How to FORCE Yourself to Study When You DON’T Feel Like It

Summary

In this lively and motivating video, The Angry Explainer shares insight into overcoming the dreaded slump of unmotivated study days. While many believe lack of willpower is the issue, the video introduces eight practical tricks to reignite the drive to study. With methods ranging from embracing boredom, acting without overthinking, and starting with simple tasks, to using friendly competition and changing study locations, each tip is presented with a sprinkle of humor and a pinch of tough love. Ultimately, it suggests turning frustration into an energetic study session, enticingly paired with rewarding oneself after reaching study goals.

Highlights

• Embrace boredom to reflect on your study goals and motivations. 💭
• Dive right into studying without overthinking to prevent procrastination. 🤓
• Begin with easy tasks to build confidence and rhythm in studying. 👍
• Challenge friends to a study duel with stakes to increase productivity. 🙋‍♂️
• Change study locations to enhance focus and make studying less monotonous. 🗺️

Key Takeaways

• Boredom can boost your study motivation by allowing reflective thinking. 📚
• Starting with easy tasks can build momentum for tackling harder ones. 🚀
• Friendly competition with friends can make studying fun and engaging. 🤼
• Changing your study environment can heighten focus and productivity. 🌍
• Rewards after study sessions can maintain motivation and prevent burnout. 🎉

Overview

Everyone has those days where opening a book seems like the hardest thing in the world. The Angry Explainer knows it too well and, in this video, throws out a toolbox of quirky and surprising techniques to make studying less of a chore and more effective. From inviting boredom and reflection to shaking up your study space, there's a comedic twist and a tough love tone to every trick.

Overthinking your study tasks? Just stop right there. This video emphasizes taking action without getting stuck in the mental planning loop that leads to procrastination. Kicking off with engaging, easy-to-tackle tasks can jumpstart your motivation. Plus, if competition fuels you, why not wager a friendly bet with your friends over who can hit the books harder?

Sick of your usual study spot? Migrate to a new one to find a newfound focus and keep your mind alert. Want to power through the study slump? The Angry Explainer recommends sprinkling in rewards to boost your morale. With a cocktail of engaging techniques, this video challenges students to revolutionize their study habits with humor and grit.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to the Study Problem The chapter introduces the common problem of lacking motivation to study and feeling unmotivated despite the need to focus. The speaker acknowledges the common experience of procrastination, guilt, and frustration when grades drop due to an inability to concentrate.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Eight Simple Tricks to Force Yourself to Study The chapter discusses eight tricks to motivate oneself to study, starting with embracing boredom and self-reflection. It emphasizes the importance of not giving in to distractions and using boredom as a tool to reflect on the reasons for studying.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Trick 8: Get Bored and Reflect The chapter titled 'Trick 8: Get Bored and Reflect' emphasizes the significance of introspection and overcoming procrastination. It encourages readers to confront the real reasons for their goals, such as getting into a dream university or achieving career ambitions. The narrative challenges readers to cease being passive and start taking active control over their lives. Instead of avoiding discomfort, it urges individuals to face challenges directly and progress from being inactive complainers to proactive doers. The chapter reinforces the need to push past overthinking and take decisive action in the pursuit of personal growth and accomplishment.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Trick 7: Don't Think, Just Do Starting a task is often the most difficult part, not due to its complexity but due to the tendency to overthink and dread it. This chapter emphasizes the importance of taking action without overanalyzing, highlighting the concept of 'paralysis by analysis,' which is supported by scientific research. Specifically, a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that reducing planning time can lead to increased productivity. The key takeaway is to stop overthinking and start doing.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Trick 6: Start with the Easy Stuff This chapter emphasizes the importance of initiating tasks with simpler actions to combat procrastination and enhance productivity. It suggests that starting with uncomplicated activities can prevent frustration and increase the chances of maintaining momentum in one's work routine.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Trick 5: Make Bets with Friends The chapter 'Trick 5: Make Bets with Friends' emphasizes breaking down study tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to encourage progress and confidence. It highlights the concept of making simple bets with friends as a motivator, leveraging the brain's tendency to enjoy visible progress. The strategy aims to overcome procrastination by fostering a sense of accomplishment through completion of easy tasks, leading to momentum that facilitates tackling more challenging work without waiting for motivation to strike spontaneously.
• 03:30 - 04:30: Trick 4: Study in Different Places The chapter explores strategies for breaking the habit of giving up easily when faced with studying challenges. It suggests using AI tools, like chat GPT, for creating detailed study plans, and incorporates over 250 prompts to enhance study efficiency. Additionally, it recommends engaging in friendly competition by making bets with friends to foster motivation and accountability.
• 04:30 - 05:30: Trick 3: Study in Short Sprints The chapter discusses the concept of studying in short, intense bursts with an added element of competition to enhance motivation and effectiveness. It suggests setting stakes in friendly competitions – like money, buying lunch, or doing something embarrassing – to provide necessary pressure that drives persistence and improvement. The chapter recommends using tools such as ‘Fon,’ a free platform where you can set goals, earn points, and compete with friends officially, thereby gamifying the study process.
• 05:30 - 07:00: Trick 2: Do an Angry Study Session The chapter titled 'Trick 2: Do an Angry Study Session' explores the motivational aspect of competitive studying. It suggests that outperforming friends can be an exhilarating experience. The text highlights the importance of changing study locations to increase focus and productivity, citing a study from environmental psychology that supports this idea. By moving to different environments like the kitchen or garage, students can utilize new stimuli to enhance their concentration.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Trick 1: Reward Yourself The chapter 'Trick 1: Reward Yourself' suggests unconventional yet effective study techniques. One idea is to change your environment, like studying in the bathroom, to keep your brain alert. Another tip is to study in short bursts ('study sprints'), where intense focus is maintained for 20 minutes followed by a five-minute break. This cycle is more productive for those with shorter attention spans than lengthy study sessions.

