How do people study?

[Shroom Man 777]

I am an utterly lazy bastard and I'm flunking my grades. I utterly don't know what to do, I'm too lazy and I'm not really all that fond of my course (nursing). I just sit around, do nothing. The harder subjects, I think I'm flunking.

What the fuck do I do? I just can't summon the will to actually study, unlike those people who actually study and get good grades. When I listen to the teacher blather on about force equals pie to the newton meter, or the molecular hydroionic whatnot bonds of protein molecules, I just zone out.

What the hell am I supposed to do? How do normal non-stupid people do this crap?

[RogueIce]

I am an utterly lazy bastard and I'm flunking my grades. I utterly don't know what to do, I'm too lazy and I'm not really all that fond of my course (nursing).

If you're not too found of nursing, why don't you just switch to something else? I knew when I first started that Engineering was not my thing, so I switched majors before digging myself into a hole.

[Ford Prefect]

I'm not really all that fond of my course (nursing).

Here's a main problem. If you can't engage the subject you're learning, then of course you'll find it difficult to pay attention and actually learn. As RogueIce suggests, change your course.

If you can't change your course, then the only advice I can give you is that you try and take notes in class. I never used to take notes in high school, but I decided that this year I'd actually try. I've found that I engage a whole lot better if actively taking notes.

[Bounty]

If you can't change your course, then the only advice I can give you is that you try and take notes in class. I never used to take notes in high school, but I decided that this year I'd actually try. I've found that I engage a whole lot better if actively taking notes.

In addition to this, never, ever assume your professor will distribute a complete, usable handbook. Always take notes in class, that way you'll have all the information, you'll know which parts of the material the professor likes to stress and you'll be forced to pay attention. As for studying itself, just get into a rhythm. Set aside a period of time for studying, take regular breaks, test yourself at set intervals and if possible, try to find someone in the same course you can study with.

Does your school have a student counselling department? They can often help you find a course that's better suited to you or give studying tips.

[Enforcer Talen]

As a rule, I take notes on everything I dont understand. It helps me keep it in my head.

Before a test, Ill get enough food/water/sleep, memorize the vocab words, be ready to answer the test questions, and dont panic.

[Teebs]

My favourite way of studying has always been to only listen vaguely during class time (assuming I'm not overly interested in the subject) and then learn the material using past exam papers. This of course only works if you have past exam papers, and works better if you have the answers to check your workings against as well.

[Prozac the Robert]

My favourite way of studying has always been to only listen vaguely during class time (assuming I'm not overly interested in the subject) and then learn the material using past exam papers. This of course only works if you have past exam papers, and works better if you have the answers to check your workings against as well.

I've had mixed success with that one. It depends a lot on the exams remaining similar, and there being enough past papers to look at. And if there is a new lecturer giving the course then all bets are off.

And of course, it's ok to only know bits that come up on exams if you just need to pass something, but if you need the knowledge later then it's not a very good strategy.

As for the OP, I'm not always a great student myself. I usually find I can make myself work when it becomes really necessary though.

One possible piece of advice is to try to spend a certain amount of time on campus every day. That way you don't have so many ways of wasting time available and work might happen.

[Shroom Man 777]

I've talked with Supes and, well, I think I've really got ADD. I mean, in class I always end up never paying attention and imagining robots and aliens and stuff. Pathologically lazy. Low self esteem. All that stuff.

Supes told me about the effects of medication and, well, I'm positively thrilled. Holy crap! Maybe I can get better

[Superman]

Right. Go talk to your doctor for a proper evaluation.

Lots of people tend to worry about their sense of creativity somehow being diminished by the effects of medication. The clinical evidence certainly shows otherwise; and so has my own experience. Before medication, I felt like I had a 56K modem between my brain and my life performance; and a cheap Radio Shack unit that would intermittently crap out at that... After the medication, it's like the modem has been replaced by a T3 connection.

It's worth mentioning that ADD'ers, like myself, don't choose to have these problems (as with any disorder). Look at shroom man's original post (assuming that this is his diagnosis); he doesn't know how to handle his issues, but he knows that they are a problem, and that they are causing him distress. I can relate. People who have ADD don't take some type of pleasure in being seemingly lazy, unorganized, hyped up, and impulsive. Most want to change this.

In fact, unlike people diagnosed with a personality disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, etc., people with ADD, as a whole, seem to have a strong willingness to go get treatment. As soon as they learn of a possibility for help, they jump on it. This is something you don't see often with other forms of psychopathology.

[Larz]

Must resist mean, cold, insensitive remarks... just the sleep dep trying to talk...

