Your mindset can play a major role in your studying success. If you think a subject is boring or difficult for you to learn, you may struggle more with it. A person who feels he can learn something if he works hard may find it easier to concentrate and learn the material, according to HealthyChildren.org. Instead of avoiding the subject, look at it as a challenge to tackle. Instead of procrastinating, break up the material into manageable chunks and dig into it right away. Reminding yourself to focus on the studying in front of you can help you mentally prepare for the boring subject matter. Another strategy is to think about ways the boring subject could apply to something that does interest you. For example, a physics concept might help improve your aim in sports.
TV, food, social media, an unread email message -- you'll find no shortage of distractions when the subject matter doesn't interest you. Staying focused long enough to learn that information is key to successfully learning the material. You first need to identify the factors that distract you on a regular basis. Set up your study area and routine in a way that minimizes those distractions. If you're tempted to turn on the TV, set up a study area in a room without one. If texts from friends interrupt your studying, turn off the ringer and put your phone in a different room.
Learning and remembering material is more difficult when you feel groggy. Start with a solid night of sleep so you're not already tired before you crack open your books. Pay attention to your most alert times of the day and use those times to study. Also, fuel up with healthy foods instead of junk foods that cause a crash in energy. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests eating meals every three to four hours with snacks high in protein and fiber between to keep energy up. Suggestions include low-sugar yogurt, fruit, nuts or cheese. Stop drinking energy drinks and soda that give you a quick energy boost followed by a crash. Breaks also can help keep your energy up so you can stay focused. After about 45 minutes, concentration starts to go down in most people, according to TeensHealth. Plan to take a break after about 45 minutes of studying. Get up and move around during that time to get your blood pumping. Don't forget to set a limit on your break -- about 15 minutes is the suggestion from TeensHealth.
Some subjects just won't seem interesting to you, but that doesn't mean you can't spice up your study sessions. Instead of pushing through lots of facts, find creative ways to study the information. Draw a picture to represent the meaning of a word, for example. Sketch pictures of historical events in a timeline format with important dates and information written below. Make up a song about the information you're studying. Connect what you're learning to something you do enjoy. In math class, make up your own story problems about your life to practice the skill. These little techniques can trick you into enjoying study time a lot more than when you simply memorize or read the information.