Ways to increase interest in studies

Lack of interest can be caused by difficultly concentrating, family problems, emotional difficulties, learning disabilities, and many other factors. Sometimes it’s just plain boredom – not everything is about fun all the time. Even the bubbling hormones running through the teenagers’ bodies can cause difficulty to concentrate on anything other than the schoolmate in the nearest chair. So here’s some ways to increase your interest in a subject.

• Try to relate the subject to your daily life. It will make it much more likely to invest interest in the subject. For example, if you are studying literature, try to learn something from the character’s behaviour that you can apply in your own life.
• Develop A Reading Atmosphere. It is often observed that students who have a keen interest in reading, develop a love for learning too because they want to explore endless possibilities and opportunities. Reading not only helps them to develop a rich vocabulary, but it also helps them to process formal communication and concepts. So read as many books as you can!
• A major cause of procrastination is that the task ahead seems overwhelming. That’s when you need to “chunk down”. Break down each task into small chunks. Assign yourself a certain number of those chunks each day. Suddenly, you’re no longer faced with a scary task, but rather a series of manageable chunks. A chunk might be reading three pages of your textbook, completing five multiple-choice questions, or finding three reference articles on the Internet for your paper.
• Every time you complete one or two chunks, reward yourself with a short period of relaxation. It could be  a short walk, or playing the guitar. Rewarding yourself with short and enjoyable breaks is a key part of the “chunking down” technique.
• We’re creatures of habit. If it’s a challenge for you to get motivated to study, you can put this principle to work for you. Habits are so powerful that once you develop a study routine, you’ll find it difficult to go into relaxation mode without studying. How should you go about creating a study routine? The first thing to do is to set up a study schedule. Be aware, however, that habits aren’t formed overnight. Research indicates that it typically takes 20 to 30 days to form a habit. So you’ll have to put in some work before this technique pays off. Make a habit of preparing a schedule for the day one day before. This will make sure that you study in a well planned systematic manner. 
• When you find it difficult to study because the subject is “boring”, ask yourself: “Is the subject really boring, or does it seem that way because I have closed my mind to it?” As G.K. Chesterton once said: “There are no boring subjects, only disinterested minds.” If you think a subject is boring, try to engage with the subject by asking yourself questions. When was this technique or theory developed?

Who developed it?

What problem did it solve?

How would the world be different today if not for this technique or theory? If you ask the right questions, you can make any subject interesting.

• Strangely enough, one of the best ways to deal with a lack of motivation is to stop expecting to feel motivated all the time. The fact is that no one feels motivated all the time. So don’t rely on feeling motivated in order to get the work done. Sometimes the motivation just won’t be there. That’s why you need a study routine and study habits, because systems always beat motivation.

Follow these tips for studying smart – not hard – and you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a successful student who doesn’t procrastinate!