boost flagging motivation levels.

In this article, we will explain how to be motivated for revision and the steps you can take to make your study time as productive as possible.

Remind yourself of your reasons for studying

If you are looking for ways to get motivated to revise, it's helpful to gain clarity on your reasons for studying. When you write your reasons for wanting to study, you can use this list of reasons to bolster your motivation when it flags. For many, a quick reminder of motivations for studying can be all it takes to boost motivation. 

While some will benefit from making a list of reasons to study, others may find a visual reminder more helpful. For example, if you are studying for a new qualification to help you get a better-paid job, you might create a vision board that will motivate you by enabling you to see the lifestyle that a new job will enable you to achieve. 

Address procrastination

One of the major stumbling blocks to successful studying is the thorny issue of procrastination. While procrastinating once or twice isn’t a problem, chronic procrastination can seriously derail your revision to where you cannot complete your studies.

It's easy to see procrastination purely as a time-management issue, however, procrastination can also be a sign that you are putting off work because of a fear of failure. If you find you are a habitual procrastinator, think about the reasons you procrastinate. Gaining a clear picture of why you procrastinate can be hugely helpful in improving your revision motivation.

Get a designated study space

To feel truly motivated to study you must have a designated study area set up. Having a specific place for you to study will enable you to feel focused and ‘get into the zone’ when you begin your revision.

Tackle distractions

When it comes to how to motivate yourself to study, it is essential to tackle major distractions that will cause you to lose motivation and abandon your resolve to study. Turn off the TV, switch your phone off (or onto aeroplane mode), and make sure that other tasks such as housework are completed before beginning your studying session. 

By taking time to eliminate distractions before you begin, you can prevent yourself from getting preoccupied with other things and keep your full concentration on your studies. 

Get some accountability

Another tip for how to motivate yourself to revise involves using those around you to hold you accountable for your studying. If you have supportive friends and family, it's useful to tell them your study plan and ask them to hold you to account if you do not complete what you set out to do. 

There are even websites and apps out there that will match you with a suitable study partner who will make sure that you are on track with your study plans. For many people, having another person hold them accountable for completing their study plans can be a highly useful tool in boosting revision motivation. 

Reward yourself for your efforts

Finally, a good way to reinforce your positive study habits is a well-earned reward. This could be your favourite food, TV show or just some time off spent with friends or family. Remember, you mustn’t burn out while trying to reach your goals, so be sure to build in some time to relax and take a break.  

Giving yourself a break also means that you are giving your brain a rest, which is important when you're trying to absorb a large amount of new information. If you are wondering how to increase your motivation for revision, remember that it pays to give yourself regular breaks! 

Conclusion

To sum up, maintaining revision motivation can be difficult, but it’s certainly not impossible. While it is natural to feel demotivated sometimes, there is a lot you can do to boost your motivation enough to complete the task at hand. 

Using these revision tips, you can build up your motivation to study so you're not negatively impacted by a lack of motivation while you study, increasing your chances of success.

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