Fatigue is a common experience when studying. Your body wants to sleep, your brain feels foggy and you can barely concentrate. We’ve all been there before, so I bet you can relate.
The bad news is that test or exam will most likely, still proceed as scheduled. Doesn’t matter if you studied or not. There’s an almost zero chance it will be shifted to accommodate your inability to prepare properly.
So knowing how to study, even when you’re tired becomes like a superpower. To be honest, this is a key difference between the A-students and others; A-students know how to push their body and discipline themselves where necessary.
Anyone, just anyone, can do this too.
All it takes is knowing some trusted tips you can adapt, which is why this post was specially written, with love, for you. Here are some power-packed tips to try today to help you study, even when you feel tired.
Remind yourself why you’re studying
Reminding yourself why you’re studying in the first place can make a huge difference. Where do you see yourself in five years? What’s your target at the end of the school year?
For my second degree, there were times I was so exhausted from studying. However, since I had calculated the least number of A’s I wanted on my final result, I knew there was no stopping until I hit the target.
This spurred me to continue pushing myself even when my body didn’t feel like it at first. Eventually, your body warms up and you find yourself going longer than planned.
Start or switch to easier tasks
Imagine starting a session with a difficult math problem. It’s easy to lose interest and feel unmotivated than if you had started with an interesting topic. Start with easy tasks or courses that don’t require you to do much heavy lifting, and build momentum for the hard stuff.
Athletes do this too. Have you noticed how they warm up just before getting to the main sport? It can be something as easy as wiggling their hands or jumping repeatedly. This primes their body to get into the flow of things when it gets really tough.
So start with the easy tasks, or switch temporarily when you hit a mental block. The ‘small wins’ from the easier tasks will give you the needed push to continue.
Study as a group
Ever tried jogging a long distance alone? What about going the same distance with a friend? You can tell the difference it makes when you go alone or with other like-minded people.
It’s very important that your study buddy or group shares similar goals as you.
Group study is important as it builds a healthy dose of competition. This may not be obvious, but you definitely don’t want to be seen as the ‘slacker’ when you meet with the team. A study group also helps as you can use the opportunity to teach your study buddies, reinforcing what you have light and reenergizing you to study for longer.
Stay hydrated, drink enough water
Drinking enough water is essential for staying alert and focused. Make sure to keep a water bottle nearby and take frequent sips throughout your study session.
If you have a water cooler, it can give you the added bonus of walking to the cooler and back.
Take a short walk
Whether it’s the water cooler or downstairs and back, take a short walk when you’re feeling tired.
This is great advice for your physical health as well. If you’ve been sitting for long periods, taking a walk gets your blood flowing and helps your back.
Avoid distractions
Social media and YouTube can be tempting distractions, but they’ll only make it harder to stay focused. Turn off your phone or use an app to block distracting websites.
This may be more difficult when you’re studying online. I have included some tips on how to avoid distractions when using YouTube for studying or studying online.
Avoid heavy meals before studying
Eating a heavy meal before studying can leave you feeling sluggish and lethargic. Stick to lighter, healthier snacks and meals to fuel your brain without weighing you down.
You need your brain to be as sharp as possible.
Take a power nap
My personal favorite remedy. I take a 15-20 minute nap, anytime I’m struggling to study due to exhaustion. I wake up refreshed, wash my face, and continue studying.
Works like a charm.
A short nap can help you recharge and come back to your studies with renewed energy. Just be sure to set an alarm and keep it short to avoid disrupting your sleep schedule.
Get some decent rest
It may also be that your body is overworked and you’ve not had a good sleep in a while. It’s okay to take a break, sleep, walk to the park, or talk to someone.
Do this while keeping your eye on the bigger picture. You need to put your body to work, but don’t forget to take care of it as well.
I know there are other tips you may use to study even when you’re tired. For example, some people swear by chewing gum. Seems to work for them but it never worked for me.
I find it difficult to concentrate when chewing gum especially if I’m studying something that involves zero calculations. So people differ and it’s important to try different things to see what works best for you.
In any case, it is possible to focus on studying, even when you’re tired or exhausted. Your body is more capable than you think.
By adopting these power-packed tips, you can stay focused, motivated, and productive, even when your energy levels are low. What other tips have you tried before?