How to study productively?

1« Previous thread | Next thread »
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
How to study productively?
OP - November 16, 2012, 09:23 AM

I am a university student (Economics), with 3 upcoming exams in a couple of weeks. But I just can't really stimulate any interest to read, following up lectures, do some assignments etc. Sometimes I actually manage to sit down and work for hours, but then I give myself this unfair incentive to not study seriously for a week, before reading hard again. Often a friend comes by with som stupid idea and I'm just tempted to join. Or I see the glancing beauty of FIFA13 laying right infront of me and I give in like a little prostitute. Or I could make up my own stupid excuses, like "Oh, I need to see if everything is OK with the TV, so I just sit down and watch it for an hour" and when I'm done with that, I go "Oh, you need som tobacco go and buy some, and of course, on the road, I bump into a friend, who insist we hang a little.

I enjoy the idea of studying so little, that everything could tempt me away. But ironically, when I first sit down and read, I really enjoy myself.

So anyone with some ideas on how I could study more regularly and productively? Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

I know becoming less prone at spending time on every little fucking idea that pops into my head, is a start.

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- moi
- Pub Regular
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #1 - November 16, 2012, 10:10 AM

I do not do this, but

Timetable - everything - including down time.

Mindmaps

Exercise

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

A.A. Milne,

"We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
- moi
- Pub Regular
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #2 - November 16, 2012, 10:16 AM

I wrote this years ago, plagiarised from all over the place!

Clear your desk
1.   Identify paper workload
What are your main activities and how long do they take? For example:

•   Writing, reading, number crunching, searching for things
•   How much mail arrives on your desk?
•   Planning
•   Retrieving documents from filing system
•   Giving written instructions to others
•   Proofreading
•   Filing in own filing.

Average is 22 hours per week. Handle a piece of paper once. We spend 22 minutes every day just looking for things on and around the desk. Working from a cluttered desk will lead to you doing the work of others. Procrastination leads to clutter leads to procrastination. Cluttered desks lead to stress

Once thoughts are on paper they can be thrown away. Paperwork is the absolute enemy of industry. Should this paperwork have arrived on this desk to start with?

Napoleon discarded generals’ reports unread; if anything important had happened he would hear by word of mouth.
2.   Reports; types of unnecessary reports,

Decision avoidance, design junkie, and self-protection, loquacious.
Report reduction action plan

Objective:   Eliminate unnecessary reports and time wasted producing and reading them
Action:   Calculate time needed to read them

Have I read this, should I read this, if no, take name off circulation list. What effect does this report have on decisions? What does it cost? Would oral be better? Is the information available elsewhere? What questions do you want answering by each report? Common house style? Is it Obsolete?

Forms
Stamp out standard forms!

Many forms make jobs difficult to do well. They are badly designed. They are not written for the person who has to fill them in. They ask for information that will never be used or is easily available elsewhere.

Is the form really necessary?

Reduce forms by 50% in year one.

Collect all forms together with their procedures. Track each form through its life cycle. What is the purpose of each form? Could the job be performed effectively if the form were scrapped?

Has means-end inversion occurred?

Is the completion of the form correctly more important than doing the job correctly?
Evaluate form design. Talk to users. Form designers must spend a day using it in real circumstances. Should be a month’s trial.
Can information be located elsewhere? What does it cost company to store and update forms?

Eliminate all internal forms on a trial basis and see what happens.
Memos

Memo reduction action plan. Analyse inflow. Obsolete? Memo junkies? Discard publicly unnecessary memos.

Talk!
Beware of email

Eliminate on a trial basis. Use memos as a last resort; place on central information board, remove every Friday
Procedures

Eliminate unnecessary procedures; one firm threw out several thousand-page manuals and said, use your best judgement.
Paperwork
Reduce time spent on other peoples' paperwork. Eliminate self-generated chaos:

•   A4 pads
•   Jotters
•   Message slips
•   Post it notes
•   Blank pieces of paper

Keep loose bits of paper off the desk.

Paperwork the four choices:

•   Should I act on it
•   Should I pass it on to someone else's desk?
•   Does it belong in my filing system?
•   Should I throw it away?

