How to Study When You’re Tired

You're sitting at your desk, staring at a mountain of work, and feeling like your brain is running on fumes.

Unless you can finish that work in the morning, you probably don't have the luxury to take a nap right now. So how do you get through that pile of work when you’re exhausted?

The truth is, you only have two solutions here: you can either boost your energy so you can work for longer, or you can optimize your workflow so you can finish faster.

Obviously, you want a mix of both.

Boost Your Energy 🔋

Fix Your Body Posture

First: fix your body posture—like, right now. I see the way you're slouching.

"Embodied cognition" is this idea that the physical state of our body influences how we think and process information. In a study at San Francisco State University, 56% of students reported that math problems were easier to solve while sitting upright.

Keep your back straight, shoulders slightly pushed back, and feet flat on the ground. Of course, you don't have to freeze yourself in this position, but try to avoid slouching as doing so can put your mind in a lethargic state.

Walking + Sunlight Combo

This is one of the quickest ways to boost your energy. Just 10-20 minutes of walking increases your heart rate, pumping more oxygen and glucose to your brain.

When you combine walking with sunlight, you get additional benefits: sunlight suppresses melatonin (which makes you tired) while producing serotonin (which improves focus and mood).

A Stanford study involving 176 college students found that their creative output increased by 60% when walking compared to sitting. So if you're working on a creative task like an essay or project, walking becomes even more valuable.

"But what if it's cloudy?" Still go out. That indirect sunlight will still help regulate those hormones.

Take a Power Nap

Sigh. I knew I would have to include this on the list. It's a valid strategy, but I don't enjoy naps as they often leave me feeling lazy.

The key is to take a quick 20-30 minute nap earlier in the day. This way you experience the restorative effects without feeling groggy—and you protect your sleep schedule.

The last thing you want is to oversleep and wake up at 2 AM feeling like you're in an alternate universe.

Optimize Your Workflow ⚡

Capture the Easy Wins

Picture the worst case scenario: you're trembling at your desk on the verge of sleep exhaustion. You only have 15 minutes to finish whatever you can before you collapse. Obviously you want to capture the easy points first.

These points usually come from mindless tasks, such as creating flashcards, answering multiple-choice questions, labeling diagrams, and creating citations.

The benefit here is two-fold. Yes, you're getting those easy points, but you're also building up momentum that might help you feel more energized to keep going.

Understand What to Prioritize

I recommend using the Eisenhower Matrix—a simple 2x2 grid that will help you make quick decisions about what to tackle first:

• Important + Urgent = Do now (that lab report due tomorrow)

• Important + Not Urgent = Reschedule (studying for next week's exam)

• Not Important + Urgent = Delegate (if possible)

• Not Important + Not Urgent = Delete

This framework forces you to be honest about what truly needs your attention right now versus what can wait. If you're in a time crunch, remove any passive studying tasks from your list and focus only on deliverables with immediate deadlines.

Maintain the Flow State

The flow state is every student's best friend—it's when you're fully immersed in the task at hand, feeling that nothing else matters. Time slows down, distractions melt away, and you fly through your work.

To maintain flow, minimize disruptions by batching similar tasks together:

• Logical thinking: calculus, chemistry, physics

• Creative thinking: essays, art projects, presentations

For example, jumping from a math problem set to an English essay will ruin your flow since they require totally different mindsets. Although you'll still experience some disruption when moving to a new task, it'll be less pronounced if the tasks are batched by thinking style.

At the end of the day, your body needs rest. These strategies help you push through when needed, but try to avoid getting into this situation by planning ahead.

If you want study help, come join my Discord! We have a global community of students helping each other succeed in school. I’d love to see you there.

If you’re ready to level up this school year, check out Scholar OS. It’s the ultimate Notion template designed to help you organize your classes and life in one place.

I’ll see you next week!

Best,
Gohar