In this article, we will discuss how to make studying your habit.
Habits are something that you do in a routine. You do not need extra effort or what we call willpower for them. Once they are formed, you can perform them automatically or you can say them effortlessly.
Habits have a huge role in our lives. It would not be wrong to say that we are a product of our habits. It is said that what we do every day is what we are going to become. For example, a musician will play and learn music every day. The one who practices cricket every day will become a cricketer one day, and the one who writes every day will become a writer. In short, if we want to achieve something, we will have to make them our habit. Just like students are struggling with securing high grades. They will surely be successful if they make studying their habit.
So, how to make studying your habit? Well, it is not something that you will get in a day. They take time and effort. This article is based upon the facts from behavioral psychology, human behavioral patterns, the science of habits, and how with all these things a human can make an act their habit. So, if you are willing to put some effort into yourself, read this interesting piece.
Will power and habits
We need the willpower to perform any act. For example, waking up early in the morning, sticking to a proper diet, and exercising, etc. We put efforts to keep ourselves in a healthy lifestyle. And with time, our willpower reduces. This is also called ego-depletion. Now, we have lesser willpower to do that task again. Why? Because that is not our habit.
On the other hand, some general things that are a part of our routine do not take any willpower. Like taking a shower, attending a class, etc. Even if waking up or doing exercise is our habit, we will need no or very little willpower to do them.
So, by making studying your habits, you are making it a part of your routine that will not require you to put extra effort to do it. Here is how you can achieve this stage.
Planning and Monitoring
You need a plan to act. Otherwise, it will just be a random act that you are not bound to perform again. So, the first step is to make a plan.
A study shows that human beings are more likely to perform an action when they associate it with different events of the day. For example, I will study for half an hour after my play, or I will read for an hour after lunch. Associating your actions with other things that you are necessarily going to do enhances the possibility of it happening. Now the more you do it, the lesser will-power will it need. And gradually, it will become difficult not to do it. This brings automaticity into an action.
You can watch this concept to understand it better, here.
Moreover, you have to follow your actions with continuous monitoring. Monitor the change you are bringing to your routine and assess its benefits. It motivates you to perform that action again.
Convenience in tasks
We, human beings, are more likely to perform a task if it is convenient. For instance, you will keep avoiding eating if you have to go cook it first. However, if it is already made and you just to heat it, you will not think twice to eat it.
Likewise, you can make your studying tasks easy for you. Divide your study time into small periods of focused study. For instance, you can say you have to study for three periods of thirty minutes a day. Once you are adjusted to this routine, you can add more time to each period or more periods of equal duration.
Reward yourself
The first two months are the most important time period for making your habits. Show yourself some love every time you are consistently able to perform your tasks. This has a direct positive influence on reinforcing the behavior and strengthening your habits. You might want to entertain yourself with a movie, shopping, or cooking a delicious meal.
However, do not use a long break as a reward. A break from your habit can bring you to the very initial point so you want to avoid it. Stick to your habit no matter what and once you have passed the difficult phase, you will need effort not to do that task.
Read more: Seven myths about students from NCA
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