Need motivation and help focusing

[andreavw]

I'm with everyone else who is saying to go faster! Don't get stuck in the trenches going over the same stuff- just take the test. Nothing motivates me like seeing I passed something and then moving right on to the next one.
Also, scheduling the tests before you're ready to take it worked for me- the deadline made me study like a crazy person.
And one last tip: sometimes you have to trick yourself into studying by sitting down and thinking "Okay, I'll just do this for 10 minutes." Sitting down and starting is the hardest part for me, so once I got over that I'd think "10 minutes wasn't so bad, I can do another 10" (and another, and another, and so on)
You can do it!

[studyandpass5]

Thanks everyone! You all have had wonderful suggestions and I'll definitely be putting them to good use!

[keepsingin]

I also agree with the go faster advice, it really works!

[cardiacclep]

Really need some help here guys... I'm totally lacking motivation to finish my studies. I'm currently pursuing an IT degree, while working part time (25 hrs/wk, mornings). I have a very short attention span, so it's hard for me to concentrate after I get home from work. I have about 2 years left (just about to become a junior) Anyone else have this problem? What did you do to help focus? I listen to study music playlists on YouTube, and that helps

25 hours a week sounds like a vacation to me. Not sure what your family, financial or work stress is but sounds like you have more free time than the average forum poster here. I find negative visualization a motivator for times like what you are going thru. The practice involves looking ahead to the actions that will come if I do not get things in gear. My motivator is that if I bail out I will not get a future job I want all for what......so I can veg out? That usually gets me going. I recently took and passed the Macro Econ clep to satisfy a prereq I needed to get done. I hated stressing about studying for this exam I had little interest in but my internal dialogue is "buck up buttercup", there will plenty time to chill when I get my degree done along with a overwhelming sense of accomplishment of completing a task many people cannot muster up to complete.  Also, do not underestimate the power of a break. Just do not let that break turn into years. You know yourself the best, just reassess honestly. Best of luck to you. Hang in the there and get your mojo back anyway you can.

[passit1]

The one suggestion of studying prior to work is interesting...never did it myself but I can see it working. You might need to adjust bedtime to be earlier to wake up earlier. I was able to complete alot of my schoolwork and studying at times people with traditional schedules were working or sleeping. Less distractions that way.

[laurenadams01]

Different things work for motivating different people, you'll probably have to try out several suggestions to see what helps the most. My motivation in grade school was to get ahead of my peers, lol. Two things that help motivate me now are exercise, specifically cardio, and goal-setting/scheduling. Most days, my brain just refuses to wake up, and exercise helps remedy that sometimes. You can find a lot of info about exercise benefits for studying by googling it. For scheduling, I set a realistic goal for when I want to complete a course, and then I note on my calendar how much I need to complete each day. Having a reminder that I need to get to [Chap 7, Les 3] today helps keep me focused. If deadlines aren't your thing, maybe checking a box could be more motivating. Also, connecting with other students, online or not, can help sometimes. Shutting off social media notifications can be beneficial as well. All the best to your studies!

REALLY? Exercise can help? Yeah, I'm not pursuing a degree at this point, I'm doing dual credit at home to get ahead and not bog down a bunch of time with college work. I DO relate to everything said here though, I failed a test, and am now wasting time restudying it instead of going on to the next thing. Sadly, I'm one of those people who can do hard things above my level if I have the drive, but if I don't, I flounder around until I get scared into doing it. That's what happened with my last test, and I made a 59 on Natural Science. I have got to check into exercise and see if that helps since I know I'm not doing exercise.

[davewill]

REALLY? Exercise can help? Yeah, I'm not pursuing a degree at this point, I'm doing dual credit at home to get ahead and not bog down a bunch of time with college work. I DO relate to everything said here though, I failed a test, and am now wasting time restudying it instead of going on to the next thing. Sadly, I'm one of those people who can do hard things above my level if I have the drive, but if I don't, I flounder around until I get scared into doing it. That's what happened with my last test, and I made a 59 on Natural Science. I have got to check into exercise and see if that helps since I know I'm not doing exercise.

Sounds a little like ADHD to me. I have similar problems, not able to focus on straightforward tasks, but can hyperfocus on more interesting/challenging stuff. Simple tasks have to become critical before I can force myself to do them. It took medication to break that cycle for me. Not that it always works...

[jsd]

REALLY? Exercise can help? Yeah, I'm not pursuing a degree at this point, I'm doing dual credit at home to get ahead and not bog down a bunch of time with college work. I DO relate to everything said here though, I failed a test, and am now wasting time restudying it instead of going on to the next thing. Sadly, I'm one of those people who can do hard things above my level if I have the drive, but if I don't, I flounder around until I get scared into doing it. That's what happened with my last test, and I made a 59 on Natural Science. I have got to check into exercise and see if that helps since I know I'm not doing exercise.

Sounds a little like ADHD to me. I have similar problems, not able to focus on straightforward tasks, but can hyperfocus on more interesting/challenging stuff. Simple tasks have to become critical before I can force myself to do them. It took medication to break that cycle for me. Not that it always works...

Hrm, is describes me way to well. Yikes.

[Life Long Learning]

Think long-term!

I worked an average of 50 hours a week (UPS 0400-0800am; college 0800-1400 at an anti-Veteran University of Oregon; 2-7pm Sears daily; and the Army on weekends/summers. After 5 years I started drinking by the 4th year. The tempo sucked. I only took 12 credits per term. My GPA was 2.9. My gf never saw me study as I had little time for it. I nearly lost my current wife of 30 years now (then gf). It took me 5.5 years for a BS.

In the end I finished and now I am working towards my 4th Gov't retirement. I never took my eye off the ball and it was the ticket for me.

One has the rest of ones life to be lazy, but during ones youth it will cost you a lifetime!

Think long-term!