Let’s start by being honest here.
Studying can be boring and because of that sometimes we end up not studying at all. Read on to answer this dreaded question: How to make studying enjoyable?
I’m very sure that you – like many other High Schoolers all over the world – believe that STUDY DOES NOT EQUAL FUN.
I’m also sure that you’ve asked yourself this question: How to make studying enjoyable?
It is an obligation, a duty, to study well in High School to ensure that you will be able to get into a good university of your choice, which is another stepping stone to achieving a great future.
Studying is also an integral part of the learning process. Exposure to difficult and challenging topics and tasks this early makes you more prepared for even greater challenges when you become a working adult.
However, to paraphrase that popular quote, all study and no play can make you a dull person.
It’s only natural for you to detest the idea on having your nose buried in your textbooks all day when you can play sports, hang out with friends, watch movie, and all other fun activities.
What you don’t know is that you CAN make studying fun. Let me show you how to make studying enjoyable.
Changing Your Mindset
Now, there’s a reason why I started this article stating every High Schooler’s BELIEF that “Study does not equal fun.”
It’s to drive home the point that, during the course of your studying from Kindergarten to Primary and now High School, you have developed the mindset that studying is not fun at all.
According to psychologist Carol Dweck, in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, students ultimately develop two mindsets for approaching learning.
The first is the FIXED MINDSET. Students with this way of thinking believe that intelligence and talent are strictly fixed, that there is no way of going beyond their limitations.
As an example, students who find it difficult or challenging to solve math problems will ultimately say “I hate math” or “I’m not a math person.” The same goes for students who make similar claims when they struggle through writing essays, poetry, or themes in their English classes.
The problem with having a fixed mindset is that you are not only establishing strong barriers to learning what you think are difficult subjects. You are also emotionally invested in hating these subjects with a passion. As a result, you are not only preventing your personal growth and change/evolution.
You also hinder yourself from experiencing the joys and triumphs of overcoming challenges.
Contrasting this are students with the GROWTH MINDSET. Students with this mindset are not hindered by challenges in their studies. They believe that they can do better in the subjects they have difficulties and ultimately get higher grades.
Thankfully, being young and flexible, you can still change your mindset from a fixed one to that which promotes growth.
Rather than believe that your studies and the tests that accompany them are meant to show how intelligent or dumb you are, change your way of thinking that these academic challenges are intended for your personal and intellectual growth.
Develop Interest in Your Studies
Now, the previous section on mindsets also boils down to INTEREST.
Let’s face it.
If you are personally interested in something, no matter what challenges or difficulties you may face, you will become invested in it and pursue it with relentless vigor.
How do you develop interest in certain subjects that you abhor?
First of all, don’t direct your focus immediately on the specific details of the topic that is being taught in class that day. Instead, start with a simpler, broader view of the topic.
This is why television educators like Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and David Attenborough are such effective teachers. For example, in a show on electricity, Nye first demonstrates how electricity works before moving on to the rules that govern it, such as Ohm’s Law.
In another example, deGrasse Tyson presents the devastating effects of calamities before discussing the role of climate change in the creation of said natural disasters.
The question is how can you apply your personal interests into your studies? Let’s say that you don’t like your computer classes.
If you happen to want to be a blogger, you might want to develop an interest in the basics of HTML coding and Adobe Photoshop to come up with a better-looking blog.
What if your English teacher asks you to do an essay on worldbuilding in literature? Before plunging into the minute details on how famous authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin were able to create Middle Earth and Westeros, respectively, you can build greater interest by binge watching The Lord of the Rings movies or the Game of Thrones TV series.
Study with a Buddy
Nothing can be more fun than studying with your best friend or a fellow classmate. You can bounce ideas off each other, especially when it comes to writing those long essays. If either of you get stuck on a math problem, you can solve the problem together.
However, having a study buddy can also distract you from studying. You need to be selective on the friends or classmates who can help you.
For example, if you love video games, then don’t study with someone who’s a gamer too. Instead of studying, you might find yourselves playing Fortnite or Call of Duty.
On the other hand, don’t pair up with someone who’s too studious. These students are far too focused on finishing their assignments and textbook readings early. You might find yourself lagging behind them and not learning anything at all.
Have a Change of Environment
You don’t need to be cooped up in your room at home to study. Go out and look for other places where you can study in peace.
Find a nice, quiet corner in your school or community library which you can call your own. You might also consider studying beneath a tree in a park, surrounded by Mother Nature.
Just make sure that you pick a spot where you won’t get distracted by joggers, barking dogs, or wailing babies. Other great options include empty classrooms or your fave coffee shop.
Rewards Are Great Incentives for Studying
The last tip on how to make studying enjoyable is to give yourself a reward. There can be no greater incentive than the promise of a reward.
These rewards can be something as simple as pieces of chocolate when you finish reading a textbook chapter. I need to emphasize the word “understanding”. What’s the point of rewarding yourself for reading an entire chapter if you didn’t understand what you’ve read?
Other good rewards include watching your favorite TV shows after finishing all your homework or playing the next level of your video game.
You might want to consider long-term rewards as well. For example, if you are struggling with math, set a number of math problems that you solve correctly in class or in a test. If you meet that number of correct answers at the end of the week, you can treat yourself to the local ice cream shop or watch a movie. By pre-planning your rewards, your anticipation will fuel your motivation to doing well in your studies/classes.
Studying does not have to be a drag. By following these tips, you already know how to make studying enjoyable. Develop your innate curiosity and study study study!