How to Make Studying Fun (or at Least Less Boring) 

The problem with rewarding myself is that my mind becomes set on 'getting through' the material rather than actually mastering it.

1-Build an interest link 2-The Growth Mindset - Based on Mindset by Carol Dweck 3- Studying with a partner - Warning: avoid collective procrastination 4- Change your environment - Study playlists, ritual 5- Create mini rewards - High density fun (hanging out with friends or playing a videogame) Also see: The Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel

"I'll use my girlfriend Anna as an example." *It is at this moment where you hear the sound of collective hearts breaking*

Your videos are for students, but, as a teacher, I always find good tips for me to teach them! Thank you! I just hope you'll see this comment among the 600 ! :)

1. Gaining interest 2. The Growth Mindset 3. Change your environment 4. Mini rewards

Am I the only one who loves the Llama with glasses with that specific sound!? 😅☺️

"Or study with a cat" whenever I try to study with my cat she just bites my pen and lies on my papers lol

wow this came just in time..I got 3 exams next week, wish me luck!

The fact that you're holding a fidget spinner makes me want to puke.

Thomas is really doing a great work for all procrastinators!

Thanks for calling out Derek. It's about time somebody put him in his place.

Not so much a tip to make studying fun, but to help you become more emotionally attached to a subject - when you're studying, if you read/work on something that piques your interest and makes you curious, write it down on a separate piece of paper. Then, once you're done studying, research stuff that's on that piece of paper. You're not studying, but you are learning a bit more about it, and tricking yourself into thinking you're just googling cool stuff. But overall it maintains interest in the topic over a long period, and it's extra stuff you can bring to the next discussion of "I found out this!"

For example, do your homework alone. Your partner does it alone too. After you are both done, meet up and talk about it. About problems, concepts you didn't understand etc.

Studying may be boring sometimes but when you are matured enough to understand you are doing it for a better future, it never gets that boring.

Do you have an idea to make Math interesting? Like Podcast or movie?

Teachers really have a big role in it too. I've always hated math (still do) but in 8th grade, I had such an awesome teacher I never got below A. She would high five us whenever we finished a hard problem, if you were one of the first 10 who got it right, you were a badass. She was super energetic and always encouraged us to visit her whenever we had a problem we couldn't solve, so she was always surrounded by students every brake. Man I miss her :/

What if you give yourself mini rewards but then you just can't stop rewarding yourself, because you have no self discipline to just... stop rewarding yourself ? I used to feel guilty all the time when I didn't work for med school. But right now, I just feel like I have to reward myself for every breath I take .. seriously

Nice to see you on Crash Course! Great content!

Ana is a lucky girl

I'm a DIE-HARD Doctor Who fan and enrolled in an online Western Civ class, so I've been reading my textbook and lectures as though they're the Doctor and I'm his companion. It really helps. I even found connections recently between an episode and course material

Glad people are giving love to Hardcore Histories.

Excellent video! When you talked about mini rewards, I think it could be worth mentioning that you should choose them based on what you don't easily get stuck in. Find out what your "weak spots" are, (15 min turning in to 2 hrs), and then decide what your mini rewards should be! (Y)

if only i could chat with this guy sometimes it would be so nice

My finacial accounting teacher always tells us the illegal things we will be able to do after learning a new topic first. Or tells us quirks we have in the laws concerning the topic (and in Germany there are many). This method works every time to catch the interest of the whole class and I am thankful.

YOU HELPED ME A LOT BY RECOMMENDING Dan Carlin's Podcast I found the thing which completed my life. I love that Podcast it's too good.

I like how you support your points by giving books as examples

True story: when i had a quiz on the state capitals i found the animaniacs state capitals song and listened to it non stop for 3 days. Got all 50.

I appreciate the llama intercessions in your videos, Thomas

I watch your videos to get me pumped for studying =)

Another way (IMO) is to find how what you're studying is relevant to you. I took a pharmacotherapy course that I was not interested in at all. However, I started applying what I studied to my friends and family. Eventually, every time I studied I became more interested and I always related what I studied to my family and friends.

Watching this video weeks before fall semester begins.....

