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[Vault Dweller 111]

I feel like every week it's the same thing.

"I am gonna do this and this and this today. I will not leave campus until I have all of this work done!"
...
"Man, I'm pretty hungry, I can just do it at home"
I eat some lunch, my classes are done for the day. And I just shut down. I feel tired, unmotivated, and would love to just sit on my ass and watch Netflix the rest of the day.

Now don't get me wrong. I will get the work done. I never get incomplete or zeroes on assignments. In fact based on people I talk to, I actually procrastinate a lot less than some. But still, it doesn't mean that I'm always pleased with the work, or feel like I'm actually learning rather than just finishing whatever the assignment is. I'm no idiot. But this major is pretty damn hard, and some of this stuff just doesn't click for me like it does for my classmates. I can pass the classes, I can get the degree. But I want to have a better understanding, I want to go to grad school, I want to get into the research field, etc. So I have to outwork all these geniuses I'm surrounded by.

And yet, I can't make myself go that extra mile. I can finish the math assignment, but I don't read the chapter and make sure I understand exactly what's happening. Or do extra examples to really understand the material, it's things like that, and I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. I try to study, suddenly I'm browsing the Internet and an hour has passed. I do a half hour of work, break time! I just have no energy by the time I get home. And I can't stay focused.

I know people take adderal and other things. But that's not for me. I'd love nothing more than to just sit in the library for three hours a day just pouring over books. But man, it's tough.

So Gaf, how do you get by? Is it enough for me to just bring a Red Bull in my backpack, finish my classes, grab some lunch, drink the Bull and go crazy? (Not a huge fan of energy drinks either, but whatever.). That's my new plan that I'll be putting into action tomorrow. But I'd love some other tips.



And just to get some stuff out of the way. Yes, I love my major. I think I can enjoy something and still have a hard time getting motivated to pour over linear algebra or electrodynamics textbooks. So any 'you obviously don't enjoy what you are doing' comments are unnecessary.

Thanks Gaf!

 

[Mediking]

I'm also in college and well... I've just learned to embrace who I am. I'm motivated to study when the material interests me and when I know a test is coming. It all comes down to time management and having a positive outlook. Having a job and being in college at the same time is ROUGH, man. ROUGHHHHHH.

 

[veloxStrix]

I have a list of goals and how each class relates to them. Some of the relations are pretty dumb, but it helps.

I also have a marker board with a checklist on it of all the semesters assignments. I don't know why, but just having that makes homework more satisfying. I'm a simple man, I check something off of a list and magically college work is enjoyable.

 

[Rocketz]

adderall helps

 

[theshizzle]

It helps to relate whatever you study to the greater good. How is what you are learning, going to benefit EVERYONE, and not just yourself.

 

[Vault Dweller 111]

I'm also in college and well... I've just learned to embrace who I am. I'm motivated to study when the material interests me and when I know a test is coming. It all comes down to time management and having a positive outlook. Having a job and being in college at the same time is ROUGH, man. ROUGHHHHHH.

Yea. It's tough out there. It definitely motivates you when a test is coming up. But man, wouldn't it be cool to just know all that stuff already because you've been doing so well all year? I mean last semester I tried studying for finals for weeks. But what I actually did was less than half of what I was aiming for. But hey, I got great grades last semester, so who cares right?

I just can't help but think 'how much knowledge did I actually come away with last semester?' Ehhhhh, not as much as I'd like. I feel like it's going to catch up to me when I hit these super hard classes to finish my degree. I want to be ready.

 

[nhlducks35]

No point in going to college if you're not going to try and learn

 

[AxeMan]

Life is just about getting through it. You're already ahead of the 'over achievers'

 

[davidwhangchoi]

Yea. It's tough out there. It definitely motivates you when a test is coming up. But man, wouldn't it be cool to just know all that stuff already because you've been doing so well all year? I mean last semester I tried studying for finals for weeks. But what I actually did was less than half of what I was aiming for. But hey, I got great grades last semester, so who cares right?

