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There’s no way around it—studying is boring. Nobody likes to study, which is TOTALLY relatable, and some find it too hard, and we get it. However, since you have to pass exams every semester, whether at school or university, you have to study—we hate that for you, but it has to be done.

Since a lot of you have finals that have already started, we thought, hey, why don’t we give you some tips on how to concentrate when studying so you can get through this semester in style?

• Prepare Yourself Mentally

Studying needs the right mental state –even with the mental stress you might be dealing with, yes— and the right mood so you can fully concentrate on what you’re studying. We suggest you take a minute before you start to prepare yourself mentally for the process. Even if you don’t feel like it, tell yourself that the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll be done.

• Make Your Own Space

Clearing your desk is essential, as is having the perfect space around you with no distractions or any unnecessary clutter. If you have books or notes of another subject around, put those aside and start studying on a clear surface, preferably a desk. If you prefer to go out to study somewhere because your home is too distracting, then find a quiet place or a coworking space that is perfect for exactly that.

• Don’t Study On The Bed

We think you can understand this one clearly. In case you don’t, studying on the bed leads to—as we all know—sleep, and we definitely don’t want that since we’re trying to work here! Your bed will bring that lazy energy, and with the cold, your best friend right now will be the bedcover. So, no, don’t study on the bed.

• The Pomodoro Technique

The name might make you think we are joking and that this isn’t really a studying technique. But it is, and it works wonders! The Pomodoro Technique is a time management system that helps with studying while also combatting boredom.

So, how does it work? Say you work for 25 to 30 minutes. You’ll need to set a timer, take a 5-minute break, then start another Pomodoro set. After three sets, you can take a 30-minute break before starting all over again (and don’t exceed the 30 minutes of break time, though we know it’s tempting)

• Perfect Studying Playlist

We don’t recommend songs with lyrics in them, but if that’s what works for you, go ahead and make a playlist with your favourite chill songs. Pick ones that aren’t groovy and won’t get your head bobbing when you study, though, because we want concentration. Try to go for classical or soft indie music that perfectly fits the studying mode, puts your mind at ease, and helps you concentrate.

• Write Your Thoughts Down

It might sound weird, but whenever you’re studying and find yourself getting lost because you REALLY want to check that text you just got, you can write it down on a notepad or a sticky note that you “want to check that text later”. This will ease the urge to grab your phone as well as helping you get back on track.

• Set A “Stop Studying” Timer

We don’t think you should overwork yourself, so setting a timer to stop studying is the only way you’ll be able to retain as much information as you can while not overusing your brain, which needs to relax at some point too. However, you’re not allowed to do that if you barely studied, so don’t cheat. That said, setting an end to your study time is very healthy for you mentally and physically.