Deal with each piece of paper as soon as it lands on your desk. Handle each piece only once:

•   Bin it
•   Pass on with written instructions what to do with it
•   File personal filing immediately in personal filing system
Management
Work on one project at a time.
Priorities

•   High importance      high urgency do it now
•   High importance       low urgency do it later
•   Low importance       high urgency pass it on
•   Low importance       low urgency bin it

Make one of four choices about each piece of paper:

•   Act
•   File
•   Pass on
•   Bin
Create a habit.
Action; controlling do it later paperwork

•   Decide when you are going to tackle it
•   Write it in diary
•   File it in appropriate action file:

•   Correspondence
•   Meetings
•   Reading
•   Projects

Have a special place, drawer for do it later work
Develop a personal organisation system that suits you
Write everything down

•   Make a list of things to do every day
•   Prioritise
•   Do in order of decreasing pay off
•   Write it on a to do list instead of writing a memory memo slip in your mind

Do not attempt too much in any one day:

•   Plan that a significant part of the day will be interrupted
•   Beware of unnecessary interruptions
•   Have a no interruptions hour

List all important paperwork that requires action. Everything else:

•   File
•   Pass on
•   Bin
Do personal plan

•   Next five years
•   Next year
•   Next month
What needs doing today, tomorrow, and next day to get there?
Need an overall annual, monthly, weekly, list as well as a day list.
Priorities on the to do list
80% of results come from 20% activities. Therefore ignore 80% of paperwork.
A priority:
•   Anything to do with profit or cash
•   Revenue enhancement, cost avoidance
•   Anything with a deadline, but not unrealistic
•   Long term projects
C priority:
Have a very wide definition of junk, including memos. Low pay off, bin or pass on
Filing

Filing is a conceptual, managerial activity, to enable quick and easy retrieval of information.
Filing priorities
Level 1 High activity paperwork

•   To do lists
•   Calendars
•   Project overviews
•   Communication files on key people

These should all be desktop in personal organiser
Level 2 Medium activity paperwork

Act on paperwork divided into four categories:

•   Correspondence
•   Meetings
•   Reading
•   Projects

Hold in current action files.
Level 3 Reference, already tackled

Store in filing cabinet or on bookshelf. If in doubt throw it out.

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

A.A. Milne,

"We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
- moi
- Pub Regular
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #3 - November 16, 2012, 10:20 AM

More really old plagiarised stuff! Again point is to plan and organise, working with who you are!

Designing a Training Course

By the end of this course participants will:

•   understand the purpose of training

•   be able to set objectives for training

•   be able to decide what the course content should be

•   understand the importance of the methods of training

Introduction

This paper is in five parts

1   the aims of training

2   the objectives of training

3   what is to be learned

4   how it is to be learned and

5   conclusions.

1   Aims

The aims of training are about asking why do we train:

•   what is our philosophy
•   how do the ways that people learn effect results
•   are there any ground rules?

For example

Our approach to training and development is always centred around people - their skills, their ideas, their ability to work effectively together.

We aim to promote the potential of every person to fulfil their calling and thus their potential.

Henry Stewart of Happy Computers comments

I believe everybody is born into this world intelligent, capable, and eager to learn (if not immediately about computers).

We are all natural learners, trying things out, finding out if it works, and then trying again.

We are all as trainers still learning.

This attitude, of taking full responsibility, makes the difference between a trainer determined always to improve and the slippery slope of assuming we know how to do it already, which leads to ignoring your own faults and mistakes.

Stewart has some key principles

•   All students should be encouraged to experiment and to make mistakes. We learn by getting things wrong

•   Take full responsibility for your training. Never blame the student if they don't learn

o   I tell you - you forget
o   I show you - you remember
o   I involve you - you understand.

•   Good training requires clear principles and techniques, based on involving and empowering students. The ultimate goal of training must be to shift people to that natural eagerness to learn.

Kolb uses the idea of a learning circle

•   experiencing something
•   observing and reflecting
•   forming theories and generalisations
•   testing ideas in new situations

How we learn

Human beings (that should be you and me...) learn as whole persons, via a process, and in relation to ourselves and others.

The whole person

the best work and learning occurs when all five senses are being used together.

The following guidelines for an efficient and effective work space also apply to a training venue.

Aesthetics

The more you appeal to the whole of one self, the more you will want to be in the environment.

Work space should be a pleasure rather than a prison.

Include such items as paintings and other artwork that appeals to you, plants, any of your own creations, and anything else relevant to your work and which appeals to one or all of your five senses. The most efficient work is achieved when all five senses are being used together.

