Have you ever sat down to have a productive study session that was interrupted by your wandering mind?
Most students tend to overthink when studying. Thoughts of the past, the future, and the unnecessary riddle the brain until all highlighted notes drift out of focus.
But there are easy solutions to avoid this. In this post, I’ll show you 11 effective ways to stop overthinking while studying so you can protect your focus, productivity, and grades.
Table of Contents
How to Stop Overthinking While Studying: 11 Ways
1. Create a Study Plan
Study plans create a sense of urgency and leave little room for you to drift away because you’ll know exactly what needs to get done and by when.
When you study without a plan, you leave things up to fate and have no deadline. This subconsciously creates a relaxed and “open” mind to overthink.
To create a study plan, map out your week in advance and make a daily to-do list. For a more in-depth review of study planning, check out my other article: 12 Steps to Create a Study Plan That Works for You.
2. Take Breaks
I find it ridiculous when YouTubers post videos titled, “How I studied for 14 hours straight without getting tired.”
The human brain can’t do focused activity for that long. In fact, the brain’s maximum focus time is four hours a day.
So, the people studying for 14 hours a day are counting the time they spend making tea, showering, exercising, and daydreaming.
Studying continuously without taking a break is a recipe for mental fatigue. Overthinking sets in when the brain’s barriers are low due to tiredness.
As a general rule, you should take a 10-minute break for every 30 minutes of studying you do. This way, you’ll be recharged and well-rested to make the best use of your four hours of optimal focus time.
Related Post: 9 Realistic Time Management Tips for Students to Make Studying Easier
3. Study in Short Bursts
In university, I thought having two-hour study sessions was normal. But they hurt me more than they helped. I felt tired and bored and thought about everything other than studying.
While the human brain’s optimal focus time is four hours, this doesn’t mean you should study for four hours in one go.
Studying in short chunks of 20-30 minutes each keeps your study sessions tighter and, thus, more focused.
Plus, you’ll retain information faster. Research has shown that students remember more information at the beginning and end of their study session. So, by making your sessions shorter, you’re technically tricking your brain into thinking there are more “beginnings” and “ends.”
4. Use the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro method will help you study in short bursts and remind you to take regular breaks.
The traditional Pomodoro method is where you set your timer for 25 minutes to study and then take a 5-minute break. You do this four times, then take a longer break for 30 minutes.
The beauty of this method is that it sets a deadline to study. There’s a timer ticking, which means overthinking is the last thing you’ll want to do.
Moreover, you can tweak this method. You can set a timer for 30 or 40 minutes, with a 10-minute break, or whatever works for you.
Related Post: How to Use the Pomodoro Technique for Studying (The Right Way)
5. Study in the Morning and Start with the Hardest Stuff
I’ve found that studying in the afternoon and evening makes me more prone to overthinking. This is because so much has happened during the day, and I’m more physically drained to focus.
To avoid this situation, study in the morning when the day is still brand new and you’re more alert.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to start with the most challenging stuff first. It’s harder to procrastinate in the morning than later when your defenses are low.
6. Stop Studying Passively
You might be overthinking while studying because you’re learning passively, not actively.
Passive forms of studying don’t stimulate the brain, i.e., taking notes, re-reading information, and highlighting. And when your brain isn’t challenged, you leave it in a lull, giving it space to overthink.
In contrast, active recall means putting in an effort to remember information, whether that’s through practice tests or flashcards. This method stimulates your memory, keeping your brain busy and awake for hard work.
From experience, active recall was a game-changer for me. Before, I used to take copious notes and had every color of highlighter, but I daydreamed and could barely remember anything on exam day.
When I trained myself to actively recall, I didn’t have the energy to overthink because my brain was doing more important things like retaining information.
Related Post: 7 Ineffective Study Habits to Say Goodbye to If You Want Better Grades
7. Love Your Field of Study
If you aren’t interested and invested in your study material, you’re going to zone out. I was constantly distracted during my undergrad because I despised my degree. I only did it because I didn’t know what else to do.
However, now that I’ve discovered my passion, hours pass by when I’m learning something new without me even noticing.
So, if you’re always distracted or overthinking, ask yourself how interested you are in this field. And if you aren’t interested, do what you’re interested in, simple.
8. Meditate
Meditation might’ve become a trendy thing in the past, but it’s here to stay. It’s by far the best calming technique to silence any pesky thoughts.
If you can’t meditate for long periods, do it for one minute at a time — it’s just as effective.
During short breaks, close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and count to 20. Repeat the cycle until you’ve emptied your mind.
9. Stay Away from Your Phone
Phones are one of the biggest causes of overthinking. In fact, when I quit social media, my focus skyrocketed to the heavens, and while I still have anxiety, I overthink considerably less than I used to.
Try not to use your phone before studying or during a break. Leave it for the close of day when you’ve packed up your books.
If you want to learn more about how to do a social media detox, check out my other article.
10. Keep a Journal
Instead of making yourself crazy with an overthinking spiel, write your thoughts on paper.
Journaling is one of the best remedies for an overactive mind. It’s an outlet for your emotions and helps you acknowledge them rather than letting them stew and eventually becoming a big, awful meal to swallow.
I keep a journal close to my side when I’m studying so I can get whatever I’m feeling out onto the page.
11. Do the Things You Enjoy
In college, I was all about that “study, study, study life,” and it hurt my performance. I was burnt out and resented my degree even more.
Moreover, because I never gave myself a break, my mind would take walks down daydreamland during study sessions.
As a student, you have to strike a balance between work and your hobbies.
Final Thoughts
Overthinking is like that relative who shows up at your house without warning you they’re coming over. It’s uncalled for and can turn your perfect, productive study session into a heap of nothing.
However, by implementing the tips above, you can stop it and take control of your day.
I hope you enjoyed this post on how to stop overthinking while studying. Let me know which was the most effective tip!