Prepare to Study - Study Tip #1
Preparation plays a key role in many aspects of life, including studying. When we are prepared, we naturally feel more confident. While preparation isn’t the same as studying, it is crucial for making the learning process easier and more consistent—a key to achieving long-term success.
Chris Williamson is one of my favorite online speakers, and I enjoy listening to his podcasts on YouTube. Most of the time, though, I come across parts of his podcasts in inspirational video mash-ups (which I highly recommend!). He once said:
“Preparing to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Scheduling time to do the thing isn’t doing the thing.
Making a to-do list for the thing isn’t doing the thing”
The whole quote can be found on the X platform here.
I agree. Ultimately, what matters is how long and effectively you study, not how much time you spend preparing to study. However, preparation is often the key to getting started, building a habit of studying and making the process more enjoyable.
In this post, I’ll explore why preparation is essential for successful and consistent learning from my perspective. I’ll divide it into two parts: self-preparation and study environment preparation. Let’s dive in!
Why Preparation is Key?
First of all, you probably know the feeling of being unprepared for an exam or a speech. Maybe you didn’t revise your material as much as you could have. How did you feel? Likely less confident, more stressed, and perhaps even frustrated with yourself for not preparing enough. I know that feeling all too well.
On the other hand, when you take the time to prepare, you feel less stressed and more confident. It also makes it easier to pass the test or deliver an excellent speech.
Preparation helps you get into the right mindset for learning and builds the intention to study. Being prepared—rested, with your favorite coffee by your side and your study materials ready on your desk—sets you up for a more successful study session. Now, let’s explore how you can best prepare yourself.
Preparing Yourself
Rest and Sleep
Anyone studying for tough exams knows that sometimes we end up learning late at night and catching up on sleep only after the exam is over. I can relate—I’ve studied late many times (guilty!). However, if your goal is to build a long-term studying habit that lasts for months or even years—not just the week before an exam—getting enough sleep is essential. When we’re well-rested, our brain is naturally more capable of retaining information, making the learning process much more productive.
Timing
Each of us prefers to study at different times of the day. Try experimenting with studying in the morning, afternoon, and evening to find the time when you can focus best. This can give you a significant advantage over someone who forces themselves to study in the morning but stays up until 1 AM.
Rituals
Do you like coffee? I certainly do. When I study, I always make myself a cup. Sometimes, I’ll also grab some chocolate or sweets. Although I usually avoid sweets, they give me a quick boost of energy when I’m studying for long hours. I also like to light a candle—it creates a cozy atmosphere. Find the things that bring you comfort and have them ready before you start studying. To build a habit, it helps to associate studying with something enjoyable at first.
Self-care
Alright, so you’ve slept 8 hours, discovered that you focus best in the afternoon, and have some tasty tea on your desk. But you forgot to eat breakfast, the last time you left the house was Christmas, and your T-shirt has seen better days. Of course, this is an exaggerated scenario, but the point is: that studying (with perhaps a few exceptions right before exams) shouldn’t be your entire life. To study effectively, try to balance it with other aspects of your life. Go for a walk, exercise a couple of times a week, and aim to eat nutritious meals. Social interaction is also important—it’s refreshing to laugh and spend quality time with others.
These four habits have helped me, and continue to help me in studying effectively while working full-time and enjoying hobbies and a social life. I know that addressing all of these areas at once can feel overwhelming, but start small and see how it impacts your studying.
Now, let’s move on and explore why—and how—you should prepare your environment for studying.
Preparing Your Environment
One of my favorite personal development books is Atomic Habits by James Clear. In it, he discusses how our environment shapes our habits and often has a greater impact than motivation. For example, if our fridge is stocked with sodas, we’re likely to drink them eventually. On the other hand, if it only contains water, we’ll have no choice but to drink water. It’s often easier to shape our environment than to rely solely on motivation or willpower.
The same principle applies to studying. Here are a few tips on how to set up your study environment to encourage your brain to start learning:
Lay out your notes, books, and pencils or pens either before bed or in the morning. Having them ready and visible on your desk throughout the day will subtly remind you to use them (as if they’re saying, “Please study with us!”).
Keep your area tidy so you can quickly access any notes or resources you need.
Place reminders of your goals—like passing exams or graduating—somewhere visible, such as a board, your computer screen, or your desk. This keeps you focused on your chosen path and final destination.
These are just a few examples of how to create an ideal study environment. Only you know what motivates you most and what cues might encourage you to study more consistently. Experiment with these ideas and see how a well-designed environment can transform your habits and actions.
Conclusion
Preparing to study is not the same as studying, but it plays a crucial role in helping you get started and build a consistent study habit. When we’re prepared, we feel more confident and assured that everything will go as planned. Preparation can be broken down into two areas: preparing yourself and preparing your environment. When we’re well-rested, have our favorite drinks ready, and take care of our minds and bodies, studying can become much more enjoyable.
In addition, setting up our environment correctly usually has a greater impact than relying on a fleeting burst of motivation. We can prepare our essentials ahead of time, visualize our goals, and place them in a few visible spots in our room.
Below, I’ve included two links if you want to explore more about preparation for studying.
If you found this topic interesting, please share this post with a friend, leave a comment, or connect with me via email or LinkedIn message. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
More About Sleep and How It Affects our Memory and Thinking by SleepHealth Foundation: https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/memory-thinking-and-sleep
Why Motivation Is Overvalued and Environment Matters More by James Clear: https://jamesclear.com/power-of-environment