I’ve been in college for three years now and I still haven’t learned this valuable skill. I’ve tried buying planners, I use Google calendar, I’ve tried to write my agendas for the day on sticky notes and write out blocks of time in which I do stuff. I rely heavily on my reminder app for appointments (which does work). It’s all there, everything that’s coming up and everything I have to, organized all nice and neat.
But no matter what I do, when I sit down and try to work… I can’t concentrate. My mind wanders. I get bored easily. I’ve no motivation and then frustration kicks in. I’ve started to try the Pomodoro method. I’ve done it twice so far, and it worked for the first 2-3 rounds…but both times when I took my fourth “five” minute break, it turned into hours of procrastination. I wanna keep trying and not give up, but it’s just disheartening how difficult it is.
The thing is – I know I can concentrate, and for long periods of time at that. I’m a writer. I love writing, I love fiction, I love crafting stories and it’s something I always do in my spare time (I’ve a ton of personal projects I want to work on). Seriously, I’ve been able to sit for 5-8 hours drafting plots and fleshing out character documents without a sweat.
But academic essays, things that I need to be doing? Can’t do it. Fifteen minutes maybe if I’m lucky. It takes me forever to buckle down and even when I do, it’s a miserable time.
So yeah, I don’t understand. I feel like I’m trying to concentrate but it slips out of my grasp every time. It’s so frustrating because I know I have the time to get stuff done, but when I’m in that window of time, my brain will not cooperate. I’m tired of wasting time when I know I’m capable of getting stuff done. I’m tired of this needless stress. What am I doing wrong?
You are trying a lot, and have found a couple of small successes! Maybe try to build on those? Use Pomodoro but only for 3 segments.
I wish I had more advice. I think that today’s college generation has grown up with so many more handy distractions (phone, music, incoming alerts on computer, etc) that this could be a common issue. Are you removing all distractions? Putting your phone on silent and across the room? Have you discovered a time of day that you do better?
This sounds very, very familiar to me. Have you ever been tested for attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity)? Neurotesting may answer some questions about your processing and how you can’t seem to “beat” procrastination despite your best efforts.
Have you tried breaking down the task to be done into small pieces? When you have a sense of how many things need to be done, and can put a check next to each, it’s much more satisfying than just working for a set time. Another trick may be to find something interesting to you in any task. How would one of your favorite fictional characters write this academic essay?
@TS0104 Thanks for the reply! I’m so desperate, haha. Yeah, this is actually my first year trying Google Calendars, it’s easy to use and nice for me to layout my schedule but it’s not necessarily a motivator for me, lol. I want to keep trying with the Pomdoro method as well, I think you’re right and that I should adjust the number of rounds I do?
In terms of distractions like my phone, usually if I’m at my apartment I keep it in a separate room than the one I’m working in. If I’m it’s on me, I keep it on vibrate or do not disturb mode. Sometimes in the semester, when I know it’s getting problematic, I’ll delete all my social media apps.
In terms of time of day…I dunno. And I’ve tried to determine this as well. Honestly, though I feel like I work in random bursts of energy rather than a slow, steady pace, which gets frustrating at times.
@JenJenJenJen I haven’t. I don’t know if it runs in my family, either. Honestly… I feel like I have a lot of problems, lo. . My time in college hasn’t been the best. I suffered a lot of depression/anxiety my first two years and I’m still trying to manage it. I haven’t been clinically diagnosed with depression or anything like that, but I was suicidal (talked to people about this, and I’m currently in therapy at my school).
I just…I don’t like college lol, and I think that’s a lot of the reason why I find it hard to concentrate. Initially I’ll be interested in the topics in my classes but after 2-3 weeks I get bored again. It’s just hard trying to battle your inner demons. I feel like I should try and ask my therapist and discuss if I’m clinically anything, since I…god, it sounds so dramatic, haha, but I feel like there is something out of whack with me. Be it depression or ADD…I don’t know.
Nicollete, you don’t need to worry about sounding dramatic here, or “lol”-ing after talking about your current and ongoing issues. It’s okay to let yourself be scared of them, because they are scary, and letting yourself realize they’re scary and not shrugging them off with “haha”'s could help you get the help you need.
Genuine laughter is a beautiful expression of joy, but laughing as a way to bury tears isn’t a useful defense mechanism, long term.
Look, some people don’t like college, and some people would have liked college but they were too unhappy during those years to experience it the way they could have if they were able to. Please ask your therapist, assuming you have a trusting relationship with her or him, for a referral to a diagnostician. This means an actual PhD/MD psychiatrist, not a mental health counselor with a masters degree. Someone who can diagnose and prescribe. You will still be able to see your therapist for counseling, it isn’t a one-or-the-other situation.
Also, please know, @Nicolette223, that you are far, far from alone. Many college students feel exactly like you. You getting the help you need will help you help yourself be the successful and happy person you deserve to be. It’s not going to be next week, it’s a bit of a process, but it’s worth it. Right now, stop for a minute and close your eyes, and imagine yourself happy, laughing genuine mirthful laughter, and simply enjoying life.
Doesn’t that sound amazing? You deserve that feeling, and you can have it.