Air; should be as fresh and clean as possible. Minds use 20-50% of the oxygen the body takes in, although it only weighs 3% of body weight.

Temperature - best to be slightly cool, dressed in warm clothes. Too warm causes relaxation and drowsiness.

Light - sunlight is best - near windows. Fluorescent is poor because it eliminates shadows and results in tiring quickly. Need changes, variety, shadow in lighting, not a boring white wash.

Space - as much as possible - opens space produces an open posture, which leads to an open mind. The more you can appeal to all your senses in the work space, the more your mind will want to be there.

Desk - spacious, at correct height, and pleasing to touch and look at.

Chair - height so that feet rest flat on the ground, thighs parallel to ground, straight back, not too comfortable.

Organisation - work space should be organised to be completely supportive of you while working and everything within reach, removing all distractions.

The Process of learning

Learning should be

•   a gradual process,

•   step by step,

•   extending from the known to the unknown,

•   logical,

•   connected,

•   paused, and

•   practised.


The process should be extending knowledge abilities and experience.

Relationships

We always learn with another. If we are by ourselves, a learning process is occurring with ourselves. We motivate ourselves to learn.

When we are learning with an individual or a group we are able to receive feedback, another perspective on the shared experience.

A non - hierarchical, participatory way of working should be encouraged.

•   I tell you, you forget,
•   I show you, you remember,
•   I involve you, you understand.

The phrase "jug and mug" has been used to parody a trainer centred perspective, where the trainer is a jug full of wisdom which is poured out into the waiting mugs. (Pun intended).

Jug and mug should be used in a gradual, step by step way, extending logically from the known to unknown..

The Course Contract

The idea of a course contract is a useful way to set ground rules. This has two sides.
A good training service will:

•   provide good pre course information, making clear what you will get out of the course and what you need to know in advance
•   deliver a well structured day. The training session should have a clear structure, clear objectives and lots of exercises to try things out.
•   have trainers who are responsive to your questions and needs,
•   deliver relaxed, well explained training
•   write comprehensive high quality information to take away
•   give full after course advice and help.

The student must also agree

training is about people meeting; you and me. It involves

•   our abilities to work together
•   our skills
•   our experience
•   our ideas

training aims to promote

•   our abilities
•   our motivation
•   our confidence
•   our determination to succeed.

the methods used are to enable you to

•   influence events
•   participate
•   co - operate
•   and learn together.

Their are clear underpinning values to training

•   everyone has something to offer
•   we are free to make mistakes
•   we can enjoy ourselves
•   we will respect each other
•   we will ensure equal opportunities
•   we will encourage success
•   we will be open, listening, gentle, sharing and co - operative.

2   The Objectives of Training

This is the why specifically in comparison with the why generally of aims. This involves the processes of setting objectives.

•   Who wants training?
•   Is it the answer to their needs?
•   Why?

This is the general planning level.

Objectives

Training objectives are not about what people will do on the course, but what they will do after the course, at work. They are about the behaviour sought in the work place; they are performance objectives.

Objectives should state

•   what behaviour is sought
•   when and where the behaviour is to occur
•   to what standard

Please compare this with a National Vocational Qualification Unit. Instead of running a course "about drugs" specific objectives might be

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

•   identify correctly the effects of commonly used drugs
•   deal effectively with drug-related health care emergencies
•   know what provision is available to drug users locally
•   assess what provision is appropriate

Any objective, as above, should be checked if it can be measured. SMART targets, specific, measurable agreed, realistic and timed are useful. (I'm not sure I believe this, but think I ought to put it somewhere!)

Evaluation

Evaluation also requires planning in detail as part of the process of setting objectives. It is the way we can measure our effectiveness and find ways to improve.

The trainer has first to evaluate themselves. This self evaluation should occur twice, immediately after the session, and later in the planned debriefing session.

It should cover the high and low points and reasons why.

The student's self evaluation should be in indirect questions, for example,

Please evaluate your confidence about....(list course objectives)

Indirect questions reveal faults in training, direct questions do not.

Happiness sheets are thought not to be that useful. Because a students experience of education may be very poor, any training that is moderately good may be perceived as the best thing since sliced bread. Students should not be blamed if they fail to learn.

Standard evaluation forms should be available for all training. This has the other effect of getting people used to the habit of evaluating and reporting on what is happening. This is a central managerial skill.

