It’s no secret that studying is one of the most feared (and avoided) responsibilities for many students. Here’s why students dread studying – and what parents can do to make it fun!
When it comes down to it, the act of studying itself isn’t really what students hate. In most cases, studying is fairly easy – after all, students are primarily reviewing material they (should) have already learned.
In most cases, students dread studying because of the emotional component – which is often paired with stress and anxiety. If you student dislikes studying with a passion, a good place to start is by examining the actual reasons why they feel the way they do.
As we always say at Tutor Doctor, open-ended questions are the best way to encourage children to communicate! Ask your student, “What do you dislike specifically about studying?” Or, “What feelings come up when you think about studying?”
From our experience, the answer will typically be one of these:
- “It takes too long.”
- “It’s boring.”
- “It’s stressful.”
- “I feel rushed.”
- “It won’t make a difference.”
Or in many cases, all of the above! The good news is that every single one of these can be fixed by learning proper study techniques. Let’s break them down!
“It takes too long.”
Students feel this way because they procrastinate, leaving marathon study sessions until the last minute. If you study for six hours straight, of course it’s going to feel “too long” – because it is! Use the “chunking” method – dividing study time into small 10-30 minute blocks over several weeks will net the same amount of hours with minimal effort.
“It’s boring.”
Every activity becomes boring if you do it long enough – even our favorite past times! Once in a while, you have to get up and take a break. With this in mind, the “chunking” method is especially important. Spending hours on a single study session will become boring, so space it apart!
“It’s stressful.”
Many students become overwhelmed with studying even if they do start ahead of time. Gathering weeks of notes and compiling it into a cohesive study guide isn’t an easy task, and it’s completely normal for students to feel stressed with the process. The best way to combat this is by taking effective and organized notes beforehand! Learn how to take effective notes for each learning style.
“I feel rushed.”
The only thing worse than a six-hour cram session? A six-hour cram session the night before an exam! If there’s one thing every student should try to avoid at all costs, it’s pulling an all-nighter before the test. Not only will this lead to a bad night’s sleep, but it will also compromise the quality of the study time itself. This leads us to…
“It won’t make a difference.”
In nearly every case where a student feels studying won’t help, it’s because they have not yet learned how to study effectively. This includes managing one’s time effectively, planning a schedule in advance, and breaking down the material into manageable chunks.
All in all, studying can be a daunting task – but it really doesn’t have to be. Parents can encourage their kids to communicate their feelings about the studying process. Then, help them get to work on a game plan for a studying routine that works for their needs!