I just can't help but think 'how much knowledge did I actually come away with last semester?' Ehhhhh, not as much as I'd like. I feel like it's going to catch up to me when I hit these super hard classes to finish my degree. I want to be ready.

best advice is to hang around nerdy friends who like to study. it rubs off on you.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Get out of your room and go to the library. Let fear of failure drive you.

 

[OceanBlue]

Study groups. I feel a lot more engaged with the material when I'm helping others learn or when they're helping me. Of course this usually only happens for difficult classes and before exams, but if you can get people together for regular assignments it helps a lot.

 

[veloxStrix]

best advice is to hang around nerdy friends who like to study. it rubs off on you.

I generally try to avoid letting my friends rub off on me.

 

[EBE]

ehh i dont really study

 

[davidwhangchoi]

I generally try to avoid letting my friends rub off on me.

you must've been the smart one influencing others to study =)

 

[AnathemicOne]

I don't, well for this semester I'm only attending 2 days a week so hopefully that helps. But before this semester, yeah... motivation didn't kick in until the night before shit was due.

 

[Vicetrailia]

I just create a study routine and stick to it as much as I can.

 

[MultiJhonny]

My graduation date. Potential job prospects. Wanting to be better than everyone else in my field.

Of course I am not in any classes where I really study anymore in the traditional sense. I mainly have projects now.

 

[Sch1sm]

Set a flexible schedule for your stuff. Does wonders for me if I manage part of something, but can't bring myself to complete it all. Gives me some time cushion.

 

[umop_3pisdn]

I try to find intrinsic motivation, like go for a bachelors I like and be involved in the process of getting it. Say philosophy classes are partly about learning how to read challenging texts? Then do the readings for their own sake, to flex that literacy muscle, because why else am I there? I kind of have to find the motivation to learn for its own sake, and what I'm learning has to be engaging, I can't really study purely as a means to get to something else.

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

I don't, so I don't.

Spoiler

I'm a bad student.

 

[SkeptiMism]

You say you feel tired. Is there any reason for this? Like, are you sleeping enough? Do you go to sleep early enough? Do you eat well and healthy? Do you get any physical exercise?

These are things that can really affect how you feel and that way can affect motivation too.

 

[GunslingerVit]

Try a fixed schedule, something like a 9 to 5 routine. Drink enough, especially water, make breaks outside. Also you could try the Pomodoro technique, it keeps me pushing onwards for sure.

 

[weshes195]

Well it depends. I NEVER studied for my core classes. Sure, I made sure I learned what I needed like basic history (of course, I literally would have been better off not learning any history in school since all of it was false), math, etc...

So, I completely understand on that point of view. However, now that I am finally finished my core, I am focused on my Major. True, I rarely read out of the books but I still learn the same information as I have spent hours and hours looking up how to edit, use a switcher board, mixing audio, etc...

To be honest, I can't help you. My Major is editing, filming, doing studio productions, etc. I obviously need to learn several terms and know how to do many things, but most of the time I learn hands on by filming or editing a project. I am not that smart intellectually (that is 100% truth), I am not going to Grad school, and besides the fact that there are SEVERAL things to memorize and that there are so many people that do what I do, it isn't a hard Major at all.

You actually sound a lot like me (albeit a lot smarter). My advise is to not push yourself too hard. I know that your major actually takes real hard effort, but pushing yourself too hard could make you do worse. You may actually end up hating your major! If you can't study 3 hours a day, fine! Just make sure you are studying what is necessary and when you have the chance on the weekend, to read what you missed.

 

[Pau]

If the goal is to go to graduate school and into a research field, and if you're grades are already good, instead of trying to study more, use that time to do independent research, an internship, or work with a professor. That way you'll get really necessary experience and a better understanding of concepts because you're putting them into practice. But it's a schedule thing that you HAVE to show up for.

Otherwise, honestly the thing that works best for me is staying on campus and working there. Once I get home, it's too easy to get distracted.

 

[TheRedSnifit]

.

 

[Vault Dweller 111]

Great stuff guys. Even just knowing that other people are like you is a nice relief. I'm going to bed, but I'll check back in the morning.