3   What should be taught?

The possible content of a course should be brain stormed and mind mapped. This is the process of asking what:

•   knowledge,
•   skills and
•   attitudes

•   must,
•   should and
•   could

be covered.

This nine fold division should cover most eventualities. I recommend the Buzan video on mind mapping.

4   How should training be delivered?

Materials and Methods

The how of training should be based on the principles outlined earlier. Training should be participatory.

This means, for example chair lay out should be in gentle curves rather than serried ranks. The methods used should build on the experience of group work and of co-operative games.

It is a theatrical experience, but one in which everyone are players, and only the general structures and parts of the words have been written.

The wealth available from drama, role plays, music, art and dance should be considered as possibilities in the training room.

There are very significant changes occurring with computers and multi-media. These experiences should be used as appropriate to create a magical experience. How can the music of the spheres be brought to our work?

Conclusions

To conclude means to bring together, to complete, to finish properly. It is similar to an encore. How confident do you feel that

•   you understand the purpose of training?

•   you are able to set training objectives?

•   you are able to decide on course content?

•   you understand the importance of the methods of training?

Please write a training policy and procedure for the management brief. What are the next steps?

When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.

A.A. Milne,

"We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
- Stardust
- Founder of Neo-Hippiism
- Ex-Muslim
- Beneath The Veil
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #4 - November 16, 2012, 10:33 AM

Prioritize and be ruthless. Kick yourself up the backside.

Your friends -as lovely as they might be- won't sit those exams for you.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor E. Frankl

'Life is just the extreme expression of complex chemistry' - Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #5 - November 16, 2012, 02:29 PM

Moi, fuck you.

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- yeezevee
- Pub Regular
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #6 - November 16, 2012, 02:37 PM

Quote from: Minimow on November 16, 2012, 02:29 PM
Moi, fuck you.

That is a good start Minimow., fucking is over., right?? Now it is time to make Schedules.. for eating.. studying.. finishing the projects.. ..lol..

Do not let silence become your legacy.. Question everything
I renounced my faith to become a kafir,
the beloved betrayed me and turned in to a Muslim
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #7 - November 17, 2012, 10:56 AM

yeezevee...lol, that might be a useful priority yes.

Stardust, you're absolutely right about that. And it is not I am not aware of that, but I don't have the self-discipline to follow through. I can't make myself sit for more than half an hour and block out every other hedonist idea popping into my head. I'm like the alcoholic described in Eddie Griffins hilarious story, where this guy comes up with excuses every day to drink. "It's Tuesday, kids getting on my fucking nerves, it's Wednesday, Hump Day! It's Thursday, almost Friday! It's Friday, thank god! It's Saturday, that's what I'm talking about!" Take the excess alcohol out of it, and that's pretty much my week.

That might not be a problem the next couple of weeks, as I am absolutely obliged to take things seriously because of the exams, but I miss the continuity and I hate playing catch up. I can't believe how incredibly hard it is to just be harsh with myself and force myself to be more serious. Weird.

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- Stardust
- Founder of Neo-Hippiism
- Ex-Muslim
- Beneath The Veil
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #8 - November 21, 2012, 03:06 PM

Quote from: Minimow on November 17, 2012, 10:56 AM

Stardust, you're absolutely right about that. And it is not I am not aware of that, but I don't have the self-discipline to follow through. I can't make myself sit for more than half an hour and block out every other hedonist idea popping into my head. I'm like the alcoholic described in Eddie Griffins hilarious story, where this guy comes up with excuses every day to drink. "It's Tuesday, kids getting on my fucking nerves, it's Wednesday, Hump Day! It's Thursday, almost Friday! It's Friday, thank god! It's Saturday, that's what I'm talking about!" Take the excess alcohol out of it, and that's pretty much my week.

That might not be a problem the next couple of weeks, as I am absolutely obliged to take things seriously because of the exams, but I miss the continuity and I hate playing catch up. I can't believe how incredibly hard it is to just be harsh with myself and force myself to be more serious. Weird.

I think it's the way you're perceiving the situation as an all or nothing situation. What you have to remember is that the kick yourself in the arse is more like a 'push yourself lightly' but keep pushing, keep applying that pressure. It's about building a habit and habits don't just appear out of thin air; you're going to have setbacks, but don't let it get you down - think 'ok, it's just that, it happens to absolutely everybody' you get yourself back on your feet and push yourself again. Why? Because you have a plan, a goal for your life and nothing happens without hard work (or smart work even). Sometimes you won't do the hard work which you think you should be doing, but don't wallow in despair that won't make anything any better.

