Getting Through a Study Slump

Why slumps happen

A period when study that used to go well suddenly stops sticking is common for anyone who studies over a long stretch. It often comes from a mix of things: a plateau where results stop rising despite effort, fatigue built up by the same routine day after day, a goal that feels impossibly far away, or worries from outside your studies. The important thing is not to treat a slump as proof of weak willpower. There is a cause, so you deal with that cause, and blaming yourself usually only slows recovery.

Sort out the cause

Rather than simply trying to pull yourself together, first work out why study is not happening right now. The fix can be the exact opposite depending on the cause. If fatigue is the cause, you need rest rather than more pressure; if boredom with your method is the cause, you need to change the method rather than rest. Write the questions below on paper and answer each one honestly, and the cause often becomes clearer than you expect.

• Are your sleep, meals and physical health all right?
• Has your study method stayed the same for months?
• Is your goal too distant or too vague?
• Have flat scores made it feel pointless?
• Are worries outside your studies filling your head?

Check your body first

A surprising number of slumps start in the body. When you are short of sleep or go to bed at irregular times, concentration and mood drop together, and if you sit down to study in that state, it is easy to mistake the problem for a personal failing. For a few days at least, try going to bed and getting up at the same time, not skipping meals, and getting outside for even a short walk. Late caffeine and screens right before bed also disrupt sleep. Once your body recovers, the will to study often returns faster than you would think.

Restart with smaller goals

The most practical way out of a slump is to cut the goal drastically. If you hold yourself to your usual load, the pressure before you even begin is so heavy that you give up entirely. Lower the daily goal to far less than usual, to an amount you can hardly fail at. Meeting even a tiny goal every day brings back the sense that you can do it, and as that builds, the amount naturally grows again.

• Cut the daily goal to a fraction of your usual load
• Start with the easiest subject or the one you like most
• Agree to do just a few minutes once you sit down
• Mark each day you succeed on a calendar

Change the format

If the same desk, the same order and the same books have run for months, boredom itself may be the cause. In that case, keep the content the same and change only the format. Move to a library or another room, start with practice questions instead of reading, or explain what you have been summarising alone to someone else. Buying a new textbook feels fresh, but it can make you start over from the beginning and actually cost you progress, so think carefully before doing it.

Step away from comparison and self-blame

What drags a slump out is often not the study itself but comparing yourself with others and blaming yourself. Constantly looking at other people's progress or posted study hours makes your own day feel small, and that feeling makes you put off study again. Stepping away from those posts for a while is a reasonable choice. When you look back on the day, write down what you did rather than what you missed. However small, a growing record lets you see with your own eyes that you have not stood still.

When it is fine to rest

Not every slump has to be pushed through. If you have been going for a long time without a break, taking a day or two off completely may be the faster route. Decide the rest days in advance, though, and decide when you will start again, so the break does not stretch on indefinitely. While resting, do not force yourself to keep thinking about study; move your body or do something you enjoy. On the day you restart, set off lightly with the small goals described above.

When not to handle it alone

If it feels as if your whole daily life is falling apart, not just your studying, it may be more than an ordinary slump. This article is not a test or a diagnosis. If states like those below go on for a long time, do not try to solve it alone; talk to a mental health professional or a doctor. Counselling services at your school, workplace or in your area are also a good place to start. If things are hard enough that you have thoughts of harming yourself, do not wait: contact a crisis line or emergency services right away.

• Feeling listless almost every day, with nothing enjoyable
• Barely sleeping, or sleeping far too much
• A noticeable change in appetite or weight
• Thoughts of harming yourself