Thank you Thomas! All of your videos have been a great help :)

I wonder how is that possible that you don't have at least one million subs!??!!!

Thanks for all your tips Thomas!! Your dedication to college student success is so awesome man, love you :)

I loved this video, and it was extremely helpful. I always enjoy your videos, and the podcast. Keep doing what you do! :)

Nothing can help my laziness,but this guy says some pretty cool stuff that's mostly true and actually tries to help. U gained a sub from me

Me: Eats candy when I get a question right My teacher: No eating in class Me: *>:(*

1. Self-awareness and the power within, looking inward for resources on dealing with boredom we expected to be stimulated from an external factor but actually, it comes from within like motivation, inspiration, interest act an active role in stimulating your mind in building and straightening your focus & attention 2. attention training technic, its hard to be interested at something that you didn't pay attention, people who prone to boredom perform poorly on task that requires sustain attention and show symptom ADHD and depression 3. fidgeting and restlessness, fidgeting happening from stressful studying but its good 4. Mind Wandering, 5. Coping strategies; avoidance - procastination, criticizing - frustrating, hating the subject, reappraisal - focus on potention positive aspect from a task, build interest, give the material more personal and deeper meaning

As a Persian girl, I really became happy & excited when you mentioned that you & your girl friend listened to a podcast episode about Ancient Persia!! I’m so happy that there are still some people who are interested in such topics!!😍😆✨ Thank you so much for creating this awesome & useful video!!😁👏🏻✨

The production quality of this channel has improved so much since it started

I love your teapot !!!

Develop an interest, take challenges with growth mindset, good company, good environment , give yourself high density pre planned awars (as they are motivating) ! And it all comes with practice

Hey Tom, how about adding a summary of the points covered in the video at the end? Awesome video as usual!

One of the best videos on strategies to study smarter. Thanks a lot.

Can I translate your videos? I mean add subtitles :D

Dude, Thomas, your videos are amazing. In terms of content, production quality, everything. Obviously you make some money off this (probably not as much as one might think), but it seems like you genuinely want to help people who are where you've been. It's as if much of what you say has passed through the minds of many before, but you help to focus it so clearly it just seems obvious. Thanks, keep up the good work

Thomas are you trying to tell us that Llama's are the master race?

One tip is to check things off on the topic list as you study and understand them because I’ve heard somewhere that crossing things off make you feel more accomplished when getting stuff done.

Best youtuber best wishes from Egypt

Thank you for the video Thomas, very helpful and entertaining 🤙☺️

You ever gonna write a book?

This is my trick: I try to understand the topic so it could be more fun to learn more about it.

Tea recipe please

Hi Thomas, I watched your video yesterday and it inspired me (especially the "growth mindset" part). Today, out of the blue, it came to my mind again. Had to rewatch and take notes. "If it wasn't a testimony to their intelligence, they couldn't enjoy it." -- that stuck with me. Thank you for making such great videos and keeping people inspired. Much love from Germany!

Whats that podcast player ?

as a teacher and a student this is really helpful- I thought after studying education for a seemingly endless amount of time I thought this would just tell me stuff I already knew but it really brought out 'new' (possibly I should say reframed) ideas.

what if you just aren't motivated?

This is why you are my favorite youtuber, thanks

Is Math related to Science?

I got stuck self-studying Physics after finish the career and these tips are very helpful. Thanks

Can I borrow the cat you're studying with?

This video came just in time for my study week

Everything I learn is challenging😭

Keep the videos coming because I need to make it through fall semester starting in a couple weeks.

I am 35 years old, I am divorced, and I live IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER

I am sooooo excited you're on crash course now!!!

oh, he has a girlfriend :(

I learnt about mining, metals, non-metals, and much more through minecraft! There’s this lesson in geography about types of mines, caves, mining and everything related to that. Minecraft really helped me to understand this better. But however, that was the only thing that I was excited to learn out of all my geography lessons...

My favorite part is when he says or study with a cat. 😹

this is my favourite channel now

"You need to get interested in your topic" Well goverments are not something I just get interested in-

Added to my "best videos" playlist. Thankyou

we all see you typing derrick..