Don't get lost in trivial things in life -that's can be quite a tricky thing, it's that keeping perspective business, step out and take an objective look (That's what I meant by prioritizing). Ask yourself something in a very straight foreward manner: How is this activity going to enrich my life Is it adding something NEW to my life? Am I making a difference? Is this important right now? It's these sort of questions that you have to stop yourself before engaging in an activity and ask yourself.

Ok, so you might be deferred from engaging in useless activities (such as gaming) but this might still leave you sitting and starring blankly at a screen...so that's the point where you remind yourself what you're trying to achieve in life?...

You have to want something so badly, want to get somewhere, prove something. Keep that burning at the back of your mind. That is your drive, then you be selfish and do what you have to do to get yourself there.

Then BAM open your files folder and do it QUICKLY I mean real quick before anything appears. Do not open that IM, no picking up your mug of tea or snacks. Na da. Don't think, just do.l

Doing things quickly was a huge thing that helped me lift myself from a depressive mindset actually, I don't let myself have that time to let my mind wander into the negative frame of mind which I ended up developing. Just as soon as I would wake up, it's out and into the shower, get my bed done, do a routine quick tidy up if needed and then a quick jot of things to do that day (covering one section by midday, throwing the clothes in the wash, buying dinner at 3pm etc)

If your room is a mess your mind is a mess. Your environment makes a huge difference to your mental state. Make your study space clean and professional.

Then once you let yourself feel good about those little steps you achieve, whilst keeping in mind you're not there yet (but you're getting there), you'll be rolling the ball. Let yourself be proud of it, build on it. I found if you're proud of something you're more likely to nurture it, to put effort into it because you've got this far and this comes back to self belief. Believe that you can be great, so what if they laugh at you, call you delusional., let them -that's all they can do. When you love something (your career path in this case) you ignore the naysayers, know that they're wrong, and one day you'll be over there whilst they're still sitting in their misery.

Remember to surround yourself with the good people, people you see good positive qualities in and not naysayers or those who drain you - minimize your time spent with those only adding negativity to your life. Of course nobody is black or white, so just make sure you spend enough time with those friends who energize you, so to balance any draining friends.

Alright now....I've got stuff to do.

/end

ETA: Guides I've picked up from life/people I know/online resources/books etc all combined.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor E. Frankl

'Life is just the extreme expression of complex chemistry' - Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #9 - November 21, 2012, 10:04 PM

Fææntastick post, stardust. Very useful

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- Susie Cues
- Wannabe Internet Thug
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #10 - November 21, 2012, 10:10 PM

Thanks, Dust. I'm struggling with this as we speak as I can't seem to read these few short books and complete some essays that were due ages ago. Here's hoping I make some headway before my procrastination comes back to bite me in the arse.

"I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want."
Muhammad Ali
- Stardust
- Founder of Neo-Hippiism
- Ex-Muslim
- Beneath The Veil
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #11 - November 22, 2012, 11:32 AM

Quote from: Minimow on November 21, 2012, 10:04 PM
Fææntastick post, stardust. Very useful

You're welcome

Quote from: Susie Cues on November 21, 2012, 10:10 PM
Thanks, Dust. I'm struggling with this as we speak as I can't seem to read these few short books and complete some essays that were due ages ago. Here's hoping I make some headway before my procrastination comes back to bite me in the arse.

Good luck with that Susie Cues!

Here's something I just had pop into my head. We're driven by out emotions/instincts that's our base and primary function I would say, and I think you would agree, most powerful and more so that our rational function.

The rational function is what we're striving to and should, whilst keeping the emotional side at a healthy balance.

So, any form of just mantra, or these self motivational videos and the likes; a million plus one of them will do nothing since they come through the more rational side (-through words). Unless you have a huge emotional connection to these words they won't stick. To re-program yourself you have to really bring out your emotions, that happiness, pride, excitement and take what it is you're trying to achieve - visualize, feel it, experience it -smash the emotions and goal together. Simulate the outcome.

Which is why I also think Lucid Dreaming (controlled dreaming) thing will take off like crazy once people realise the power of realistic simulation on real life, as one YT guy pointed out.

