How do I stop wasting time?

I believe that everyone has experienced this, but the reasons behind it, and what techniques may work, tend to be different for everyone. A lot of online content is very addictive.

You may want to investigate if there is a deeper reason behind your avoidance for studying. For example, uncertainty around "is this stuff actually useful" or "will I succeed" may create anxiety and avoidance and push you towards distractions, whatever they may be. You could then work on accepting or eliminating that uncertainty.

On the other hand, maybe it's much simpler and you're just addicted to some of the junk you find online, similar to how some people are addicted to porn.

It's a form of 'resting'. If you can, just go travel, few days somewhere will make miracles to current mindset.

find the things you like and which you consider not a waste of time...alternatively, find the things you like and consider them not a waste of time

I would say start building other habits, and just aim at becoming a bit better each day.

When starting to randomly browsing, you're looking for quick dopamine, and you need to train your brain to start liking more difficult ways of acquiring it.

Only you can answer this. Really ask yourself if it's a problem with your discipline, or a problem with your motivation.

If it's a problem with discipline then you need to figure out a strategy to improve your discipline. Pomodoro timers could help, or being mindful of distractions and minimising them. Read Atomic Habits and Deep Work if you want to dive more deeply into the nuts and bolts of this.

Motivation is deeper. If you don't understand what you truly want, and align yourself to that, you'll be constantly fighting yourself. Why do you think you should be studying? Is it because you genuinely want to learn more about a subject? Or do you just think you should be studying because that's what a productive person would do? Maybe spend some time journalling about this to try and wind back why you want to do this and why you think you aren't doing it.

Or maybe you just have ADHD. /s.

Do you do any better studying with other people? Either formally, like in a class (online or in person, but synchronous is better at keeping you accountable, I think), or informally like once a week at a cafe or such?

consider the possibility that it isn’t your studies that you are avoiding.

Waste time! It's fine! Do you want to look back and think "man, I was so serious all the time and I never goofed around even once."?

Browse the github and test all the code there.

Life is a game. NPCs are busy wasting their time. Don't be an NPC.

Work on something that delights you, and improves your value. For me that's coding (again...finally!).

If you can't work on whatever is most important, at least waste your time in the right direction and level up.

Just be aware of yourself, that's my best advice. If you want to do the work, you'll figure it out. There's no trick except maybe to make yourself want it.

Trying to delete all the social media apps on your phone may sound brutal, but it’s efficient.