How to FORCE Yourself to Study When You DON’T Feel Like It Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 I figured out how to force yourself to study even when you really don't feel like it you know those days when you're so tired and unmotivated that everything seems more interesting than the book in front of you I know you procrastinate hours fly by you feel guilty frustrated and your grades keep dropping because you just can't focus when you need to yeah it makes you feel like an idiot but the truth is it's not about your lack of willpower it's that you're not using the right tricks to get your brain to study in this video I'm about to show you
• 00:30 - 01:00 eight simple tricks that barely anyone knows to push yourself to study even on those days when all you want to do is give up so let's get started eight get bored and reflect the first thing you need to do is get bored yep good old boredom stop chasing distractions every 5 minutes you idiot put your phone down and just sit there don't touch it don't talk to yourself just sit and stare boredom right in the face while you're at it use that time to reflect on why the hell you should be studying is it to
• 01:00 - 01:30 get into your dream University to reach that career goal you keep talking about or maybe just to stop being useless and actually make your family and yourself proud stop acting like a coward running from every bit of discomfort and think about the real reasons you're doing this it's the first step to stop being a lazy complainer and actually start taking control of your life seven don't think just do I get it you're sitting there overthinking the huge pile of stuff stuff you need to study and guess what
• 01:30 - 02:00 you're getting nowhere starting is the hardest part not because it's complicated but because you waste so much time freaking out and imagining how awful it's going to be stop being dumb don't think just do that famous paralysis by analysis is real and science backs it up the more time you spend thinking about a task the more likely you are to procrastinate a study published in the Journal of experimental psychology showed that by cutting down planning time people increase their
• 02:00 - 02:30 productivity by 60% so yeah the more you think the less you do genius if you're feeling unmotivated stop acting like a spoiled kid who only does what they want don't think just grab the book and start six start with the easy stuff now that you've stopped procrastinating don't be dumb and start with the hardest thing right away seriously there's no need to torture yourself and get frustrated right off the bat start with the easy stuff the things you can do without thinking too much like watching a
• 02:30 - 03:00 lecture going over notes or doing the basic exercises this will give you the push you need to get moving and why does this work because your brain is lazy but it loves seeing progress when you start knocking out the simple tasks things start to flow you build confidence cross one thing off after another and before you know it you're halfway through the harder stuff without even realizing it the trick is simple break your study into smaller tasks to feel like you're making progress if you're waiting for motivation to magically appear you'll
• 03:00 - 03:30 keep being that person who always gives up and if you don't know where to start or how to break things down no worries ask an AI for help for example tell chat GPT what you need to study and have it create a detailed study plan for you and to make it even easier I've put together over 250 prompts that'll help you study faster than ever check the link in the pinned comment five make Bets with friends if you're into competition stop stop being soft and challenge a friend
• 03:30 - 04:00 to see who can study more without slacking off but don't just compete for fun put something on the line that actually matters it could be money paying for lunch or even doing something embarrassing the pressure of losing and having your friend rub it in your face is the push you need and if you want to take it to the next level check out Fon a free site where you can set goals earn points and officially compete with your friends turn this into a real game
