I've got exams coming up but I'm struggling to get myself to study. Advice?

[lmfao]

I've got my A-Levels (which are exams) in 2 months from now, but I've been lacking motivation to study. I feel like I'm going crazy with boredom since I have to read through large amounts of information in textbooks in order to make my own notes. I find subject syllabus' to be annoying since they always simplify concepts to the point at which the material being taught is just sometimes factually wrong. I like studying maths and science when I'm free to go about learning these subjects in the ways I find most satisfying and fun. Studying for maths isn't as much an issue, as there isn't that much to learn. It's studying physics and chemistry which is the problem.

The problem is that for me to go to the university I want to for studying physics, I have to get really high grades, so winging the exams and just getting "good" grades wont be good enough.

I have to find the discipline to sift through lots of reading material and then be able to determine what the appropriate exam responses are (the determination of what an exam response is is not too difficult), since the definition you have to give for a scientific term in an exam will differ from the more accurate definition you'd get from Wikipedia. I'm not trying to sound arrogant here, this is simply the truth of the situation.

Here are my thoughts on what a solution for my situation might be: I have to focus all of my attention on taking in new concepts as accurately and quickly as possible so that the process of studying is less boring, since I will be exposed to more novelty. Of course, this will require motivation to get this process rolling.

I'm anxious about the situation I'm in but at the same time I'm so undisciplined that I get nothing done. It's a horrible feeling, since you are watching yourself fail and ruin your life when you know you can prevent it. 

 

Edited April 5, 2018 by lmfao

[KMB4222]

I forget where I heard this, but the person was saying that you need to think and act in the same motion. Too much thinking without action leads to more thinking, and then procrastination through strategizing and other deferral methods. It might be more beneficial in this case you think and act at the same time. Don't think about taking action, just take action to get started, and trust that you can plan your approach as you go along. 

If you don't find certain topics interesting, try to tie them to something you do find interesting in some way. For example, I don't enjoy business matters too much, but I do enjoy chess. So if I have to do something business-related I sometimes consider approaching it in a more "chess-like" way. 

Think of your favourite hobbies, and what you enjoy about them. Then try to approach studying physics and chemistry with these hobbies in mind. How do physics and chemistry tie into your hobbies? Can studying these enable you to enjoy your hobbies in a different way?

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[Joseph Maynor]

Can you fall in love with the process and get started right away?  

1.  What is the process?  Develop it.  

2.  How can I fall in love with this process?  Can I get competitive with it?  Can I turn it into a personal improvement thing?  

3.  Get started right away.  Do not let this turn into a last minute crisis.  

[sarapr]

Turn it into a game.

Really sit down and think about how it can be game and see each tiny bits of subjects you want to study as getting more scores and going to the next level . make the whole process a fun endeavour . it is only for two months . you won't get the chance to have so much fun with life again , make the most of it 

[Space]

@lmfao Try dividing your time into chunks/boxes. Set aside however long you need, 30 mins, an hour, 2 hours or whatever. Be very specific and set a timer for that amount of time. Then set an intention to work completely focused and uninterrupted for that period of time. Turn off, get rid of and move away from all distractions. Using time blocks makes doing the more grindy/boring tasks easier because you've given yourself a clear start and end point and all you have to think about is the actual work. It also means you've got clear break/rest periods.

Try to make a little bit of progress each day and eventually you'll have gotten through all the textbooks you need to read and study. Don't think about everything that you have to know before the exams because that'll just swamp your mind and make you much less likely to sit down and work. Focus on studying small sections at a time. Break it all up. This is the key. Break things up until they are manageable. Don't try thinking about the whole until the very end when you've studied all the parts.

If you ever find yourself completely unable to start working/studying due to lack of motivation, tell yourself just to do 5 minutes of the work. The hardest part is starting so by doing 5 minutes you eventually find yourself continuing on with the studying. Works every time.

Goodluck! You know you can do it.

Edited April 7, 2018 by Space