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How to Create Interest in Studies

Co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD
Updated: June 23, 2019

It’s easy to lose interest in your studies, whether you dislike a certain subject, feel
overwhelmed by the work, or are just bored in your classes. When you find a way to enjoy
what you’re studying, though, you’ll be more motivated to do well in school--and might even
have fun doing it!

Part
1 Setting the Right Attitude

Identify what interests you naturally. While you may not be the biggest fan of
1 every subject, you probably are interested in at least a few. If you can identify
the things that you like learning about, then this can help you become more
interested in school in general. When you are naturally drawn to do something (like
study a favorite subject), it is called intrinsic motivation, and finding this can
increase your success at school.[1]
Think about which classes you pay the most attention in, which ones you seem
to do the best in, which ones you don't mind studying for, etc. This can indicate
which subjects you are naturally interested in.

Put classes you don’t like into perspective. If you try, you can become
2 interested in a subject even if you don’t think you like it. Try thinking about the
purpose of the classes you are taking, and why you need to take them. This is
called finding extrinsic motivation.[2]

Think about classes as stepping stones.[3] For instance, if you want to go to

college, then you know you need to finish and do well in your high school
classes, and this can motivate you to become interested in them.
You can even put your courses into a more precise perspective. For instance, if
you want to be an engineer but don’t like your algebra teacher, remember that

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doing well in algebra is just an early step on the path toward achieving your
career goal.

Relate what you are studying to your daily life. Sometimes, you might lose
3 interest in your studies when you can’t see why a subject is important or
relevant to your life outside of school. Understanding some of the fun and
interesting ways that school can be relevant can take the boredom and dreariness
away. For instance:

Knowing the basics of chemistry can improve your cooking.[4]

English classes will teach you to understand things like figurative language,
rhetoric, and persuasion.[5][6] Knowing this information can help you understand
how advertising works when it incorporates things like catchy slogans and sex
appeal.
History classes can help you understand when popular books, television
shows, movies, etc. are based on historical events (and have fun pointing out
when they get things wrong). For instance, Game of Thrones echoes medieval
duels and the 15th-century Wars of the Roses, while Downton Abbey is a fairly
accurate depiction of life on an English manor in the early 20th century (but one
shot infamously included a modern-day water bottle in the background by
mistake).
Math can be used in many practical situations, such as doing taxes, calculating
how much paint you need to cover a wall, and figuring out how much interest
you’ll pay on a car loan.[7]

Examine your beliefs about school. If you are convinced that a subject isn’t
4 fun or useful, or if you are generally not interested in school, think about
whether any beliefs are holding you back. If you can identify these negative beliefs
and remove them, you are more likely to be motivated for school. For instance:
If you aren’t interested in a particular subject, like English, think about if anyone
ever told you that you weren’t a good writer. If so, that negative thought doesn’t
have to hold you back. Go to your current teacher and explain, and ask him or
her about ways to improve.
Keep in mind that it’s not only your teacher’s responsibility to keep you
motivated for school. Even if you think you have a bad teacher, remember that
you can take charge of your learning and decide what you want to be interested
in.
If you feel like a certain subject just isn’t interesting, talk to friends who like it,
and see if they can explain to you why they find it fun.

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Identify stresses. While a lack of interest or academic difficulties in a certain

subject might cause you to lose interest in school, other common stress factors can
do the same. These may include worrying about your appearance, social issues,
bullying, etc.[8] If you are having problems in an area like one of these, talk to a
parent, counselor, teacher, friend, or other person you trust about getting help. If
you can reduce your stress, you are more likely to be interested in your studies.

Don’t be overly competitive. Some amount of friendly competition can be fun

6 and a motivation to learn. However, too much competition produces anxiety,
which can take away from learning. Focus on doing well for yourself and to achieve
your goals.
Try to be competitive only when it is fun and makes you interested in school,
such as working on a science fair project or quiz bowl.
You don’t have to be the best in everything. Set your own realistic goals, and
don’t worry too much about what others are doing. If you want to earn a certain
grade on a test, for example, work hard to achieve it and don’t worry about who
earns a higher score.