Back when I had confidence that's what I would do. I would rehearse in my mind standing there in front of people and giving my presentation with confidence and enthusiasm and really engaging people. Results? That's what I would achieve. It all comes down to self belief - deluding yourself, playing pretend. Immerse yourself in a reality you decide to create for yourself.

The most difficult bit I would say now is figuring out what reality it is you're trying to create.

To any young students and generally anyone trying to cope with life...you need these mechanisms. To some people these mechanism have developed well due to good up bringing or gradually learning through life experiences and got there. For the rest us who are a bit more damaged, and not having the best conditions growing up we have to create these in a shorter period of time.

I think it helps to know that emotions are tangible things, they're something you can control and manipulate to your advantage and not be at the mercy of.

That's another thing, be constantly conscious of these things, remind yourself throughout the day now and then that emotions are chemical reactions and in an instant you can change your frame of mind...it probably won't stick but the more you make a habit of switching your emotional state, the better you'll get at it and I guess soon you won't even realise it and you're in a constant confident mind frame of 'yes I can do this' etc.

[[^It's like how I learnt to ride a bike, I learnt as a grown woman and took the rational route to approach, yet ultimately I had to get on the bike and ride it and experience, but my processing of riding was from a rational angle whereas a child learning to ride a bike is more likely to approach it from an trial-and-error method and so they would have more of emotional/instinctive connection to it. They would *feel* what's the right things leading to successful bike riding. (-I could be talking bullshit here lol )]]

The sooner you have a foundation of techniques/tools to help you deal with situations the better, it'll save you years of struggles if you put in the effort of self-help/healing ASAP.

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor E. Frankl

'Life is just the extreme expression of complex chemistry' - Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Stardust
- Founder of Neo-Hippiism
- Ex-Muslim
- Beneath The Veil
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #12 - November 22, 2012, 11:40 AM

Sorry Minimow I think I started to hijack your thread XD

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Viktor E. Frankl

'Life is just the extreme expression of complex chemistry' - Neil deGrasse Tyson
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #13 - November 22, 2012, 09:28 PM

I don't see how that is hijacking my thread, Stardust. Some really mesmerizing thoughts and reflections and I can easily relate to much of it.

This is the beauty of a forum or any other place where people could meet and exchange thoughts. When I started this thread, I was looking for ways of self-restraint and order. I haven't really put that much thought behind the incoherence between what I usually think everynight before bed (be productive tommorow) and what I end up doing, "hangin", gaming, partying etc.

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- sturmgewehr
- Illyro-Thracian
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #14 - November 27, 2012, 12:06 PM

Quote from: Minimow on November 16, 2012, 09:23 AM
I am a university student (Economics), with 3 upcoming exams in a couple of weeks. But I just can't really stimulate any interest to read, following up lectures, do some assignments etc. Sometimes I actually manage to sit down and work for hours, but then I give myself this unfair incentive to not study seriously for a week, before reading hard again. Often a friend comes by with som stupid idea and I'm just tempted to join. Or I see the glancing beauty of FIFA13 laying right infront of me and I give in like a little prostitute. Or I could make up my own stupid excuses, like "Oh, I need to see if everything is OK with the TV, so I just sit down and watch it for an hour" and when I'm done with that, I go "Oh, you need som tobacco go and buy some, and of course, on the road, I bump into a friend, who insist we hang a little.

I enjoy the idea of studying so little, that everything could tempt me away. But ironically, when I first sit down and read, I really enjoy myself.

So anyone with some ideas on how I could study more regularly and productively? Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

I know becoming less prone at spending time on every little fucking idea that pops into my head, is a start.

Are we brothers or something

This is like I am reading myself and I am an Economics student myself as well
- Minimow
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #15 - December 02, 2012, 03:17 AM

@Sturmgewehr

How are you doing for your exams? And which year are you?

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
- sturmgewehr
- Illyro-Thracian
- Ex-Muslim
- offline
Re: How to study productively?
Reply #16 - December 06, 2012, 10:58 AM

I graduated from University 2 years ago, I am in Vienna now, I recently enrolled at University of Vienna and I am planning to do my Masters on Finance, I am currently taking German Language Classes and I am planning to start my regular Unviersity classes next year around september or latest Winter Semester.
1« Previous thread | Next thread »