All college students understand the all too real pain that comes with studying. You know you need to do it, but it’s so hard to sit down and actually do it. At the end of the day, if you want to be successful in school, you need to learn how to study, and study well. It’s a skill that comes with practice. You can’t expect to sit in front of that psychology textbook for twelve hours straight and actually retain information, but you can build up your studying stamina over time. Have no fear, there are more ways than you think to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

1. Create incentives for yourself.

Have you ever heard of people putting gummy bears on different places on a page to motivate themselves to read? This seems silly, but if something helps you be a better student (and is not super unhealthy), then why not? If having a few gummy bears after you finish a reading makes you actually sit down and do the reading, good for you. On a less sugary note, reward yourself with things you enjoy once you are done with the task at hand. Like getting your nails done? Plan to go get your nails done with a friend after you’ve covered a chunk of material on an upcoming test. Self care is incredibly important, so you’ll be killing two birds with one stone. No matter what helps you, figure out what it is and use it to motivate yourself to study smart.

2. Create an ideal environment.

Everyone has different environments that they thrive in. Once you know what works for you, you will be more effective and focused. Do you like the library or your desk at home? Do you need quiet, noise or in between? Do you prefer to study alone or in a group? Are you more focused during the day or at night? These factors make a big difference and taking the time to figure out what works best for you is worth it. Trust me, taking the time now will save your hours of frustration in the future. There are so many different environments to try.

3. Make it less overwhelming.

Making the situation the least stressful as possible will ensure that you are able to do your best work. We’ve all done it, but cramming is not effective. While it’s not only really unhealthy, you can’t keep it up forever. As you get into upper levels in college, material builds on each other and you need to know what was going on in the last class long after you took that final exam.

4. Work with classmates.

Touching base with classmates, even if you study better solo, helps because it lets you know that you are not alone. You’re not the only one worrying about the exam next week or wondering exactly what those instructions for the homework mean. Having at least a few people you know in the class gives you something to lean on.

No one enjoys studying, but it’s something we all have to do to get through college. Hopefully, as you get more into your major classes, things will be more interesting and less “I have no idea when I will ever use this.” It may seem far away, but at some point you will be out in the real world, hopefully doing something where you will be able to put your experiences from college to use.