We all know that learning is useful and necessary. Without knowledge and an academic degree, it is challenging to find a well-paid job. Of course, alternative courses increase the chance of getting good work. However, even the strongest motivation is not enough sometimes.
Dull, forced lessons are tiring. Meanwhile, the weather is excellent, and all we want to do is drop everything and go outside. Boredom is one of the main reasons why people do not like to study. If the learning process is that tedious, then how do we make it more fun?
Contents
Find a Topic That Interests You
Interest is crucial in learning. First of all, you should be passionate about something to immerse yourself in the more detailed and in-depth aspects of a subject. Usually, people first read “The Lord of the Rings” before tackling Middle-earth history. No one can study Python programming without wanting to develop an app in the first place. Are you interested in ordering a perfect essay? Check this.
Excellent educators understand this phenomenon very well. That is why Bill Nye, a science communicator, and TV host, enjoyably demonstrated how electricity works without getting into the details of Ohm’s law. Naturalist David Attenborough acted similarly in The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth. He explained how sharks were hunting their prey without concentrating on the hemodynamics of their fins.
Adopt the “Growth Mindset”
Psychology professor Carol Dweck in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” talks about the results of her study of different teaching approaches. Some of the test subjects were supporters of a fixed style of thinking. They believed that human intelligence and mental abilities are genetically predetermined and don’t change throughout life. When these students faced some complicated mathematical problems, they quickly gave up, saying they were not mathematicians.
Professor Dweck also adds that students with a fixed mindset were interested in the subject only when they immediately succeeded. If something did not work out for them, they showed a sharp drop in interest and pleasure from studying.
In contrast, students with a growth mindset believed they could change and improve themselves in every area of life. When these people came across a challenging task, they were ready to become better and overcome troubles.
Students with a growth mindset showed the same high level of interest, regardless of the task’s difficulty. Challenges and enthusiasm go hand in hand. What that means is, if you want to succeed and enjoy learning, you should change your attitude towards hardships. Instead of thinking of classes as a series of tests to determine how smart you are, try seeing them as ongoing opportunities to learn and grow.
Select a Learning Partner
Having a co-learner is a great way to add motivation and excitement to the process of studying. When you are explaining something in your own words to another person, you start to understand the topic on a deeper level. So, it’s evident that studying with a partner is more fun.
If you are using the Feynman method, there are two risks you want to avoid. Firstly, having a partner helps to motivate each other. However, at the same time, you might distract one another and become procrastinators. Secondly, you can have a super-smart friend who will lose interest in you, because you won’t be able to keep up with his or her pace. The way to avoid these situations is by choosing a training mate very carefully.
Find a Cozy Place
The right environment for focusing and concentration is essential for enjoying your study. For example, it is much more productive to read a book in a library than in a noisy room where your neighbors are playing video games. With this in mind, you should find a place that will inspire you and create a pleasant vibe while being a decent working environment.
Another way to increase your productivity is to listen to music that improves concentration. According to the research made by Anneli Haake, studying music should be of simple structure and without lyrics.
Use a Mini-Reward System
Your motivation for completing a task partially depends on the reward you get at the finish line. While studying at a college or university, you are keeping in mind relatively long-term benefits, such as getting an academic degree or obtaining a well-paid job in the future. However, distant prospects are often not enough to motivate yourself in the moment. You can invigorate the process by, for example, purchasing a chocolate bar for finishing a section of the book or watching your favorite shows in the evening.
It is crucial to plan your rewards in advance. Psychologist Pierce Steel notes in his book “The Procrastination Equation” that you will get a considerable amount of motivation because prizes create expectations. You will move forward with great zest if you know that something fun and enjoyable awaits you at the end.
Conclusion
Psychologists claim that the learning process will only improve by adding a game element to it for raising motivation. It is necessary to make education more effective and productive. Nonetheless, the key to success is not following somebody’s rules, but your desire to create an exciting process out of studying. It is paramount to do what you really want. We wish you success in learning!
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