1. Problem: When am studying, I get distracted either by phone calls or sms.
Suggestions:
- Choose a good study environment and do all your study there (see Good Study Environment).
-Structure your time and environment by:
- Setting aside separate times for studying and socialising.
- Structuring one hour block of study period and have a break in between each study period.
- At study period, switch mobile phone to silent mode and put a symbol or sign (e.g. Study time – DO NOT disturb) at the door of your room so that others would not disturb you.
- Checking mobile phone only during the breaks.
- Learning to say "No" to friends and family members when it is your study time and suggest meetings at any of the times that you have set aside for socialising for the week.
2. Problem: I can only concentrate for about 10 or 15 minutes, after that I feel the urge to do something else, like playing computer, watching TV.
Suggestions:
-If you are distracted because of the environment (e.g. TV, computer), then identify a place where you can concentrate best (see Good Study Environment). Consistently do your study at this place. After sometime, a habit will be formed. Whenever you sit down in that place, you will feel like going right to study.
-If you cannot concentrate because you are not interested in the subject matter, remind yourself that you have chosen to get this degree and that the subject matter you are studying is leading towards getting the degree. Then try to bring a sense of purpose to the task and find something interesting in what you are studying. For example, say to yourself, "I want to study this because it is important for my degree. I am focusing on looking for the main points on this page."
-Whenever you feel the urge to do something else, stand up, look away from your book, take a deep breath and tell yourself, "Even though I feel like doing something else, I CHOOSE to study for another 30 minutes". Keep repeating this when you have the urge to do something else.
3. Problem: Somehow I daydream a lot when I am studying, so I often cannot finish reading what I plan to read initially.
Suggestions:
-Practice active learning so that your mind is constantly interacting with the materials you are studying: Take notes, write down main points, write summaries, draw diagrams/charts, do mind map, recite aloud, or quiz yourself.
-Look away from your book when you are day dreaming. Stand up and stretch your arms. Then say to yourself, "I can focus for another 10 minutes." Keep doing this to slowly learn to increase your concentration span.
-If you find yourself daydreaming a lot, you may want to consider setting aside 10 – 15 minutes daily for daydreamingJ. This way when you catch yourself daydreaming during study, say to yourself, "STOP, I will do my daydreaming at the scheduled time."
4. Problem:When I study, I have problem concentrating because I keep worrying about things.
Suggestions:
-Learn to manage your worry by:
- Setting aside a specific time and place for worry each day, but not on your bed or study place.
- Using that time to jot down your worries in a "Worry Book" .Then writing down all possible solutions for that particular thought. For example, if the worry is, "What if I fail again." Ask yourself what are steps you can take to problem solve this. One possible solution is list down the things you could do daily to help you pass the subject and evaluate how realistic they are.
- Catching yourself saying the "What if" statement in your mind as it tends to provoke anxiety. An example of a "What if" statement is, "What if I fail this paper?" When you hear that in your head, say to yourself, "STOP, worry does not solve my problem. I CHOOSE to use my time to problem solve instead."
- Reminding yourself that a lot of time we worry about things that never happen! So it is a waste of your energy and time.
-When the worry thoughts come during lectures or when you are studying, tell yourself to STOP and write those thoughts on your 'worry list'. Attend to your 'worry list' during your worry time.
5. Problem: When I find my lecturer speak in a boring way or reading out from the slides or handouts, I will switch off.
Suggestions:
-Examine your expectations of your lecturers. If your expectations of them are not met and you CHOOSE to switch off because of this, what are the consequences for you?
-Focus on the content to get the main points instead of the style of delivery. Present a challenge to yourself: Imagine that after the lecture, you are required to immediately present the main points to your class.
-Assume responsibility for making your study interesting. Be creative, for example, draw the main points and associate them with your existing knowledge so that your notes are interesting. Or, ask yourself, suppose you are the lecturer, how would you present these materials in a fun and interesting manner.
For the above suggestions to work, you have to keep doing them and be persistent because it takes time to unlearn a habit that you have learnt previously. A new habit cannot be formed overnight. It takes practice, practice and practice!
If the above problems are affecting your studies, consider seeing a counsellor at the NTU Student Counselling Centre. To make an appointment, contact the Counselling Centre at 67904462 or email SCC@ntu.edu.sg .
