Getting down to work

LegacyUser

Hi, going unregged for this post. I'm in college now a few years and up until now I've never had any problems with studying and motivation. I really enjoy my course, but this year I've found the amount of work absolutely overwhelming and I can't seem to focus or do anything productive. Plus I can't stop procrastinating - I keep making study timetables and I can never seem to stick to them, and I wind up getting nothing done at all. I've tonnes of assignments and exams which are all going to hit me like a ton of bricks sooner or later so I really need to do something about this. Even when I sit down to study something, it takes me ages to complete what I have to do, and I don't seem to be using my time efficiently at all.

I can't think of any particular reason why my attitude is so different this year, apart from the fact that the sheer volume of work is enormous. It is fairly demanding work, but the toughest part I find is not understanding the actual content of the lectures, but physically comitting the material to memory (a lot of rote learning is involved unfortunately). Like I said, I really like my course, but when it comes to studying, I just can't seem to get my attitude right. It seems to me that I'm avoiding getting down to work because there's just so much of it. Plus I don't feel like I'm being strict with myself this year at all, and I'm prone to procrastinate and take breaks a lot. I'm worried that I've lost my motivation altogether. Any advice/thoughts welcome.

echosound

You'll only end up feeling worse and worse the longer you avoid doing stuff, it'll all mount up into a huge obstacle and you won't be able to see the wood for the trees.
Is this your final year? if so, focus on the fact that you only have to give it one more big push and you have your qualification. Set yourself little tasks rather than panicking at the sheer volume you have to get through - say, right, I'll learn just this one page tonight, then if you get the one page down pat and are still feeling fresh, move on to the next, then congratulate yourself when you've gotten through maybe 10 that night. Set out what is vital that you need to get done ASAP, and get working on those important things you need to get done now, you can worry about the less important stuff once you'e conquered the things that are stressing you out worrying about getting them done in time.

It's only natural after a few years of study that you get a bit burnt out and lose focus, but concentrate on the fact that you've gotten yourself this far, and stop procrastinating and shut off all distractions, when you're in a silent room with nothing to do except stare at your books, you'll find you'll probably start taking it in easier. Even if you are reading over and over the same portions and feel like it's not sticking, you'd be surprised at how much you'll eventually retain if you read it often enough.

Any chance of setting up a study group with a few others who are having trouble keeping up with the pace this year? a bit of peer motivation might do the trick, and talking aloud about the stuff you are studying sometimes solidifies it in your head better than any private silent reading. Best of luck, and if you're finding it really difficult to handle the volume of work, talk to a lecturer and ask them for advice, they'd surely be able to give you some good pointers about the material and how to approach it. Don't be too hard on yourself either, as this can paralyse you and stop you from actually getting down to work, instead you end up sitting round with your head in your hands panicking about all you have to do and have not done yet. Put the past few weeks out of your mind, don't beat yourself up about slacking off, just make a decision to go "right, clean slate, tonight, I'm starting with X".