Write down what you do and don't like. Sometimes, getting things out on
7 paper can help you figure out how to make yourself more interested in your
studies. Take out a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the one
side, write "Things I Don't Like," and on the other side, write "Things I Like."[9]
Write down everything you don't like about school. Try to be as detailed as
possible. Rather than saying, "School sucks and it's stupid," try saying
something like "I feel embarrassed when the teacher asks me a question and I
don't know the answer."
Write down everything you like about school. This part can be a challenge, but
try hard to find some stuff to put here. Chances are, there is something you
enjoy about school, even if it's only hanging with your friends at recess.
Look at your list. What can you do about the things you don't like? For example,
if you feel scared of not having an answer when the teacher calls on you, you
could try preparing a question to ask before class and raising your hand before
the teacher can call on you. That way, you know you have something to say
and the pressure is off.
What can you do to increase the things you do like? For example, if you are a
computer whiz, maybe you could ask for extra time on the computers at school,
or to do some of your homework on a computer instead of by hand.

Talk to your parents, family, and friends about school. When you have a
8 support group of people who care about you and want you to do well in school,

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you are more likely to be interested in it. Talking about what you are learning about
and doing in school keeps it on your mind in a positive way. Your parents, family,
and friends can be great listeners.[10]
If your parents or family ask you about school, remember that they’re not trying
to bug you. Instead, they’re showing interest in what you do, and you’ll feel
good if you talk about with them.
Don’t be afraid to talk about problems or difficulties you’re having in school,
either. A good support group will be sympathetic and try to help you.

Part
2 Establishing Good Habits

Establish a set routine. If you fall behind in your schoolwork, or don’t set
1 aside enough time to do your homework, it can create all sorts of problems that
can drag you down. On the other hand, if you set aside specific times each day to
study or do your homework, you’ll stay on top of things and be more likely to be
interested in your studies. Plus, you’ll feel great about accomplishing what you
need to do!
Keep a running list of the things you need to do for school, such as in a course
planner. This will help you keep track of things. Crossing tasks off as you finish
them will help you feel accomplished and stay motivated.
Try to find a quiet, distraction-free place to work.
Make yourself take care of schoolwork before spending time on the computer,
watching TV, playing games, etc. This might seem hard at first, but if you get in
the habit of taking care of what you need to first, you’ll ultimately have more
time to spend on other things you enjoy.
If you have a lot of work to do, remember to schedule short breaks. For
instance, if you are going to be studying for several hours, remember to take a
break (five minutes or so) every hour to clear your head, walk around, get a
snack, etc.

Prioritize your school tasks. Focus on doing high-impact activities (those that
2 are most important or interesting) first.[11] This will help you build momentum
and stay interested in your studies. For instance:
If you have a big exam coming up that counts for a large percentage of your
grade, studying for that might come before proofreading an essay you’ve
already written for another class.
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If you have a chapter to read for a history class that you really enjoy, you could
start with that before moving on to math homework, if you enjoy it less.
Alternatively, you could do the math homework first if it is more important, and
use wanting to reading the chapter for history as a motivator to get it out of the
way.

Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.[12] If you have a
3 big project or exam to study for, it can seem daunting, and make you lose
motivation and interest. However, if you break the task down into smaller parts, you
will feel like you are accomplishing something and stay interested.
For instance, if you have a biology exam coming up that covers 5 chapters of
your textbook, don’t try to study them at once. Instead, study a chapter or half
of a chapter each day leading up to the exam. You’ll feel good about the
progress you make each day.

Look for ways to create variety in your schoolwork. If you feel bored with
4 the schoolwork you are doing, remember that you may not always have to do
things in the same way. A little variety will keep things interesting. For instance:
If you have to write a book report each month, and you have been writing on
autobiographies, perhaps try writing on a novel next month.[13]
Instead of writing yet another essay in your U.S. history class, see if your
teacher will let you make a recording in the style of an old-time radio news
show. You could even make a series of podcasts instead of a series of
essays.[14]
Instead of just reading Shakespeare aloud in your English class, see if you can
perform a scene, record it, and share it online on a video streaming site for
others to enjoy and comment on.[15]
You could practice your geometry studies by building a scale model of a famous
building or other object.

Study with friends. Being part of a group of people all working on the same
5 thing can be a motivator to get schoolwork done; you can quiz each other, help
each other out on difficult problems or topics, etc.[16] If you want to study with
friends, however, make sure that everyone stays on task and doesn’t get distracted.
You can form a study group where everyone signs a pledge to work hard, stay
on task, and help each other out. When you don’t feel like you’re alone, you’re
more likely to stay interested and motivated.

Ask for feedback. If you are struggling in school, or just want to know how you
6 are doing, ask your teachers for feedback. You can meet with them, and get

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help with a specific assignment or ask for general feedback.[17] Most teachers are
glad to help, and talking informally about your schoolwork can help you feel more at
ease in school and stay interested in your studies.
Don’t be afraid to tell your teacher if there is a problem in class. For instance, if
you feel like a teacher calls on you too often, talk to him or her about it. Most
teachers will be happy to hear your concerns and to help you do well.

