<p>I've been trying to study more recently.
I didn't have classes one day so I really sat down and tried to work hard, but my mind keeps wandering..it seems I can't focus too well.</p>
<p>I dont' have A.D.D. or anything, but it seems like for every few minutes I work on a problem, I look around, or quickly check some forum, etc. It goes without saying that its really hard for me to get a lot of work done when I'm working at that pace.</p>
<p>So can someone give me advice?
Do you get distracted often while working, and how to do you avoid it?
Is there a specific time of day its best to study?
Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Join the club! I think we all do have ADD because it just isn't normal. Try turning off the TV, putting in ear plugs, and taking some Adderall or Ritalin. Yum.</p>
<p>First, if "we all do have ADD", then it IS normal.
Second, I study on a regular basis. And I know drugging myself through college is not the way to success. Your post was a waste of bytes. Good day.</p>
<p>I find that working in another environment, such as the library, helps a lot. I really like the study area in the computer lab that I go to often. Something about the environment somehow takes away the lack of focus I might have.</p>
<p>Woah this thread is very relevant to my life.</p>
<p>Your post hit home, so I'll just assume you're in my situation - in which case, future posters, it doesn't help to reply with the usual assortment of answers, like studying in a studious place. I have literally sat in a library for the better part of a day, homework in hand, glancing up at random people passing by as if I were simply in front of my computer checking my email. Or perhaps I would gaze emptymindedly at the floor.</p>
<p>So no, changing the environment doesn't work for people with a severe problem. :(</p>
<p>there's a way to control this that i think works best. it's all about knowing yourself. it's easier to explain through examples. here's what i mean: for example say you constantly check websites or forums or look for videos online, and you know you do this all the time. the best way to combat that is by telling yourself, i will allow myself to do this every X minutes or so. another example, say you like to procrastinate and leave things to last minute. however when it comes time to do the work, you are dead tired, but yet you know you work best when procrastinating. a good way to deal with this, don't avoid procrastination, simply sleep before you write the paper. i know it may seem like odd advice but i can say it's worked for me at least.</p>
<p>i get easily distracted, but when it comes to crunch time, i know myself best. i know what i won't stop doing, and what i will have to sacrifice. it's just a matter of finding the best ways to get things done. so my advice to you, don't try to fight it. trying to become less distracted won't happen. deal with that already. just try to find a way so that you can still do your work between your distractions.</p>
<p>another thing you can try is to study with other people. although be careful, some people will make things worse, and distract you even more. personally i don't find changing environment helps. i get my best work done in my room and in bed. the library.....i visit it maybe 1-2 times a year when due to class related stuff like group studies or professors telling us to take out a movie or book.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
First, if "we all do have ADD", then it IS normal.
Second, I study on a regular basis. And I know drugging myself through college is not the way to success. Your post was a waste of bytes. Good day.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>It's okay. :) I forgive you; aggression is a symptom of ADD, as is being easily frustrated. As a health psychology student, I understand how this works. Trust me, just see a doctor; you will feel a lot better once you have all those yucky feelings under control sweetheart! The Ritalin works WONDERS!!!!!! :D</p>
<p>My apologies, NewStudent12, had I known you were a health psychology student, I would have instead said that your post was waste of the tubes and pipes which comprise the world wide web! Now i'm going to go and throw pillows against the wall until I figure out I can't keep my emotions under control.</p>
<p>NS12...what kind of health psych student advises people to pop meds to overcome focus problems as the first Tx?
Changes in environment are likely to help, as will things like getting enough sleep, good diet, etc. (basically, good overall health). Yes, medication may be necessary, but in most cases there are other ways of fixing the problem that do not involve nasty or even dangerous side effects.
If this is an ongoing issue, speaking with an academic advisor or someone in the school's counseling center may of assistance. Additionally, you (or others) may be abkle to find a way of solving the problem if you can figure out how your lack of focus might be beneficial to you (there has to be a reason why it is reinforcing you). Is it because it allows you to escape from (avoid) doing your homework (for awhile)? Or does not being focused, perhaps, help you not be so stressed out? If it's the former, can you find ways of making getting your homework done reinforcing (make it something you like to do -- e.g., reward yourself for finishing an assignment by a certain time -- and be consistent and contingent; that is, if you don't succeed, you forfeit the reward, no questions asked)?
(Btw, for NS12, that's an example of ABC Analysis and Functional Analysis of behavior...)</p>
<p>
[quote]
NS12...what kind of health psych student advises people to pop meds to overcome focus problems as the first Tx?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I was being sarcastic. Jesus, you guys really DO need some meds if you couldn't pick up on the sarcasm in my original post... Then I just took the overreactions I got from fatty and ran with it!</p>
<p>ABC? Affect, Behavior, Cognition?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Now i'm going to go and throw pillows against the wall until I figure out I can't keep my emotions under control.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Honey, that isn't constructive. Try the meds dear. :D</p>
<p>P.S. When I said "we all have ADD, it isn't normal," I meant that WE (college students) have abnormal attention problems (ADD) compared to the general population (hence, "not normal").</p>
<p>Have you tried studying away from a computer? I gave up studying in my room a long time ago because having a laptop within reach was too tempting...</p>
<p>If I have to pull a study session I go to my hall's study room in the middle of the night. I always work better at night and there is never anybody there. I also bring my laptop and play some movie I've seen a million times (such as a Disney movie... today I have Sound of Music- I can't study without movies!) that is either animated or some kind of musical (the key of being entertaining but no need to actually watch it). The movie is just distracting enough to keep me entertained while studying but not distracting enough where it hinders me.</p>
<p>Huh, I haven't really had a problem with that. My approach is pretty simple: pay attention in class and review after class so you already know most of the material. Come study time, all I have to do is review. To minimize distractions, simply designate study breaks so you are not tempted to be distracted when supposed to be studying. I've found that approach to work very well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I was being sarcastic. Jesus, you guys really DO need some meds if you couldn't pick up on the sarcasm in my original post... Then I just took the overreactions I got from fatty and ran with it!
[/quote]
Hah! If only there was medication people could use to fix their sarcasm radars.</p>
<p>Yau I love studying in the middle of the night except for the getting up for school part that comes later. :/</p>
<p>The truth is, I don't focus. This semester 90% of my work requires a word processor or internet research, so every 10 minutes I get distracted. I'll go look up a band and read their entire bio, I'll check what I missed on a forum (like this) or I'll even just stare at a blank screen! (for some reason electronic screens, like pc monitors, tv's etc. distract me no matter what is actually on the screen!) I've tried to go do a chunk of homework right after class, but someone in the apartment might be playing games and I'll get distracted and hang out with them, and then we'll get hungry and go eat and time just flies til its 11 or 12. So it seems I can only really get kicking late at night, but I'll be tired so I'll waste more time spacing out. The environment may be a factor, but the library closes at 10 or 11 and the only place on campus open 24/7 is the study lounge next to the dorm computer lab. I've been there a couple of times but surprisingly people will hang out or pass by that place even late at night, so there goes my productivity once again. Its 6:30 am, I've just finished gathering research for the rough draft of a major assignment so I could actually write it after my first class, which by the way has a quiz/test today. So I'll get about 3 hours of sleep for that. I'm going to an advisor as soon as I'm not busy procrastinating and rushing homework >:(</p>
