Revising when you don't feel like it
Image Credit: WOKANDAPIX on Pixabay
Jason Spender,
7th Jun 2023
Tags:
Life
Blog
Education
When I was at school and college, I didn’t like revising (or studying in general!). I found it hard, boring, and honestly did not want to do it.
Maths, Science and English were subjects that I found especially difficult and I could not understand why anyone liked them.
Procrastination (the art of delaying something) came easily to me. Everything else suddenly became so appealing and much more interesting.
Messing around was so much more fun than concentrating and engaging with what we were supposed to be doing. On many occasions I was asked to stand outside the classroom door for talking or disrupting the class. We seemed to have a special ability to annoy certain teachers, which if it had been assessed, I’m sure we would have got top marks for!
Yet, as I look back now and reflect on my experience of studying and revising, I wish I had engaged more, tried harder and been easier to work with.
I can’t always live by how I feel.
A very important lesson that I’ve learned on my own journey is that I can’t always live by how I feel. There are many things in life that I don’t ‘feel’ like doing, but I know are actually good for me (I certainly didn’t feel like doing Maths on a sunny spring/summer day!).
Take, as an example, basic hygiene. To stay clean, we must look after ourselves. I don’t always feel like washing, showering, brushing my teeth, changing clothes, etc. Afterwards though, I always feel better for having done these things.
In the same way, you may not feel great excitement to revise and study, but you will definitely appreciate the benefit when you come to the exam!
If you are struggling with school or college and can’t see the value of being there, you are not alone and you certainly are not the first to feel that way.
Revising for exams can seem never ending and can feel the exact opposite of what your body wants to do. In the moment, when even your friends aren’t taking revising seriously and you don’t want to be seen as a ‘geek’, it can be tough to muster up the determination to revise and study.
I want to encourage you today, as you face the challenge of studying for exams – try your best and do it with all your ability. Regardless of how you feel. The benefit at the end of it will be worth the effort you put in.
I have found in my own experience that God’s promise to empower and enable us to do all things through him is true. Even in your revising and studying, God is with you and wants to see you do well.