Answering a few questions that I remember off the top of my head: my sleep schedule is decent, but I feel the same with 8 hours or 5 hours of sleep. If I ever can't sleep and get like 3 hours or something that will kill me so that I can't even pay attention in classes, but that is rare.

I drink plenty of water. And I workout occasionally, and it just makes me more exhausted the rest of the day. And I try to eat healthy for the most part.

 

[TheXbox]

I feel like every week it's the same thing.

"I am gonna do this and this and this today. I will not leave campus until I have all of this work done!"
...
"Man, I'm pretty hungry, I can just do it at home"
I eat some lunch, my classes are done for the day. And I just shut down. I feel tired, unmotivated, and would love to just sit on my ass and watch Netflix the rest of the day.

Don't do that. Just don't. Sit in the library and turn off your fucking laptop. You'll get work done. You're not going to magically outperform your peers and reach those lofty goals by half-assing your way to a degree.

If it's the lunch that drains you then get some caffeine, or even take a nap for an hour. It's fine as long you're able to get back on campus and put the hours in.

 

[iRAWRasaurus]

I understand where you are coming from OP. Personally, I picked a major/ graduate program I am interested in. So that allows me to have enough motivation to study. Think of the long run and your goals.

Personally I tend to play games, browse the internet and whatever I want to do before I start studying. That way there is noting distracting me when I do start studying.

edit: also I cant study for an hour then move to another location. I have to be able to remain in a spot for 3 ish hours to be able to study.

 

[THRILLH0]

The fear of fucking up my future was pretty effective for me.

The promise of being able to provide one for a future family usually did the trick too.

I'm only being partly facetious. Don't just look at what you're going to get out of it this week or next. Think long term.

 

[wbsmcs]

Having a friend in the same program as me helps. We have nearly identical classes and its better when we're able to go through problems together because we keep each other motivated.

I also got into the habit of finishing all my work at school. I don't care if I get home at 12-1am because I found out that I just can't work at home. When I get home I have a tendency to just relax for a bit, but then it's impossible to start up again. At least now when I get home I know I'm able to tell myself to relax..it made me less nervous as well. I don't know if it has something to do with associating my bedroom with rest, rather than work, but it helped.

 

[ibyea]

Pacing yourself may be the most important aspect. Study hard but leave time for other stuff. It's a delicate balance but it's important to avoid burnout.

 

[Damaniel]

Guilt and fear, mainly.

 

[triplestation]

I make college work around my life, not the other way around

Never that

 

[SkeptiMism]

Well it depends. I NEVER studied for my core classes. Sure, I made sure I learned what I needed like basic history (of course, I literally would have been better off not learning any history in school since all of it was false), math, etc...

So, I completely understand on that point of view. However, now that I am finally finished my core, I am focused on my Major. True, I rarely read out of the books but I still learn the same information as I have spent hours and hours looking up how to edit, use a switcher board, mixing audio, etc...

To be honest, I can't help you. My Major is editing, filming, doing studio productions, etc. I obviously need to learn several terms and know how to do many things, but most of the time I learn hands on by filming or editing a project. I am not that smart intellectually (that is 100% truth), I am not going to Grad school, and besides the fact that there are SEVERAL things to memorize and that there are so many people that do what I do, it isn't a hard Major at all.

You actually sound a lot like me (albeit a lot smarter). My advise is to not push yourself too hard. I know that your major actually takes real hard effort, but pushing yourself too hard could make you do worse. You may actually end up hating your major! If you can't study 3 hours a day, fine! Just make sure you are studying what is necessary and when you have the chance on the weekend, to read what you missed.

What?

 

[triplestation]

What?

History is written by the winners

 

[copelandmaster]

Get out of your room and go to the library. Let fear of failure drive you.

+1.

Helps if you've got ~$free moni$~ on the line and no backup plan. You should see about applying to the school for some ~$free moni$~. That good feeling of being debt free/free of a potentially albatross of anxiety around your neck makes the whole thing worth it.

