Never been this unenthusiastic and unmotivated about studying..

[miniangel729]

I'm about half way through my 2nd semester. 7 more weeks to go. and I'm already slacking off BIG TIME.

start around..3 weeks ago I have been slacking off whenever I can. Other then when I have to preplan/studying for tests (which i procrastinates - day or two before), I would live like having vocations everyday -- absolutely no book/school related stuff! Even when I study, I had VERY SHORT attention span, couldn't even finish half a chapter w/out surfing on the internet/youtube/facebook..etc. Gladly I am surviving so far, with average 85-90% in all my classes but I don't know how long its going to last with if my study pattern goes on like this ><.>

I don't know what's wrong with me because this has never happen before. I mean I've always been procrastinating when it comes to test, but before I got in the nursing program, I was always good at studying -- I can concentrate and study for 4-5 hours/day. I would study a couple days earlier depending on the class/difficulty of the tests. I got good grades in all my science pre-req. Same goes for HW, I procrastinate, but usually still give myself a good amount of time to finish it with good quality. I had good self-control and was able to motivate myself to finish the things I needed to do.

But now, its like I know I need to do stuff, but I can't even make myself do it..until its the VERY VERY last minute that "I'll fail if I don't start now". and unable to concentrate on a task is also bothering me a lot! I don't know what to do with myself. I love studying nursing/human body, and it had been my motivation. But now, I open the book only for test. I still find the topics interesting, but the passion/enthusiastic/motivation are gone!

My first couple week of school had been very stressful, actually had my first 2 experiences of "no sleep before clinical" and now I get 6 weeks free from pre-planning because of OR/WOC nurse rotation. I wonder if it could be the reason? too much stress to stress free?

I am currently in a 2 yr BSN program, meaning I go to school in summer. I only get one week off between each semester Spring/Summer/Fall. I could switch to 3 year if I want to have the summer off. I've been troubled with whether I should make the switch or not. What differences does this one year make? My parent disapprove me switching and many also told me I should hang in there and just pull through the summer and since 98% of my friends are also now in the 2 yr program. I know I wouldn't be here if w/out all my friends's help and support for each other. Yet I really don't know if mentally I am strong enough to do this considering me being like this right now...

[caliotter3]

Get a checkup from your doctor with lab tests to make sure there is nothing physical that is dragging you down.

[Natingale, EdD, RN]

i had that in 101

you dont work you wont pass and you'll have to take this semester over again

imagine alllllllllll that work, alllllllllllllll over again.

that usually gets my butt into gear lol

start going to school early staying late ..even if all you do is practice questions on the computer, youre keeping your mind busy

good luck

[SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN]

It almost sounds as if you have lost sight of what you are doing this for. It's easy to do that. The old "can't see the forest because of all these damned trees in my way". Remember the purpose behind these years of hard work.

I know they tell us "Say good-bye to your life, welcome to Nursing School!" but it doesn't have to be that way. You can find balance between.

You are in an easier (less stressful) rotation. Take a deep breath.

My parent disapprove me switching and many also told me I should hang in there and just pull through the summer and since 98% of my friends are also now in the 2 yr program. I know I wouldn't be here if w/out all my friends's help and support for each other.

This part, well, I see that you are 21. I'm a bit older, and I've been paying for my own schooling, so I have the luxury of not having to listen to my parents' advice, not that they don't try to tell me how to run my life at almost every opportunity. But you are an adult. And it's a great time to make adult decisions. If you feel you need the break, and you need their approval, sit down with them and explain why.

Your friends will still be your friends even if you don't graduate with them, if they are friends. I had to take a semester long hiatus from nursing school when my husband got very ill (see there's that interferring phenomenon called life). I was sad that I wouldn't finish with those that I had started with. But I've made new friends, and although I miss my old clinical group, I still talk to them. They tell me which instructors to avoid I do not regret the decision I made at all. I chose life over nursing school, for a single semester at least. And I feel it helped me find my balance. I figured out I don't need to be the "best" student. I can be a good student. And that's good enough.

But now, I'm up at 5 am to work on my care plan. So I better start doing that instead of surfing the boards.

[missjennmb]

I felt EXACTLY this way about two weeks ago. I found a week when I had no test for about a week period and I took off after Thursday morning's clinicals and did not crack a book, open a bookbag zipper, nothing, for almost 4 days straight. I did not think about it, or feel guilty for not doing it. I had fun. I slept. I played video games, went for a walk, went shopping. I had FUN that had nothing to do with school what.so.ever Ya know what? that break, where I gave myself permission to avoid school, not procrastinating, not feeling like I should be doing schoolwork, just walking away from it completely... that completely renewed me. I'm now ready to face the day again and putting in the effort I need to.

Another thing that helps me is studying with a group. It keeps me motivated when I'd rather not actually do anything at all.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Join the rest of the club ! Yesterday it took me like a hour to get through my ppt. I also have a short attn. span and I found my self dosing off. I try to mix up my studying when ever possible. Like yesterday I spent an hour studying my notes with the book and then for the next hour I watched required videos for the class and took notes. I've never been the type to study for 2 hours straight all reading, I must do different things.

Today I'll be studying put for part of the day I'll watch nursing skill videos, practice drug calc., and then read again. Good luck to you. I agree that study groups are also helpful. Another thing I find helpful is studying at the college or library. This definitely minimizes distractions from your computer or T.V.

[CrazedStudent]

You are not alone. I'm suffering from "senioritis" and I'm not a senior yet! I have 8 weeks of class left for this semester and level 3 of 4 is done.

Allow yourself a break here and there.

I've found that making a list of everything I need to do, and then crossing them off as I finish, helps a lot. You see that you are actually accomplishing things instead of focusing on the stuff not yet done!