"Who cares if I'm pretty if I fail my finals?!"

We all know who said this. The one and only, Rory Gilmore. Gilmore Girl's season is in full swing and so is school.

Since the beginning of this beloved show, Rory has always been known for being an academic weapon. From her goals to going to Harvard, to eventually going to Yale and showing us all that even a small town girl can make it big, her academic success has always been conveyed.

While watching this comforting, and sometimes infuriating series, teens around the world have wondered how they can study like our protagonist. During the production, Rory is seen constantly studying, working, and reading. We might not realize it, but Rory actually gives us a lot of clues on how to power through our occasionally grueling homework. So, how do you really study like Rory Gilmore?

Image Credit: Krzysztof Poplawski from Wikimedia Commons

Setting Smaller Goals

It's very obvious that Rory's biggest goal throughout the show is to get into Harvard. How she did that, even if she ended up choosing Yale, was by setting up smaller goals for herself, from getting an A on a paper (even if she ended up getting a D), to studying from one final at a time. Even things that might not seem like goals, like a lunch at Luke's with her best friend Lane, or getting through a Friday night dinner is still a goal. Academic success doesn't just come from academic achievement, it also comes from self care and the support system you've built around yourself.

To set smaller goals, come up with one thing a day that you need to do. Whether that's to study for a big test for 30 minutes or to take a bath and do some skincare, short term goals are extremely important to get to that one long term goal. Planning is extremely important, even if it's just setting a reminder on your phone or going and getting a planner. Here's an example of some short term goals you can set up for a week.

Goals For The Day

◦ Get ready for school

◦ Pass my math test

◦ Study during spanish

◦ Hang out with a friend after school

◦ Drink tea and read before bed

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Creating The Perfect Study Playlist

Image Credit: Spotify AB, Dinamo Typefaces from Wikimedia Commons

While controversial, I personally believe that music is very helpful while studying. Rory Gilmore agrees. Almost always, while studying in the show, she is seen with music on.

In season one, episode 12, "Secrets and Loans", Lorelai demands the music be turned down and then up, to help her study for her business class. During the series, Rory and Lorelai are shown listening to many different kinds of music. This is why it's important to not only have one study playlist, but multiple, as the kind of music you listen to can really affect your productivity.

For example, while doing work late at night, an upbeat playlist may be useful, as it can help keep you awake. I put on Audrey Hobert's "Who's the Clown" album while doing late night studies as I notice that it tends to keep me alert and that helps me be more effective with my work. If you're studying in a coffee shop, or somewhere outside of your room to romanticize your work, like Rory does at Luke's or in the library, I recommend more downbeat music, to really get into that fall mood.

Below are two playlists from Spotify I have used to study that are specific to Rory Gilmore.

“i can’t i have to study” - hannah

studying like rory gilmore - rita💌

Having a Clean Space

The trend from TikTok says it perfectly. "Not my house, but I know my way around". As avid Gilmore Girls watchers, we know the Gilmore's house inside out. That being said, we all know how annoyingly clean Rory's room is.

While throwing our clothes on the floor and calling it "messy but organized" is really easy, taking one day to deep clean your room will go further than you thought it could when it comes to school work. Take me for example. My room was disgusting to the point where there wasn't even a pathway to get into it. However, one random Sunday, I felt extremely productive, and decided to deep clean. That included taking every single clothing item out of my dresser, folding it, and putting it back in, taking 3 trash bags worth of random things out of my room, and wiping down every surface. It took half of the day, but I put music on and called my friends while cleaning.

I am not over exaggerating when I say this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. My room has stayed extremely organized since, and I feel so much more compelled to do my work in a clean space. Having a clean room, a candle lit, and music playing genuinely makes all the difference.

Before, I was procrastinating until the last minute and having homework everyday. Now, I get my homework done by Wednesday and get to enjoy my weekends with no stress.

Read, Read, Read!

Image Credit: Ralf Roletschek from Wikimedia Commons

This is the most important thing to take away from Gilmore Girls. Rory is constantly reading, and always has a book on her. Even if you're not a reader, start small, and build your way up.

Reading helps improve knowledge, gives you a wider vocabulary, and increases not only your academic success, but your social success as well. Along with that, it can be a mirror onto yourself, and make you self reflect, or it can transport you into another world, and feel seen.

Some books that Rory is seen reading in the show that have high reviews include "The Bell Jar", by Sylvia Plath, "Ana Karenina", by Leo Tolstoy, and "1984", by George Orwell. Remember that reading is subjective, and whatever kind of books you prefer are the ones you should read. To begin your reading journey, try reading a chapter every night before bed.

Once you get hooked on a book, you'll want to read it all of the time. Additionally, try to read instead of scroll. Just like how you have to romanticize school, you have to romanticize reading as well.

Here is a list of the books Rory is seen reading on the show, for some inspiration. The Real Rory Gilmore Reading List - Goodreads

Last But Not Least... Study

Now that you've applied all of the tips and tricks to be successful, the hard part starts. Put on your playlist, sit in a clean space, light a candle, and focus. Don't forget, starting is the hard part. Once you've created and stuck with these habits, you might as well call yourself Rory Gilmore.