Do you ever just have really unproductive study days?

[bumpy]

I seem to run into this problem kind of regularly...there are days when I'll get maybe a few hours of studying in but then run into a massive wall that makes me mostly unproductive for the rest of the day. I'll keep my laptop open with lecture material on it, but it's really just there to make me feel like I'm studying when I'm really not. I'm not exactly enjoying not studying, though, because I know I need to be hitting up the lecture material, but I can't really get on track and make myself absorb anymore of the really boring material. Anyone else ever run into this problem?

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[ljkeeper]

Nah thats never happened to me before. I always study like a well oiled machine 100% of the time. But for real though it happens to everyone at some point. When I find myself not being productive I take a break from studying and do something I enjoy for awhile than come back to studying with a new focus. It keeps me from getting burnt out I feel like as well. You just gotta recognize when you aren't being productive and take a break. There is no point in wasting your 4 hours staring at a screen and not learning anything.

 

[Newyawk]

Nah thats never happened to me before. I always study like a well oiled machine 100% of the time. But for real though it happens to everyone at some point. When I find myself not being productive I take a break from studying and do something I enjoy for awhile than come back to studying with a new focus. It keeps me from getting burnt out I feel like as well. You just gotta recognize when you aren't being productive and take a break. There is no point in wasting your 4 hours staring at a screen and not learning anything.

Second this. Ive found that if you use your break right (play sports for a few hours if thats your thing or watch a few episodes of tv etc) you actually are more productive. When you look back at what you accomplished that day you'll be happier. Also, you wont feel like crap for wasting 6 hours on the internet when you really shouldve been studying. The internet isnt productive but exercising/hanging with friends etc is.

90% productivity for 5 hours is equal to 45% productivity for 10. Use those other 5 hours and do something you enjoy/healthy

 

[GrignardsReagent]

Nah thats never happened to me before. I always study like a well oiled machine 100% of the time. But for real though it happens to everyone at some point. When I find myself not being productive I take a break from studying and do something I enjoy for awhile than come back to studying with a new focus. It keeps me from getting burnt out I feel like as well. You just gotta recognize when you aren't being productive and take a break. There is no point in wasting your 4 hours staring at a screen and not learning anything.

Very true. Seems to be getting worse as the semester is winding down.

Pomodoro has been helping me at least get something done.

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[ChrisMack390]

Breaks are NOT a waste of time.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Go hard on studying then go hard on enjoying break time. Sitting there without studying well and without relaxing well = hell.

 

[Robin-jay]

Breaks are NOT a waste of time.

They are by definition 😉

 

[Gurby]

Go hard on studying then go hard on enjoying break time. Sitting there without studying well and without relaxing well = hell.

I think this is the key. Recognize when you're not accomplishing anything, admit defeat, go do something you enjoy instead of sitting around refreshing reddit while thinking "I should be studying". Easier said than done of course...

 

[deleted707454]

Most of my days are unproductive... leading up to an exam. Then the fear kicks in and I cram. Get them mid 70s and take it and run.

 

[Coupd'Cat]

forcing myself to take short breaks every half hour or so helped keep the burnout at bay...for the most part

 

[kb1900]

Breaks are NOT a waste of time.

Realizing this made me 200% more efficient at studying.

4 hours of intense studying nonstop with days of fatigue/low productivity <<< 8 hours (9-5) with many breaks

 

[Moose A Moose]