Force yourself to go to your prof's "office" hours, especially if other people show up. They can help you. Prof too. That's how I got thru Business Stat.

Don't take anything, fuck that shit.

Get sleep. Exercise instead.

 

[MrGerbils]

I was like you when I was pretending to like my major because I actually liked the broad idea of my major. Once I switched to something I actually enjoyed, studying stopped being a chore and started being a problem in that I was doing too much of it and neglecting my girlfriend, not sleeping enough, etc.

 

[shoreu]

I stay out of my room as much as possible just find a chill spot on campus and talk to girls while your working.

I also don't want to waste money or let anyone down so I try to stay focused.
Find someone in your class you think is cool and study with them.

 

[ShironRedshift]

By knowing that it's important to get where I want to be in life and knowing that I can't really fuck around if I want to get there. That and knowing myself and knowing that I would probably fuck around a bit, so I just stick to a set schedule and location for studying to always get me into the right mindset at that time by going to that study spot.

Like, I make sure I'm at the library by 7:00 PM and typically try and get a seat at a desk that doesn't have a computer, so that's not a problem. If I'm still studying at around 9:00 PM, I'll give myself a break and head over to the Extended Hours Study Room, which allows food, and eat a snack I brought with me while checking GAF and stuff for a bit, but while always making sure to keep an eye on the clock and to get my ass back into the main section of the library if I catch myself still on GAF at 10:00 PM. Then, I just keep going until I done.


As for making sure I actually understand what I'm reading... well, that much is just pretty intrinsic to how I study. I'm a pretty slow reader, so studying takes me a while. But a lot of the reason I'm slow is because of how I'm reading--I'm constantly rereading stuff I've read to make sure that I understood it. Then, as I'm getting further into a chapter, I'm constantly quizzing myself in my head about the stuff I read earlier in the chapter and do my best to remember and test my comprehension of those concepts without looking. But if I just can't remember/understand it at all, I just go back and look again and then go back to my current spot in the chapter. And just repeating that basic concept throughout the rest of the chapter or whatever--doing by best to read for understanding and comprehension at my current spot, while frequently quizzing myself on my understanding and ability to explain the concepts in previous sections to reinforce past learning and give myself a refresher if I can't remember.

Of course, all that means is that I definitely take a while to read most things, but it's what has worked for me and gotten results, which is what matters, so I don't really mind. It also helps that I enjoy learning in general and like to do it randomly sometimes when I'm not studying and am just bored and stuff, like just quizzing myself on what the difference between oligodendrocytes and schwann cells or parvocellular and magnocellular cells are or what the lateral geniculate nucleus does and stuff despite PSY 387 (Behavioral Neuroscience) being a class I took for my major a year ago and that probably being information I won't ever actually need again because hey, I payed good money for that class and want to be able to retain that information, especially since some of that stuff really is interesting and cool to know about, so why not?

Just also trying to take interesting classes that I really enjoy and want to do my best in and understand as well as possible because of the subject matter also naturally helps, but those are the main things that work for me. No clue if any of this will actually be helpful to you, since ultimately you have to find what works for you, but hope you manage to get at least something useful out of this. ^_^

 

[MMarston]

I never ever do serious studying at home unless I really need to. There's just too much distraction.

Libraries and my work office are always the way to go. This is especially because they give you this psychological trigger of conformity in that you have to be productive in that environment.

 

[Hypron]

I find it easy to stay motivated by simply doing exercises/solving problems - you are actively doing something and thinking about things so it's easier to stay on track. Memorising shit straight from a textbook must be one of the most boring things though, I hated exams that were all about that.

Although, sometimes it's possible to make your own problems and solve them. When I was revising for this advanced control systems paper last year I created a model of a physical system on Simulink and then implemented all the controllers the course talked about to see how they would actually work in practice. It was way more interesting than simply learning the pro-cons in the textbook, and actually implementing them forced me to understand how they worked — which is your aim in the first place.

