Play Mind Games with Yourself
Posted by Alyssa on 20 Nov 2007 | Tagged as: Studying
Ever found yourself unmotivated and lacking ample time to study? With sports, work, and a social life, it’s difficult to find enough time to study. Here are a few mind games you can play—tell yourself…
I’ll get one week ahead. During the first week of class, do the reading for the first two weeks; that way you will have a ‘cushion’ week to lean on if later problems unexpectedly arise that restrict your time.
School is my 9 to 5 job. Avoid getting too caught up in other activities during these hours. Eliminate TV and naps from these hours…you wouldn’t sleep or relax if you were on the job!
My ‘Primetime’ is precious and I won’t waste it. Experiment with studying at different times of day to discover when your concentration is best. For many students, one hour of daytime study is equivalent to one and a half hours of evening study.
I’ll get the worst over with first. Do your toughest homework first each day. You will be more alert and the task won’t seem so insurmountable.
Use every minute I’ve got. Use every bit of time available—commuting, waiting in an office, taking a break at work. The trick is to know which type of homework you can realistically do in each place and then bring it with you: Read on the train. Bring a few math problems to solve during a break at work. Study flashcards as you wait for a bus or walk across campus.
Even if I don’t feel like studying now, I will study for 15 minutes. The hardest part of studying is getting started. This is a way to trick yourself into starting.
In addition to these mind tricks, try to break up big jobs into small, specific tasks. Also, review your lecture notes within 24 hours of the lecture. This will only take about 10 minutes and will really pay off when exams show up. Finally, make sure to give yourself study breaks. However, don’t let the study break lead you astray.
