How do you study dry material without becoming completely bored and staying focused/retaining the shit?
What kind of material are you talking about? There are different ways for studying humanities, arts, sciences etc.
Cut it into pieces that you can digest, schedule them, and treat yourself anytime you finish your job.
Otherwise just wait for the stress anxiety to force you to do it anyway,...
I don't I have three essays to write by monday, but instead I'm just not doing them.
I wish I knew.
In school they always told us to study, but they never told us how to study.
Everyone has their own personal study style: I discovered mine in high school. I have a special folder for each of my subjects (I'm in 1st year uni now), and I write down all the key points of the material I'm studying, resulting in the creation of a revision folder type thing. I also listen to really tripped-out, relaxing music, e.g. Boards of Canada.
Also, if you regard the material as dry or boring, perhaps you should reconsider your reasons for studying it. I study my subject (geology) because I absolutely love earth sciences, and I think my high marks are a direct result of my desire to learn the subject.
Certainly after school it's a bit different as people usually don't take a course in university for something they don't want to do.
In school though there are compulsory subjects, or at best compulsory subject areas.
I'm trying SQ3R when studies start again, its recommendations seem to make sense (and are pretty obvious I guess, but I do want something concrete to base my actions on, being lazy and all)
I just wish I had been taught how to study properly, might not even had started college so late then
I just take a few notes and read the assigned course book. I hardly study. My general mental structure is such that it helps me understand and remember with ease, instead of needing long hours to assimilate.