One of my kids is really good at rewarding herself when a task is done. So she finishes an essay, then takes a 15 minute social media break. She sets an alarm on when to get back to work, too.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with working in short bursts of energy, I’m also this way and that got me through grad school and a few good jobs. If they’re too short and far between, then you have a problem. Try to use the qualities you have in a constructive way instead of trying to suppress them.
Glad to hear that you have a therapist. I think you should definitely bring this up with them! It could be something chemical that can be corrected. Or maybe he/she would have some strategies for you to try. You’re doing a lot to try to solve the problem; I hope you are giving yourself credit for that. If you’ve found some success with phone reminders, keep at it. Even put something small on like “Work on assignment X for 15 minutes”. Or if calendar isn’t quite working, maybe because it only gives you a day, would it help to give yourself an actual timed deadline such as “10/6 Essay done by 4pm”
unfortunately, Adderall helps a lot with focus and time management. I say unfortunately because for my kid, he pretty much depends on it now. And winds up getting into bad habits like studying until 5am.
I would highly recommend the book by Cal Newport: “How To Become a Straight-A Student:
The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less”
It will help you with time management and how to be more efficient.
I’m sorry @all for some reason the site wasn’t letting me post responses yesterday. Said that a mod needed to look at them or something…potentially because I’m a new member and there’s stipulations? I don’t know.
@yucca10 I have tried that, yes. I’ve written specific things in my agenda, so instead of “work on essay”, I’d say, “Write intro paragraph and craft thesis statement for essay”. Or when I’m reading, I’ll try and negotiate with myself, “C’mon, Nicolette223, just read to the end of this paragraph? Please?”
Checklists are satisfying to check off, my problem because I dilly-dally a lot, it skews my schedule and I’ve only gotten one bullet point done.
And that’s an interesting idea with using my characters, haha. Never thought of that one.
@JenJenJenJen Thank you for your support. I can you right now my “hahas” and “lols” are habit, harmless, though not entirely out of the question for serving as defense mechanism as well. I laugh at myself a lot but I also put myself down a lot. I want to mention my issues to my therapist in my session this coming week, however. I hope it goes smoothly.
@intparent “She finishes an essay” - Yeah, no biggie, I guess LMAO. Great that your kid can do that, but pounding out an essay and only giving myself a 15 minute break at the end… It takes me days to write a (good) essay, so unfortunately I don’t know if that alone is the best method for me. I agree that a rewards system is beneficial, but definitely it’s tailored differently for everyone. I’ll see how I can adjust your points, though.
@TS0104 Thank you Kinda mentioned this to yucca above, but yeah, I’ve tried setting specific goals for myself…but it’s like when I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to do it. I get super stubborn with myself and then panic thoughts start looping in.
@ProfessorPlum168 I’ve heard a lot about Adderall… Sigh, isn’t there a way to do with WITHOUT drugs, lol? Smh. It sounds tempting but that’s the thing, I don’t wanna become dependent on a drug and have that screw with my head
@bopper I’ve heard about this book, I had a freshman seminar that talked about some of the points. Went and ordered it online yesterday
@titanchen Will definitely look over those articles when I’ve the time. I try to exercise 4 days a week, but I’ve been seriously off-track (doing none) these past two weeks with midterms and life stuff getting in the way.
Objectively, I know I’m full of it and that I still have the time - I do enjoy exercise, but I simply stress it’ll get in the way of my homework time.
I’d say overall, though, I eat healthy. I can list all the stuff I eat - kale, acai bowls, banana “nice” cream, chicken and eggs and spinach… I eat out once a month, twice at max. I’ve heard it all, “Eat and well exercise! That’ll cure your depression and make you full of energy! :D”. I think it does help for sure and I try my best to maintain it but it just sucks when you slip off track because then it screws everything up
Quickly browsed one point in the article, something mentioned points of energy in the day. I’ve actually taken quizzes to see if I’m more of a morning person or night owl and I fall in between… So yeah, haha.
Okay, so maybe she finishes a draft of an essay, or a page or two. Or does a full proofreading sweep. You are missing the point. Set goals for yourself that aren’t too huge. Give yourself a break or treat when you meet them. Set limits on the break and stick to them. But no one here can give you self discipline, honestly.
@intparent I…don’t think I missed your point? I literally said, “…definitely it’s tailored differently for everyone. I’ll see how I can adjust your points”. I interpreted your post to ultimately mean implementing a breaks/reward system, which is something I’ve tried in the past and have failed spectacularly at. So my quote I provided just now wasn’t meant to be a generic closing comment to you. I don’t want to seem ungrateful or anything like that for your input and time you give, so I hope you’re not getting that impression.
“no one here can give you self discipline, honestly”. I don’t expect that. What’s therapeutic for me, though, is to get all my thoughts and frustration written and have other people give me feedback and point out my shortcomings.
I’m not sure how you feel about supplements, but there are some well known ones such as Focus Factor that you could try. I don’t have any personal experience but I have read good reviews.
@TS0104 I haven’t heard of Focus Factor, but I’ve been looking into it. I’ve never really tried any supplement or medication, though I’m wondering now how beneficial it would be.
Kinda mentioned this to yucca above, but yeah, I’ve tried setting specific goals for myself…but it’s like when I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to do it. I get super stubborn with myself and then panic thoughts start looping in.