Studying help

Malaysia
February 13, 2009 8:12pm CST
Hey guys, recently I've been feeling very unmotivated to study eventough my major exams are just around the corner. And when I finally do sit down and read a book, I find it very hard to focus and concentrate properly . Could someone share some advice with me? Maybe some studying tips and such? Thanks guys :)
1 person likes this
5 responses
@glords (2614)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Set up a time limit and then reward yourself for reaching that. Say if I can focus for an hour I'm going to ... something you enjoy, preferably something healthy, like go to the gym or eat a healthy snack.
1 person likes this
@glords (2614)
• United States
15 Feb 09
lol. I guess when I go to the gym I don't exactly enjoy put I tell myself, if you can make it through an hour a the treadmill, you get to take a shower and sit in the sauna. As for healthy snacks I've heard that almonds are good for brain. They say that in a study students who ate almonds before an exam improved their scores better then those who did not. Perhaps you could have a yogurt with granola and almonds... YUM
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
Yogurt and almonds . YUM. :). Well after I go to the gym , it's a MUST to take a shower . So don't know about that being a reward :) anyway thanks loads for all your great advice .:)
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
Time limit . Nice :) HAHA. don't know about you but going to the gym isn't fun for me :) I enoy team sports such as football and tennis . Any reccomendations for healthy snacks?
• United States
14 Feb 09
Have you ever heard of mind mapping? Along with all the other great advice and techniques you've received, mind mapping is great stratefy to help you connect the things you are studying. It would be easier to explain this if I knew your area of study. Think of it as a giant game of connect the dots. When you read or hear something that is familiar, you take a moment to connect to the information you know. This will help the newer information to sink and and become a registered portion of your knowledge base. Then when you read or hear something that is completely new, you do the same thing, relate it to something you already know or have experienced. You then connect this new information to familiar information, and finally to your stored information.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 09
When you first begin using it takes some time. Your mind isn't used to making the connections in this manner. But, just like anything else new, pafter a while it will become second nature. After you are used to making these connections, it becomes automatic. I can't read ANYTHING now without connecting to something.
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
Haha automatically connect it ? Wow . How long did it take you to reach that level ?
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
Yeah , I've heard of it before, in fact I just used it today.Seeing it as a giant game helps alot . I like the concept of associating learning to pictures and colours. However, i spend abit too long finishing off a mind map . Is it supposed to take time ?
@davido (1623)
• Canada
15 Feb 09
Well i will only advice that you look for the best ways to stay focused. And also your group or friends matters if they are te type that prefers moving around aimlessly with now right thinking attributes kindly drop them and read, read, read...thats what the former president says to the American kid. i know there are a lot of distractions here in Malaysia, but being focused is the main thing.
• Malaysia
15 Feb 09
haha yeah friends do matter . In fact, they play major roles in our lives. Im trying to cultivate a reading habit for myself now . :)
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
14 Feb 09
What kind of subject do you study about? if it is in your major field then you really need to focus and down to it. Here are some tips that I found it useful for me. Preview all topics that you about to read, then read summary and questions. when you start to read the whole thing, write down or high light the main idea in each paragraph. If you can't find main idea, use your own word to decide what you were read about,(to do this you could help yourself remember and understand faster). After you finish reading, you should try to answer the questions. Then, you should came back and review all your main idea. Once you are reviewing main idea, you need to tell yourself what it mean to you and what it told you about in this and that main idea. However, if you can't focus and get lost more than 2 or 3 times in the same paragraph then you should take a break for 15minutes or whole hour. Go do something fun and get some fresh air. it would help you clear your mind.... good luck.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
14 Feb 09
That's really sound advice mate .I'm off to try your method now . Wish me the best of luck . I'll keep you posted on how it goes in an hour or two . :)
• Malaysia
14 Feb 09
It works! :D great ideas there. In just a day, I've learnt so many good methods . Thanks :) I especially like the highlighter part . before this , I tought they were only used for drawing :P
@pickwick (858)
• India
14 Feb 09
Here are some tps which will help you focus.Sit relaxed in some quiet corner.There will be many thoughts crowding your mind.Let them come and go.Then concentrate on your breath alone.Feel it going in through your nose , windpipe and filling your lungs.then feel it going out.This will help you develop concentration.Do not try to finish studying all thaportion you have to in a stretch.Take breaks in between.Wish you all the best in your exam.
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
14 Feb 09
Thanks loads :) this breathing technique is really a great help . I can focus so much better now . Is there any way I can select more than one favourite answer?