• 04:00 - 04:30 there's nothing better than beating your friends showing off how much you studied and watching them eat their defeat right four study in different places if your desk has become the definition of boredom grab your books and switch it up to a totally random spot a study from environmental psychology showed that changing your environment boosts focus and productivity because your brain reacts to new stimuli so go study in the kitchen while making some coffee or even in the garage for some real peace and quiet quiet and if you want to get weird
• 04:30 - 05:00 with it the bathroom is an option take your study materials in there and you won't even need brakes for well you know that strange new setting will keep your brain Alert in a way your boring desk never could three study in short Sprints if you have the attention span of a goldfish it's time to switch to study Sprints instead of trying to power through hours and ending up staring at the ceiling Focus hard for 20 minutes then take a 5minute break doesn't sound so bad right this simple cycle works
• 05:00 - 05:30 wonders for your brain helping it get used to focusing without dying of boredom before you know it you'll be studying longer than you thought without even realizing it and I'm not making this up a study from the University of Illinois proved that taking short breaks during work or study seriously improves focus and performance the trick is to fool your brain into thinking the task is easier than it actually is who can't handle 20 minutes right these little breaks reset your mind preventing that
• 05:30 - 06:00 mental fatigue that makes you quit like an idiot two do an angry study session you know that person who always talks trash about you calling you stupid or lazy every time you slack off on studying it's like you're handing them the win on a silver platter you're basically saying yeah you're right I can't do this really that's what you want to give those people the satisfaction of knowing they were right about you oh so I'm really going to let them win like this that single thought thought should be enough to snap you out
• 06:00 - 06:30 of your slump but if that's still not working let's kick it up a notch on those days when studying feels like the hardest thing in the world remind yourself my parents didn't bust their butts raising someone who's going to sit here being a useless bum they raised someone who gets stuff done so get off your lazy butt and start studying I'm not going to be the fool who's whining about life while everyone else is out there moving ahead leveling up screw that I'm taking control hitting that
• 06:30 - 07:00 subscribe button and shutting this nonsense down for good sometimes the only way to get going is to have that non nonsense tough conversation with yourself no sugar coating no excuses just brutal honesty because if you don't push yourself now who will well actually me anyway it's either you take charge or you get left behind and I bet you're tired of watching everyone else pass you by so stop being an idiot channel that frustration and you use it to fuel the
• 07:00 - 07:30 most productive study session you've had of your life one reward yourself you're not a machine that can run Non-Stop and if you were you'd have already broken down so after putting in some study time treat yourself could be grabbing a snack playing some video games or watching an episode of that show you're hooked on the idea is to complete the motivation Loop you grind through studying and in return you give yourself something you enjoy it'll help you stay on track without wanting to quit half way through
• 07:30 - 08:00 now don't be dumb and stop every 10 minutes to play or binge watch something plan your rewards right study hard hit a solid goal and then treat yourself for real this routine will keep your motivation Skyhigh and make studying feel less like torture if you like the video send it to that friend who's just as desperate for these tips as you are and drop a comment if you've got any secret trick to force yourself to study I doubt you do but hey you never know and I hope to see you in the next video if not well you're dumber than I thought