Problems with studying

[Guest EmotionDuck]

Hello!

 

I started university this year in a foreign country in a foreign language after 4 years of break from studying. I have problems with understanding what lectures are about, what to do and etc., which are mainly due to language and my zoning out.

As well, I have a problem with not able to start studying, because I haven't studied for 4 years straight. Before, when I was in school, I had terrible problems with procrastination and not doing h/w. Now it's even worse, since in uni you are all by yourself, no teacher will be on your neck. 

 

Do you have any suggestions how to start studying and being productive?? Stop procrastinating and zoning out? 

 

 

[Guest Littledreamer95]

I'm giving some tips here but mind that some might work, others not. All deppends of the person because we all are different, we all learn differently.

This said, try to realise what type of person and student you are: do you memorise well? Or are you more logical? Do you capture things better visually or maybe by hearing? Maybe by writing and repetition?

Knowing who you really are honestly is 50% done, because you can use that to create your own study methods. This will help you to study but without feeling frustrated and tired, because is something adjusted to you.

 

For classes and lectures: Notes , notes and notes! Doesn't have to be pretty either. Just write down anything and everything! Then at home when you can, read them and use a marker to select the real important stuff.

This is what I do to study for tests. Because you can collect all the notes with the important material, and is basicaly a summary of each lecture and class. This is specially useful if you have a shitty teacher (many tears were shed thanks to that tbh)

 

Since you're a little, embrace a bit of your little side with studies! Have a cute water bottle next to you for hydration, decorate your notebooks, buy super cute post its (some have heart shapes for example), and make a colection of colourful markers/liners for studying :3

 

My last tip (besides very good sleeping patterns and eating well) is do NOT over study!!! It's extremly counter productive. Study a bit everyday, make sure you have breaks in between. Do not pressure yourself, because your brain gets stressed and doesn't get the important info that it gets!

 

Hope I helped!

 

p.s- about the notes if lectures aren't enough, there's free PDF files online and even entire books that you can read to help you.

[Guest Sugarsnap]

Does your school have an online communication system? Like a place where your class assignments, power points, etc get uploaded? If yes, check those regularly. Class documents will give you an idea of what's going on.

 

Use a planner. I have an app on my phone to keep track of assignments and tests, while my physical planner tracks where I need to physically be and the time.

 

I treat homework like another class. I go to x location at y time and work on readings/assignments. If you find to-do lists helpful, this is the time to use one.

 

For paying attention in class, reduce distractions. I struggle more in classes where I use my laptop. However, sometimes using a notebook is just not possible or practical. This is more of a self-control thing.

 

If you are struggling with language, online dictionaries often have words of the day. Online flash card sites often have vocab words by subject (ex: chemistry vocab in French).

 

Making friends in your classes will help your language, give you people to study with, and make you feel more comfortable overall.

[VentralStriatum]

"We are all different and learn differently" is the most important part here. The best tips for you personally depend entirely on what you're like, what you're studying (since science is objective, you could more easily learn the same material in your native language online) and how big those language barriers are (just a few difficult words, or even a little struggle with the basics).

 

Clearly just being present at a lecture isn't working for you if you tend to zone out. It could help to embrace your little side or find other ways to stay present, but for some people, sitting at a lecture for 2 hours simply doesn't work. Some people stop procrastinating the moment they have a to-do list they can follow, others need a different structure. For me personally, it took me about 10 years of active trial & error before I got over my procrastination habits, especially when I had to do everything in my own time like you said. Making schedules didn't work because I'd focus all my time on making schedules. Every time I was ahead of schedule I'd stop working because I still had time left and I can only work with sufficient pressure, while every time I was behind on schedule I'd first reschedule everything.

 

So instead, I don't set times. Every day I take care of the mandatory short-term things in the morning to clear my mind. In the afternoon I start working on something that I most feel like doing among the goals that need my attention. I have to start at a particular time, but I have no end time. If it goes well and I get inspired, I keep going. Other days, it's just a pure struggle and I end up doing other things after a while. Mental energy doesn't really seem to follow the marathon format, it's more of short bursts of inspiration you ride out throughout the day. The best thing for me was to stimulate them naturally by clearing my mind, stimulating it by reading relevant topics, and allowing myself an opportunity to make the most of them. I also found it helped to set weekly goals that I absolutely promised myself to adhere to, so that I have the deadline that I need to have in my life to build enough stress to start working. But you have to make them sacred to work.

 

Good luck!