We all have days when we just don’t feel in the mood to sit down and study.
This is particularly true if you have had a stressful day at work or at home.

Below are some simple tips for getting yourself into a frame of mind where you can concentrate on your studies.

1. Study is less of a struggle once you’ve established a routine.
   Starting something new is always hard, but once an activity becomes a habit it’s much easier.
   Consider, how much effort you put into remembering to brush your teeth in the morning. Very little, I suspect.
   So similarly you should try to get into the habit of studying in the same place and at the same time everyday.
2. Find yourself a quiet place to study and remove distractions from your environment.
   If you have the T.V. on, or even a novel or magazine on your desk, you will probably end up thinking about these things and not be able to concentrate on your study.
   You need to create a clear workspace for yourself.
   Some students find playing classical music or even jazz music in the background helps them to concentrate, but be aware that any music with lyrics is likely to be a distraction.
3. After a really bad/stressful day, give yourself a break of at least 30 minutes between finishing your other activity and starting your study.
   For example, if you have had a particularly stressful day at work, it’s unrealistic to think you can rush home through busy traffic, and immediately be able to open your books and concentrate. First, take a short amount of time to do something you enjoy, such as listening to music, watching T.V., talking to the family or even cooking a meal.
   This will recharge your batteries and allow you to approach your study in a more relaxed frame of mind.
4. Ensure you are eating a well balanced diet and getting enough sleep.
5. Lack of sleep, drinking too many caffienated drinks, eating meals that are too heavy, or not eating well enough, will all prevent you from concentrating.
6. Most importantly, if you still don’t feel in the mood, try to study anyway!!

In general, the longer you carry out an activity, the more engaged in the activity you will become.
So, if you don’t feel in the mood to study you should sit down and begin anyway.

You can start by:

• Reviewing your study goals
• Reviewing the contents page of your learner guide and your notes to remind yourself what you are up to
• Read your assignment questions to focus your reading
• Start by reading an area of your text that you find particularly interesting

I hope you find these tips useful.