Anyway, I tend to read over the material and paraphrase it within a small black notebook that I carry with me (usually all the material for the next exam and preferably long before the exam happens.) So whenever I have free time I look over the paraphrased information and during class I find it a little easier to focus if I already have a base of the material right in front of me to help me follow along. You may also look into buying a decent recorder/camcorder and taping lectures so you can go back over them over and over again until you get it.

[Superman]

Must resist mean, cold, insensitive remarks... just the sleep dep trying to talk..

Hehe...

Since I rarely resist, I wouldn't exactly expect anyone else to do so...

[Trytostaydead]

I am an utterly lazy bastard and I'm flunking my grades. I utterly don't know what to do, I'm too lazy and I'm not really all that fond of my course (nursing). I just sit around, do nothing. The harder subjects, I think I'm flunking.

What the fuck do I do? I just can't summon the will to actually study, unlike those people who actually study and get good grades. When I listen to the teacher blather on about force equals pie to the newton meter, or the molecular hydroionic whatnot bonds of protein molecules, I just zone out.

What the hell am I supposed to do? How do normal non-stupid people do this crap?

First of all, the subject matter is DRY by itself. Almost no one enjoys it except for the few that will research in it or something later. But it's one of those things you have to get through.

I got through those types of classes just by brute force, which is what's required for a lot of the foundational stuff in medicine. I try to distance myself away from anything of distrction (unfortunately, my computer is absolutely necessary), crank open books and start reading, re-reading, and re-reading. It's also good to try to get yourself some form of practice questions with answers/explanations. You learn best by doing. And every so often engage in group studies where you can quiz the shit out of each other and feel belittled when you're put on the spot and don't know the answer. Write out on a pad the things you really don't know and put those as a priority to memorize.

Remember, while later you can put the knowledge together and make them dance (though 99% of the shit you'll never need again), to use it, it unfortunately requires the boringest of study methods, brute memorizing.

[CaptHawkeye]

I know how you feel,. I REALLY want to be a pilot. My instructor considers me one of his best students in the aircraft. Everyone i've ever flown with tells me I handle an aircraft like an extension of my body. Other then my first landing, i've never hit the runway hard. Landing is less challenging to me then parking a car. But, damnet, I just can't do that written work. The FAA knowledge tests drive me nuts, I hate those damn textbooks. I know I need to know them, but god, my mind just doesn't want to learn any of it!

[Trytostaydead]

I know how you feel,. I REALLY want to be a pilot. My instructor considers me one of his best students in the aircraft. Everyone i've ever flown with tells me I handle an aircraft like an extension of my body. Other then my first landing, i've never hit the runway hard. Landing is less challenging to me then parking a car. But, damnet, I just can't do that written work. The FAA knowledge tests drive me nuts, I hate those damn textbooks. I know I need to know them, but god, my mind just doesn't want to learn any of it!

We've come a long way since Chuck Yeager who barely had an education, where unfortunately natural talent just doesn't cut the cheese anymore in regards to the regulatory systems. Which is sad, since it cuts out those genius talents from ever being able to do what they were born to do.

[Darksider]

Shroom Man's problems seem exactly like the one's i've been having ever since I started college.

I have been diagnosed with ADHD ever since I was around six, and I think it's getting worse as I get older.

Does anyone else here know of a way to get ADD/ADHD under control without medication? I can't take meds for it because ADD medication seriously aggrivates my tourette's syndrome. I've finally decided to go back and see my nurologist again, but he can't fit me in his schedule for a while.

[Superman]

Does anyone else here know of a way to get ADD/ADHD under control without medication?

Psychotherapy has also been shown to be effective.

[CaptHawkeye]

Does anyone else here know of a way to get ADD/ADHD under control without medication?

Psychotherapy has also been shown to be effective.

Forgive my limited knowledge of the subject, but psychotherapy can solve chemical disorders?

[Trytostaydead]

Before we all jump on the ADD bandwagon, first, go see a doctor. ADD is often OVER-diagnosed, and used as a crutch/excuse. I don't know what you were talking to Supe about, but the vague descriptions from your original post can be a large number of things.

It seems like you're taking the basic science requirement classes, and yeah, they are incredibly boring, and most sane people will spend their class time thinking of naked women or counterstrike. Before you quickly look to medicate yourself, examine what you're doing wrong.

Not to be a dick, but maybe you just aren't academically disciplined or focused? Or the material really doesn't do anything for you to keep yourself concentrating.