 

[Silent_Ocarina]

I'm an extremely lazy student. I never learned how to study or what's the best way for me to learn. I get distracted really easily. Most of my courses is really just reading from the textbook, and I honestly can't read for longer than 5 minutes without getting distracted. I think part of it is that I don't love what I do. I'm studying to become a pharmacist, and I recently got a job as a student pharmacist, and man, I'm really afraid. I don't know if I can stand doing the whole 9-5 (or longer, whatever) for 40+ years. I don't know. I just thought there was going to be more purpose to my life than this.

I guess the best thing to do is to make it a habit. Motivation doesn't last forever. If you truly want to start doing something, you need to make it a habit. That way, even if you don't feel like studying, you feel bad or weird not doing it. Kinda like flossing or going to the gym. Maybe I should try doing the same thing, haha.

 

[SkeptiMism]

History is written by the winners

Sure, but that doesn't mean all of it is false.

Like, I don't know about the American way of teaching history, but I can't believe it's literally all false.

 

[Tesseract]

w33d

 

[Hoo-doo]

Create a schedule where you actually allocate blocks of time to studying. Plan these around your lectures, it really helps to stick with a plan if you have a fixed daily schedule.

Also, don't be a lazy bum. Nobody likes those.

 

[weshes195]

What?

Heh, college history wasn't nearly that bad as they were much more blunt and realistic. When I was a kid/teen it was all about things that were either technically correct but ignoring a lot of stuff that would make others look good or just be flat out wrong.

Let me try to remember all the stuff I have blocked out: Christopher Columbus was an amazing guy who was the first person (not just explorer or anything like that, but literally the first person) to find America. Not only did he not land in North America (true he DID go to South America, but we were taught specifically North America) but he was not a kind person nor was he the first one to land in the Americas. The only truth was that he helped make a huge impact, but even then he wasn't the guy who "found North America".

That is only 1 of so many classics, although I believe that is actually the most common story several schools have. Of course, this also lasted not only in Middle School but to High School. At which point nearly all of us reading the books and listening to the teachers were like, Huh?

Really strange. I always was wary about History in school.

 

[weshes195]

Sure, but that doesn't mean all of it is false.

Like, I don't know about the American way of teaching history, but I can't believe it's literally all false.

Sure there were a couple of truths, had people like Abraham Lincoln, George Washington. But it was mainly because the books were sorta outdated and 2 of my 3 total history teachers were insane (the other one was nice, just not the brightest bulb to be honest).

The books mainly acted like everything was peachy, Racism was an eh thing it all ended long ago, Washington and Edison were nice guys. Lincoln was always for the end of slavery and would never care about money over a black life.

The French Revolution was a complete success like the American Revolution... It is like they stated historical figures or events and said what everyone generally knew about them. Nothing about what really happened or who these people really were.

Maybe I am expecting too much out of a high school class?

 

[Mediking]

Yea. It's tough out there. It definitely motivates you when a test is coming up. But man, wouldn't it be cool to just know all that stuff already because you've been doing so well all year? I mean last semester I tried studying for finals for weeks. But what I actually did was less than half of what I was aiming for. But hey, I got great grades last semester, so who cares right?

I just can't help but think 'how much knowledge did I actually come away with last semester?' Ehhhhh, not as much as I'd like. I feel like it's going to catch up to me when I hit these super hard classes to finish my degree. I want to be ready.

I got my first job in college and I actually failed a class because I didn't remember a test. It really hurt me but I let it go. Ah, learning... I barely remember much stuff from classes I enjoy BUT that information usually comes to my mind when I think really hard about it.

 

[Lord_Balkan]

How did I stay motivated?

I would look at all my college related bills and debt, and realized if I didn't stay motivated that I (and my parents) would be wasting a shit-ton of money.

EDIT: I should say not wanting to waste a shit-ton of money easily kept me motivated.

 

[Inferno313]

When I was in college I just eventually accepted that I worked well under pressure, and worked fast. So I usually fucked around until the night before something was due, and then cranked it out.

That probably sounds crazy but I graduated with honors so I guess it wasn't that bad.