Help with studying effectively.

I'm bad for not making much progress too but you just have to do it. I will often be reading and then realize that I didn't "get" a single word I "read". I just have to force myself to focus on what I'm reading.

I am the exact same way, I'll be wide awake and then start reading homework and fall asleep on my book. It's terrible. I have learned some ways to deal with it, but it is a constant struggle.

I always set goals for myself and if I don't meet my goals for one day then I know they HAVE to be met the next day. I've also found doing homework in small blocks is easier for me than sitting down and doing 4 hours straight. For example, I'll study for 30 min. then go do laundry for 15, then study for 20, then go make lunch for 30, etc. Although I get to the end of the day and feel like I spent all day studying, I find I learn more that way, because I'm actually focused on what I'm doing. Writing papers are the worst for me, because I have to do them in large blocks of time.

I generally get all As so it is possible. But you just have to constantly be planning for what you have to do for each week and don't let yourself get too behind. Nursing school moves too fast, so if you get behind it is nearly impossible to get caught up again. Good luck, I feel for ya:)

Try sipping on water when you're studying. The act of reaching for your water will create a [very small] demand for O2. Since most people are dehydrated and one of the signs of dehydration is the inability to concentrate, sipping on water while studying, will help increase your ability to concentrate.

Doing isometric contraction exercises will also increase O2 demand, help tone muscles and help prevent muscle deconditioning. It's especially important for students to do these exercises anytime we are sitting for long periods of time.