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How I Study Consistently With A Full-Time Job: Motivation is the Least Important Thing
Two years ago, I had a habit of waking up just 10 minutes before my shift started. My mornings felt like a mad dash, and the rest of the day consisted of mundane work, followed by evenings spent binge-watching anime and playing video games. The cycle was repetitive: work, relax, sleep, repeat.
Fast forward to today: I still play video games and rewatch Naruto for the millionth time, but I’ve completely transformed my routine. Now, I wake up early, study, or write every day before my 9–5 job begins. This change led to a new job with a 40% pay increase and a move into my own apartment—no more sharing space with strangers. Life didn’t get easier; it got busier—but in the best way possible.
In this article, I’m going to share how I study consistently despite having a full-time job, using video game analogies to make studying more fun and engaging.
1. Choosing a Goal: The Main Mission and Side Quests
In most video games, there’s a main mission that you need to accomplish, but along the way, you encounter side quests. Completing these side quests rewards you with new skills and perks, which makes it easier to progress in the game. Your goals are like this main mission, while the subgoals (or milestones) are like side quests.
When I decided to become a cloud engineer, I broke down the process into smaller goals: learning programming, mastering APIs, and understanding databases. As I ticked off these mini goals, I felt a sense of accomplishment, similar to unlocking new abilities in a game. This not only kept me motivated, but it also provided me with the skills I needed to succeed.
2. Pushing Our Buttons: Motivation is Not the Key
In video games, failing or “dying” often triggers frustration, but it also fuels our desire to try again. It’s not motivation that keeps us playing; it’s the game pushing our buttons. We don’t want to quit because we know we can do better.
Similarly, when I lived in a house with five strangers, the lack of privacy and constant disruptions pushed my buttons. I didn’t want to stay in this situation, and the discomfort drove me to study harder so I could earn more money and move into my own apartment. Sometimes, it’s not about motivation but about being triggered by the things that drive you to take action.
3. Finding Quiet Time: The Power of Boredom
After moving to a new town where I didn’t know anyone, I had a lot of time to reflect. While some may have found this lonely, I saw it as an opportunity to focus on my goals without distractions. Boredom became my greatest ally, and it allowed me to change my habits.
I went from staying up late playing video games to going to bed early, waking up at 6 AM to study, and even hitting the gym before my work shift. The quiet time that boredom forced me into helped me build consistency in my daily routine.
4. Developing the Right Mindset: Discipline Over Motivation
When you’re working full-time, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you deserve “me time” after a long day. It’s tempting to relax with social media or Netflix, but these habits won’t bring you closer to your goals.
What helped me was shifting my mindset. I used a time-blocking app to schedule my morning—waking up at 6 AM, showering, and fitting in 45–60 minutes of study before starting work. I also began using James Clear’s Atomic Habits app to help me work toward my goal of writing online. The key here is discipline. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline helps you stick to your goals even when you don’t feel like it.
5. Measuring Progress: Visual Feedback Keeps You Going
In video games, you can track your progress with skill points and unlocked abilities. I applied the same principle to my studies by tracking what I learned in the Notion app. I compared what I had learned to job descriptions and industry requirements, and seeing my progress in real time helped me stay motivated.
There were days when I felt like I wasn’t retaining anything, but looking back at my progress made me realize how far I had come. Having visual feedback kept me from giving up during tough days.
Final Thoughts: Gamification Makes Learning Fun
The key to studying consistently, even with a full-time job, is gamification. Tracking goals, measuring progress, and time-blocking are essential tools that make the process more engaging and less overwhelming. Developing these habits takes time, but once you’ve identified your goals, using the right tools makes achieving them much easier.
So, if you’re struggling with consistency, try applying some of these methods. Treat studying like leveling up in a game, and soon you’ll see your efforts paying off.
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