I'm in a rut

[dc67]

I see others on here every now and then that are having trouble staying focussed and sticking with it. I am finding myself there now. I am down to 7 UL tests and and Information Literacy and I will have my Bachelor's Degree and now I am in a rut. I have been trying for 2 weeks to study for the ECE Abnormal Psychology exam and I still haven't made it through IC one complete time. My mind drifts or I just can't concentrate. I hate it, I am so close, I tell myself to buckle down and get through this last stretch and I am struggling. After 2 weeks of making myself read through this, I don't know if any of it is sinking in. I was hoping to be finished by the end of the year, now I am not so sure. I have thought about just completely shutting down for a week or so but this is all kind of habit now and I am afraid if I take time off, I wont want to start up. I really just want my life back and right now I am hostage to studying. OK, I have whined enough, gotta go try and make it through this section.

Doug

[Sowak777]

Instead of taking a week off, take two or three days off. For those days, don't study–don't even think about studying!

Form an accountability relationship with someone that will jump your case and not let you quit. Tell them you want to take a few days off and then get right back to work. Choose someone that will hold you accountable and be tough on you.

[cookderosa]

If you searched back, you would find countless whining "I'm in a rut" and "I've got burn out" posts that I wrote too LOL. This is the crap that separates the graduates from the not-graduates. I know it doesn't help, but I really believe that the single difference between grads/non-grads is the ability to play the game all the way through the 4th quarter. Feel good about making it this far, but until you pass the finish line, you're NOT DONE. You are close, but your not there yet, and if playing little tricks helps- then DO IT! Here are a few tricks you might try:
(all of these were given to me by other people here at one time or another!)

* schedule the test (I want to add to schedule it sooner than later, in my case, having too much time didn't apply enough pressure for me to kick it into gear)

* switch tests into a fresh subject (oh baby, how I hated the Civil War)

* take a short break

* give yourself a reward for small goals reached

* make a plan - with dates- for each of your remaining exams

* look at grad schools (this was my favorite distraction, but it kept me thinking about long term goals, and it worked!)

At the end of the day, it's really just buckling down and doing it, but we CAN trick ourselves into at "glass half full" mindset if we look at it through a different lens. HANG IN THERE. You didn't rack up 100 credits to walk away now.

[categ]

If you searched back, you would find countless whining "I'm in a rut" and "I've got burn out" posts that I wrote too LOL. This is the crap that separates the graduates from the not-graduates. I know it doesn't help, but I really believe that the single difference between grads/non-grads is the ability to play the game all the way through the 4th quarter. Feel good about making it this far, but until you pass the finish line, you're NOT DONE. You are close, but your not there yet, and if playing little tricks helps- then DO IT! Here are a few tricks you might try:
(all of these were given to me by other people here at one time or another!)

* schedule the test (I want to add to schedule it sooner than later, in my case, having too much time didn't apply enough pressure for me to kick it into gear)

* switch tests into a fresh subject (oh baby, how I hated the Civil War)

* take a short break

* give yourself a reward for small goals reached

* make a plan - with dates- for each of your remaining exams

* look at grad schools (this was my favorite distraction, but it kept me thinking about long term goals, and it worked!)

At the end of the day, it's really just buckling down and doing it, but we CAN trick ourselves into at "glass half full" mindset if we look at it through a different lens. HANG IN THERE. You didn't rack up 100 credits to walk away now.

You make some great points!

Scheduling the test is what kicks me into gear. Once I set the appt. I threaten to cancel it but ultimately it makes me feel like a lightweight to push it off so I bull through it. I told me family repeatedly this weekend that I was going to postpone my Astronomy exam today but I went through with it...and passed.

I also agree with switching subjects if you can't more forward. My first exam was the Intro to computing and I thought I would quickly follow up with MIS. I was getting nowhere so I switched to Astronomy. Now I have my science credits completed for my GER. So that feels like a double accomplishment.

You can do it, you are in the enviable position of being so close. I so want to be there. Do it for us. haha

[dc67]

Setting the test date is what I have used up to this point. Nothing like a little pressure. I debated cancelling the college math clep right up until walking out the door and managed a 62 or 63. I just needed to vent. Thanks for all of the encouragement. Close doesn't count, I know. I was hoping seeing the light at the end of the tunnel would make it easier though. I'll keep everyone posted.

[learflyer]

Just don't take it out on any of those airplanes! Do you work for Comair?

[dc67]

No I dont work for Comair. I used to work for Delta though. I got laid off for the 2nd time a few years ago. I work for GE now.

[learflyer]

Sorry, 50/50 shot. i understand the furlough (pilot) thing. That's why i'm on these boards trying to expand my life a little one test at a time. Good luck to you.

[PatsGirl1]

* look at grad schools (this was my favorite distraction, but it kept me thinking about long term goals, and it worked!)

This is my current favorite distraction. I'm 9.5 weeks away from finishing and sometimes I feel like giving up! lol

I currently have 5 papers to write just this week alone and I want to quit, but you gotta just get through it. Any way you can, but just get through it.

[Chuckers]

I am feeling the same thing. I have 1 test left (Ethics in America) and I will have my BA in Psych. from TESC. I am scheduled to take it next Tuesday, but have only gone through about 1/3 of the flash cards on IC for a total of about 2 hours. The worst thing is that I have to take a paper test and wait for the results. Good Luck in finishing.