Ask your teachers to let you take part in learning and planning. You’ll be
7 more interested and care more about your studies if you’re invested in them.
Your teachers might be willing to incorporate ideas you have for learning or
structuring lessons to make them interesting. Let them know about your learning
style, and the things you find interesting, such as:
Variety in assignment type
Enthusiastic lectures
Opportunities to choose what you want to work on
Having good examples to learn from
Learning from games (like “Jeopardy”-type quizzes)

Reward yourself for your effort and successes.[18] When you try hard, do
8 well in school, or achieve a goal, see if there is someway to reward yourself.
While you might not want to make tangible rewards be your primary motivation for
doing well in school, a reward now and then can keep you interested in your
studies. For instance:
Let yourself play a favorite video game after you’ve finished all of your
homework.
Ask your parents if you can go out to a favorite restaurant if you do well on a
big exam, or get good grades at the end of a semester.
If you complete all of your assignments and don’t have any big projects coming
up, let yourself have a weekend to spend just doing things for fun, like hanging
out with friends, going for a walk, or watching a favorite TV show.

Community Q&A

Question

I have lost interest in studies, how can I get it back?

Community Answer

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Put the interest back toward study by remembering your goal(s) in life and the
reasons why you are studying to make your life better. Remind yourself that you
are doing this for your future. Also, try to make your studies fun, like a game.

Question

How can I better develop my memory?

Community Answer

Repeat what you learned every day. Spend at least 30 minutes every day, and
review what you learned.

Question

How can I get into the mood to study?

Community Answer

Think about your future goals. Try to think about the joy, happiness, and relaxation
you will get after you study.

Question

I feel really sleepy when I am opening the book. I really want to study but my
heart doesn't allow it. What should I do?

Community Answer

You could take a bath before studying. Studying in the morning by sitting in nature
in the green environment is the best method.

Question

How do I motivate myself if none of my friends do it regularly?

Community Answer

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If your friends are are not motivated in studies, find a time and place to study away
from them.

Question

I try to study, but I get diverted. What can I do?

Community Answer

Try taking all of your distractions out of the room (phones, computers, iPad, etc.).
Log out of all social media in order to get your mind to focus on the task at hand.
You can also try using the candy method. If you are studying from a textbook,
place a piece of candy (like a gummy bear or M&M) every third paragraph or so.
This way, when your reading, it may motivate you to keep going, so you can get
the candy.

Question

Where should I study?

Community Answer

It's best to study in a quite and clean place where you won't be distracted by
others. A library is always a good choice.

Question

How can I refresh my mind before studying?

Community Answer

Try taking a warm bath or shower; this can help relax your mind. You can also go
for a short walk around the block; don't make it too long, however, or you will be
too tired to study.

Question

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How do I avoid distractions?

Community Answer

Turn off your electronics and put them out of sight. Ask your family members not to
disturb you while studying. Listen to soft music to drown out excess ambient noise.
If your environment still has too many distractions, consider studying at the library
instead.

Question

What will people say if I only study to get good marks?

Community Answer

Studying is not only for the good marks but for the knowledge too. In fact,
deepening your understanding is vital for truly being effective in whatever field of
endeavor you may pursue in the future.

References

1. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/
2. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/
3. http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/teacher_relationships.html#
4. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/physics/synthetic-food-better-cooking-through-ch
emistry/
5. https://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/asr/v005/5.4hobbs.
html
6. http://papyr.com/hypertextbooks/comp1/write4.htm
7. http://www.hartford.edu/featured-stories/ray-mcgivney.aspx
8. http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/school_stress.html#cat20179
9. http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/hate_school.html#
10. http://aspeneducation.crchealth.com/5-ways-to-motivate-your-child-for-school/

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11. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/inside-the-classroom/tips-for-staying-m
otivated
12. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/inside-the-classroom/tips-for-staying-m
otivated
13. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/inside-the-classroom/tips-for-staying-m
otivated
14. http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/10/05/should-kids-schoolwork-impact-the-real-wo
rld/
15. http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/10/05/should-kids-schoolwork-impact-the-real-wo
rld/
16. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/inside-the-classroom/tips-for-staying-m
otivated
17. http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/teacher_relationships.html#
18. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/inside-the-classroom/tips-for-staying-m
otivated

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