I don't have the habit of sharing videos or stuff. I use to share only things that I have a huge interest in. That said, this video is SO GOOD that I'll share it with everyone on my college buddies. Thank you so much Thomas!

Dude if she is interest in persian history she can get persian universe that was awesome i read and love it and it not about fake history like 300 (boring 👎) By the way great advise 😊

Hey I'm new to your channel and I just wanted to let you know I love your content. I've been obsessively watching you're videos. Keep up your good work.

Does anyone know podcasts or anything that can make stuff we learn in med school interesting?

For rewards, if I'm not completely pressed for time, I work with the method of however long I spend studying, I get to follow that with the same amount of time doing something I want to do before I have to continue. I deduct any breaks of more than a minute from my study time. Seeing as I usually want to immerse myself in a book, watch a movie or do something else time-consuming, I find it easier to study for several hours because I know the reward is complete relaxation- not 30 minutes of fun before resuming my work. Unless I have completed my goal amount of study time for the day, after each break I'll resume my work. This only works though if you have time. Also, get chores out of the way BEFORE you start work. I find I'm far more relaxed and focused if I have nothing else I know I have to get done. On a good day, I'll get up, walk my dog (sunlight and exercise), have breakfast and a shower, and then do all the housework for the day (laundry, emptying and stacking dishwasher, taking out the rubbish, wiping down benches, tidying room, etc.) Then, when I sit down to study, I know that when I'm finished, I can be lazy and do what I wish (I usually prep my meals so cooking lunch and dinner isn't a hassle). On a productive day, with five hours of study, I can be done by 3.00pm (that's with a 6.30am wake-up, 9.30pm bed time. I'm homeschooling, and I don't have to work around a job or classes, but the same method can still be incorporated into other routines.

does anyone know what game is shown in 1:27?

I watch a little bit of a House episode before I study. I like how it makes me analyze. Then I read a novel I like in my break- gives me something to look forward to

Once you get started, I find it's pretty tolerable

Thank you for another amazing video with useful tips Thomas!

Thomas ... you're expert in speaking with understandable ... world is watching you , so your words should be helpful to us , but your speaking too fast plz make it slow ... tq bro

Your productivity videos are such a big influence. Thank you! I hope that there’s a summary of all your points though because that was a lot of info but good job on these vids

That Fidget spinner makes me want to puke... eww🤢

Now it's clear to me! I thought taking mini breaks and rewarding myself by doing push-ups/pull-ups or playing tekken between my study sessions were bad ideas since my parents told me they are distractions. I kept telling them it's the way i study but never believed me until i showed them this video! Awesome stuff mate, i thought i was the only one 👊

Why are you holding a fidget spinner...I want to puke

Great video! I'm a photographer and signed up for skill share from your last video and have enjoyed it immensely. I started getting into mobile photography which I never had a lot of skill or interest in and I am obsessed with their classes!

play at 0.75 speed

My dude congrats on being on Crash Course! Also hope that a collab with Med School Insiders happens soon.

World history will never be interesting to me...

All I did is imagine my idols and say 'I'll only meet these kinds of people if I study' and that worked. Also, pop in some music to make it less serious, and it'll make you remember a bit longer. Dunno why that works, but you remember things easier when you just speed read instead of trying to shove information into your head.

Hi! Just wanna say that your videos really helped me when my classes started last year and now that senior high school has started i am back! haha. i had 5 months of summer and when i got back i've never felt so lost in my entire life

Hi, I new to your channel and although the videos I'm watching are old, theyre new to me. I am learning so much from them. Thank you so much for these videos

I try to treat academics like sports. The finals are my Superbowl, the month before the finals are the playoffs and regular studying is the equivalent of normal practice. It kinda gives me more motivation to study and makes it look just as exciting as (for example) playing football

Please do a video on how to develop a growth mindset! 😊

Love the effort you put on this channel, getting interesting CIG emails every week, thank you!

Thanks for always providing such high quality content, Thomas!

Thx for the playlist, i love it so much

thanks, thomas! you really are a game changer!!!