[Metatwaddle]

Does anyone else here know of a way to get ADD/ADHD under control without medication? I can't take meds for it because ADD medication seriously aggrivates my tourette's syndrome. I've finally decided to go back and see my nurologist again, but he can't fit me in his schedule for a while.

Not to sound like a pharmaceutical company advertiser, but you may want to ask your doctor about Wellbutrin, which helps with ADD but isn't a stimulant. I hate the stimulants as well, though I don't have Tourette's. I'm in the process of switching to Wellbutrin now. It's a bit too early to say how well it's going.

I know you wanted non-medication alternatives, but I think Wellbutrin is actually different. I just don't know how well it will work. All I know is I really don't want to have to take Ritalin-type drugs every weekday for the rest of my life.

[Superman]

Before we all jump on the ADD bandwagon, first, go see a doctor.

Try, I merely suggested that this is a possibility, and that he should talk to his physician. We talked about about a possible history, and some things he and I have had in common.

ADD is often OVER-diagnosed, and used as a crutch/excuse. I don't know what you were talking to Supe about, but the vague descriptions from your original post can be a large number of things.

Right, you don't know what we talked about. Are you seriously suggesting he shouldn't seek help because ADD may be an over-diagnosed condition?

The reality is that when someone has a history of presenting symptoms, and struggles because of them, talking to people and seeking help is certainly appropriate. That's what he's doing. Maybe you are correct; perhaps something like bipolar disorder WOULD better account for his symptoms, but it takes a clinician to determine that.

[Shroom Man 777]

Bipolar?!

[Trytostaydead]

Right, you don't know what we talked about. Are you seriously suggesting he shouldn't seek help because ADD may be an over-diagnosed condition?

I didn't say that. I did say he should go consult a doctor. I also said I didn't know what you guys talked about, but based off of his OP and his follow up post, it was fairly vague and indicative of many things, not just ADD. I was saying that ADD is like a buzzword these days, and even physicians are guilty of quickly writing out prescriptions for it when it could very well be non-medically related problems.

Shroom in his OP talked about having trouble concentrating in his courses related to nursing (sounds like his physics and chemistry courses) and would rather spend his time thinking about fun stuff than those. That's a problem common to almost everyone who has to do those types of courseworks, and often times is not a problem of ADD but the material just doesn't give you a hard-on. I mean hell, in college I sat in the back and put my head down and slept in those classes.

It sounds like he's still taking his basic requirement courses and not gotten into the fun stuff of medicine yet, so yeah, it's really a rite of passage. While he should still go see a doctor, he should also look to see what he can improve in his studying habits as that could very well make a large difference as well.

[Trytostaydead]

Maybe you are correct; perhaps something like bipolar disorder WOULD better account for his symptoms, but it takes a clinician to determine that.

Christ, I would love to be bipolar, manic right now. All these goddamn contraindications and toxicities in pharm is killing me.

[brianeyci]

Do everything opposite of what you're doing right now.

That's right, it sounds crazy but sometimes people just need a change of routine. If you use the Internet for fun, disconnect the Internet for an entire month it doesn't kill you. If you sleep at 2 or 3 sleep at 10. If you go to bars and parties stay home and study. Conversely if you're a recluse get out more.

What does this have to do with studying. Absolutely nothing. But if what you're doing right now doesn't work, something has to change, and doing the same thing over and over will mean the same results. I don't mean to sound condescending when I say that, but you may get that consciously but not have that instinctively nailed. Human beings may be lazy fucking apes, but we're also habit machines, so if you set a routine somehow you'll quickly find you get used to it.

For university... don't try and be a hero, once that F is in your transcript it's there forever. Check out the drop date without academic penalty, and even if you have to waste money doing it, seriously consider dropping it and not having the course on your permanent record if your mark is so low you'd need a perfect final to pass. Going from D or F to A on the exam just to get a D final grade will not happen, ever and has never happened in the history of any course that's worth anything at all according to one math TA.

[Darksider]

Not to sound like a pharmaceutical company advertiser, but you may want to ask your doctor about Wellbutrin, which helps with ADD but isn't a stimulant. I hate the stimulants as well, though I don't have Tourette's. I'm in the process of switching to Wellbutrin now. It's a bit too early to say how well it's going.

I know you wanted non-medication alternatives, but I think Wellbutrin is actually different. I just don't know how well it will work. All I know is I really don't want to have to take Ritalin-type drugs every weekday for the rest of my life.

I remember taking Wellbutrin in jr. High. I'm not sure how effective it was. All I remember is that my nurologist took me off it (it was originally perscribed by a psychiatrist who the school had forced me to see due to disciplinary issues.)