I went to starbucks this morning to grab some coffee and bread for breakfast after dropping off my bheb at work... I look around and ask the barista if they have a wifi connection and she said i need to pay for it so I went to starbucks site and registered. I was thinking about reviewing there since it's a little quiet and it feels different so time pass by after 1 and half hour of sitting there i didn't accomplish anything so i decided to go to a library nearby which is my first plan anyway. So Ive been here @ the library around 10: 30 am. and now it's already 12:03 pm.
Did i study for the past hour and half? nope. i can't focus. everytime i try to start some ideas go to mind like, Oh im going to see this site, oh im going to check my facebook again, oh i forgot to buy a gift for this person, go window shopping online... now its almost time to eat then i need to go grab something to eat coz i can't simply focus with my stomach empty!
I just can't focus. :-( psychological?? same college days study habits. i can't study without cleaning up my room doing laundry or doing some crafts by the time i feel ready its almost time to sleep or im already too tired to study...
are you experiencing the same thing? i just need to push myself to sit and start doing it!!! Maybe I'm just too anxious that I'm afraid to start... it's really crazy and waste of time. Now instead of starting off with my book here I am blogging my thoughts and going gaga with everything!
Oh my gosh!! Thank you so much for this thread!! Im just finishing up my pre-reqs right now but I can relate to you all right now. I've always thought I was the only person with crazy study habits like this until I read this thread!!! I NEED music to study, food, & I lose focus when I have my laptop just sitting in front of me but it's like it's calling me sometimes, "Check your facebook messages! Spend a few minutes on allnurses.com! Do it! Only 5 minutes!":lol2: A lot of times, its hard for me to study at home, period. I spent about a year & 1/2 partying & just skating through Gen ed courses...now I'm trying to learn how to study before I actually get into the nursing program!!
I had the same problem when I was in school. I think it's common to have a hard time focusing some times. I created the 10-10 rule. For me that means no non-school, non-work computer use or tv between 10 am and 10 pm. (now that I'm working it's no computer/tv from 10pm to 10 am). I would only check my email once every few hours and try really hard not to sign into facebook. The second thing I learned was to study really hard for shorter chunks of time (30-40 mins) followed by a 15 minute break (check email, facebook, eat). I preferred to study at Panera (usually near a starbucks) because they have free wireless. I also would try to study with one or two other people. Somehow that would motivate me to focus and study more if I was around them. Of course we had conversations and got off topic but we were focused most of the time. And it was a good way to see if we really understood whatever we were studying at the time. Sometimes I would go to bed early so I can wake up early to study early while my mind was fresh (5 or 6 in the morning). I hope this helps!
My study habits has enable me to sustain an "A" average. I hope it works when I start nursing school. I usually place all my books and study equipment on the kitchen table. Once I organize everything and devise a order in which I will study, then I am prepared. Without organization and order it feel like I am studying the material backwards. I usually study for about 45-60 mins with short 5-10 min breaks in between. I repeat this for several hours or until I feel confident enough to close the book. One important thing is sleep, so I try not to stay up late studying because it does not work for me. I normall devote days to studying not hours. What I mean is, once I wake up I wash, eat and start studying . This method of studying enabled me to earn an "A" in A&P I&II, Microbio and all other science related courses required for nursing. My way of studying takes focus and determination; it has not "failed" me yet....I hope that neve happens. However, during NS I will be happy with a "B" average, but an "A" would be nice .
I am the same way! Seems everytime I sit down to study I can think of a million things I would rather be doing. What has worked for me is sitting in my bedroom floor and spreading all my books and notes out and have the tv and laptop off. no music. just studying. i try doing that for 45 mins to an hour then take a quick break. I have also tried getting up really early and studying and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. i think the "reward box" is a good idea..it gives you something to look forward to so you will focus. And i had never heard of listening to class lectures on an ipod! i will have to try that:) really enjoyed this thread, it was helpful to me too! good luck! :)
I had the same problem in nursing school, always browsing the net instead of doing the 250 Nclex questions that had been assigned. Then I discovered that youtube has some pretty interesting nursing videos on many things e.g. pharmacology, nursing skills and procedures etc. So whenever I was feeling distracted and unable to focus I'd go on youtube and watch interesting nursing videos, that way I was entertaining myself and learning at the same time. I did the same thing studying for my boards - watched youtube and Kaplan videos - never picked up a book :D. Try it. Good luck
I think we are all soul mates on this thread! lol!
I have ADD - so let me tell you how hard it is to focus! I was off medication for a long time, but I finally just got back on Adderal, and you know what the funny thing is - it isn't the wonder drug I thought it was! I still have to make myself sit down and focus on what I need to do!
I even have a coach who I talk to once a week to help me with my study skills and I am still having issues! Maybe I am just a lost cause :)
What my coach and me have found out that works is a few things:
#1 NO COMPUTER! No seriously, this is where almost 99% of my distractions come from. So I have to go old school and print out all my notes , then take notes directly on them, not in powerpoint or word.
#2 Ear plugs! I have these obnoxious orange ear plugs with me all the time! I take them everywhere! I have this weird thing where I can't even study unless they are in my ears. They block out most sound, but not everything, but enough so that I can sometimes focus if I am at a coffee shop or a louder library.
#3 lights! It has to be bright! If it doesn't look like I am studying in the OR then I am not studying! lol!
#4 Sound machine. I also bought a cheep sound machine off ebay that has rain, ocean and brook sounds on it. When I am home alone and it is too quiet I will put this on. It always calms me down. I actually can't listen to any music while studying unless it is classical because lyrics will totally distract me! I start singing along - total mess!
#5 Cold. I have to be slightly cold. If I get too warm I start to doze off! I am a train reck :) so I sometimes like to study at home where I can put a fan on my or open a window.
#6 Motivation card. I have this note card in my office and it has on it why I am doing this! Why did you want to go to school to learn this stuff, what makes you tick and things like that! It helps especially when I am sitting here writing this instead of studying for my Organic Chemistry final....
My study coach has tried to get me to stick to a study schedule like someone else has mentioned, but I haven't been able to yet! I will get there, just not this semester. But maybe you could just make certain parts of your day study time regardless of what chores you think you need to do. I think the kitchen timer might really work too! I am going to try that today!
I thought you were talking about me when I read your post! LOL In all seriousness - -In order for me to study and stick with it, I have to incorporate alot of breaks and I have to remove all the distractions from around me. One time, I actually sat in my car in the garage and closed the door so that I could focus and get through the entire chapter.
Everyone's study style is different. So do watch ya gotta do to get in the zone!
:D. Try it. Good luck
i<3u
177 Posts
Oh my gosh!! Thank you so much for this thread!! Im just finishing up my pre-reqs right now but I can relate to you all right now. I've always thought I was the only person with crazy study habits like this until I read this thread!!! I NEED music to study, food, & I lose focus when I have my laptop just sitting in front of me but it's like it's calling me sometimes, "Check your facebook messages! Spend a few minutes on allnurses.com! Do it! Only 5 minutes!":lol2: A lot of times, its hard for me to study at home, period. I spent about a year & 1/2 partying & just skating through Gen ed courses...now I'm trying to learn how to study before I actually get into the nursing program!!