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Find Your Motivation

Motivating yourself and staying focused on your school work can be hard sometimes. If you find yourself needing a little extra encouragement, try one of the six recommendations listed here. Click on the card to find out why this tip works. You might find that simple habits can set you up to succeed in school and life.

Learn more about staying motivated by reading College Info Geek’s blog post on How to Motivate Yourself to Study. To help you use the Pomodoro Technique, go to the Virtual Study Sessions and select the session that best fits your needs.

UCI student taking a walk on aldrich circle

Take a Walk

Walking will create momentum and make you feel accomplished.

Commit to a Single Task

It’s easier for your brain to focus on one task at a time.Walking will create momentum and make you feel accomplished.

white desk workspace with keyboard, mouse, and notebook

Clear your Workspace to Neutral

Clearing your space will help you be more focused on the task at hand.

female student celebrating completion of a low-effort ask

Use the “Low Effort” Hack

Starting a task can seem overwhelming. Choose the easiest task first to get you going.

femal student studying with laptop and textbook

Use the Pomodoro Technique

Set a timer for 25 minutes and focus on one task. This method makes the task more manageable. View theVirtual Study Sessions page to get started.

female sleeping with eye mask

Get Enough Sleep

Being tired can have a negative effect on your mood and hinder your ability to motivate yourself and be cognitively present in your school work.

building blocks with arrows pointing up to convey motivation

Long-Term Motivation Fixes

So what about some long-term things you can do to help improve your motivation to study?
– Build more self-discipline
– Build better study habits
– Create a good environment for studying


How to Make Yourself Study When You Have ZERO Motivation