How do I become passionate about studying ? Toppers Secret

I’ll tell you one thing NOT to do, and it’s this:

Don’t spend 12 hours at your desk forcing yourself to study. That’s a disaster of a strategy. Instead, step away from your books and think about the bigger picture.

Like this.

Step #1. Connect to your WHY.

The key to keeping yourself motivated, no matter what you are doing, is to think beyond this moment. Here’s how to start:

Think about the current plans you have for yourself regarding studying, from what’s on the agenda today to what you’re planning to do tomorrow, the day after, the following week, month, even year.

Then, think even beyond that: What’s your ultimate goal? Who will you be once you’ve graduated, once you have that degree in your hand? Who do you want to become?

Why this is important: You need to make the connection between what you are doing today (no matter how mundane, hard, or impossible it may seem to continue) with who you want to become in the future (the version of yourself that will benefit from all of your current actions).

Step #2. Figure out your HOW.

Now that you understand your why, you need to find out how you’re going to remain passionate about studying to achieve what’s important. Here are some suggestions:

Identify your top 3–5 goals to make it through the academic year. It could mean passing a certain amount of courses, successfully completing semi-final and final exams, turning in research papers on time, etc.

Under each goal, write down 3 things you will need to do on a regular basis to make progress. For example, if your goal is to complete a course this semester, then the things you should focus on are reviewing the textbook every day, adding notes on each chapter to your notebook, and doing research for the term paper that’s coming up.

Finally, create a weekly schedule to fit in the activities you've identified as important to achieving your goal. Divide each day into hourly increments (see step #4), then block off time for your activities. If you feel you don't have enough time, you might benefit from a morning routing  to give more structure to your day.

Step #3. Study the most difficult material early in the day.

Why? Because for most people, your brain’s peak performance happens 2-4 hours after you wake up. This is the time when your brain can focus on analytical thinking that requires the most concentration. For studying, this can be reading, writing, coding, analyzing, or problem solving.

When? If you wake up at 7, your peak times are between 9 and 11. You can extend this time until lunch to maximize your peak performance. This also means you should turn off your phone (at least the volume), avoid responding to calls and text messages, and ignore distractions that can disrupt your study time (emails, watching the news, going on Twitter).

What are the benefits? Doing your hard work early in the day allows your brain to focus fully on the problem at hand, with fewer distractions, less inputs from your environment, and with a lot of energy that you've gained from a restful night.

Step #4. Use a timer to study smarter, not harder.

Back to what I said earlier — don’t make yourself miserable by studying all day long. Use a timer to better manage your study session and allow your brain to focus in a more targeted and effective way. Here’s how:

Read and review study material. Set the timer to 30 or 60 minute increments to maximize concentration; or, for really short bursts of study, try the pomodoro technique which consists of 25 minute blocks of time, followed by 5 minute breaks.

Practice exam questions. Use the review questions from your textbook or handouts from your professor. Write the questions down on a sheet of paper. Then, use the Pomodoro technique to rehearse for the exam. Give yourself only a short time to answer each question. Use one Pomodoro session to cover several questions, and go down the list until you’ve covered them all.

Take breaks. When you're done with one timed segment, step away from your desk and do something completely unrelated to work: get some fresh air, stretch, have a snack, grab a cup of coffee or tea.

Step #5. Reward yourself.

Because you made progress in your studies, you should also give yourself a reward for all your hard work. What you choose to reward yourself with will depend on your personal interests, affinities, your passions, as well as your personality.

Set aside an hour or two each evening to just chill. Call a friend and catch up over the phone, watch a movie, read a book.

Make a meal from scratch. Take the time to pull out spices that you love the most, take a 5-minute inventory of your fridge and pantry, and use ingredients you have in your house right now to make a warm meal.

Devote a little time to a hobby or activity that gives you pleasure. It can be playing the guitar, taking out your watercolors and painting, or baking a batch of cookies — whatever feels soothing and relaxing.

Idea source : e-book on how to study smart.