How do you focus?

[galaxyx]

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When I was younger, I got by on just being smart... If I took courses regularly with some association, I would just remember all the old material with the new. Being removed from previous coursework, it's hard to focus on just studying. How do you stick to a study plan and not get distracted or discouraged?

 

[CanIMakeIt]

When I was younger, I got by on just being smart... If I took courses regularly with some association, I would just remember all the old material with the new. Being removed from previous coursework, it's hard to focus on just studying. How do you stick to a study plan and not get distracted or discouraged?

Meditation and remembering why you are doing what you are going - eye on the final goal grasshopper.
Good Luck,

 

[silleme]

For me it's light to moderate cardio. I find that in the endorphin high that comes after even a small workout is enough to help me remember more information. I have zero time to squeeze out of my day, but if I want to retain information, I make sure to get 10-15 minutes on the elliptical at lunch and/or dinner to help out later in the day.
Edit: Oh....and I HATE working out, but the focus it gives me is amazing, so I suck it up. Can't wait til I get back home and can get back on a normal schedule and swim again.

 

[shahcoco]

When I was younger, I got by on just being smart... If I took courses regularly with some association, I would just remember all the old material with the new. Being removed from previous coursework, it's hard to focus on just studying. How do you stick to a study plan and not get distracted or discouraged?

I enjoy studying because I have study spots; different cafes and libraries. Studying only at home drives me nuts. I pick a different spot when I need a change, grab some caffeine and listen to classical music on 8tracks. It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something more when I'm studying, just because I'm out somewhere with other people.

 

[LUCPM]

For me it's light to moderate cardio. I find that in the endorphin high that comes after even a small workout is enough to help me remember more information. I have zero time to squeeze out of my day, but if I want to retain information, I make sure to get 10-15 minutes on the elliptical at lunch and/or dinner to help out later in the day.
Edit: Oh....and I HATE working out, but the focus it gives me is amazing, so I suck it up. Can't wait til I get back home and can get back on a normal schedule and swim again.

+1 and good night sleep.

 

[Gfliptastic]

This might not work for everyone, but it worked for me during Basic Sciences of med school.

A 1 hr playlist of personally-motivating music. My friend is a club DJ and he used to give me ~1hr sets of his music. And I trained myself to ONLY study when I would listen to it. Zone in. I mean, no bathroom breaks. Wifi off. Cel airplane mode. Just me, study materials, and the music. It was almost Zen. Total mind-body lol. Someone could bump into me and I wouldn't notice.

I did well in Basic Sciences and well on Step 1.

I understand some people use earplugs and need absolute silence, but for me silence is an almost uncontrollable variable by the time you write the Step. Better to be able to focus on your focus w/ distractions than to need utmost optimal conditions, right? That's just my aside. lol

 

[havenforangels]

When I was younger, I got by on just being smart... If I took courses regularly with some association, I would just remember all the old material with the new. Being removed from previous coursework, it's hard to focus on just studying. How do you stick to a study plan and not get distracted or discouraged?

Hmm.. well I guess it's beneficial to take breaks in between? For me, I like to study in a public place like a coffeeshop or something. I like the occasional distractions, and I don't fuss over getting distracted. In fact, when I see people working, moving, and talking all around, I feel all the more energized and tend to be more into the material at hand. On a side note, to avoid discouragement, it's all a matter of will and heart! You have to really want it to get over the setbacks.

P.S. Maybe the question is still too broad. Perhaps you might want to look into what type of you learning style you follow? (i.e. tactile, visual, auditory, etc.)

 

[kayak30]

Write down a study schedule for yourself on paper, writing things down helps you stick to it. Make sure to have water and snacks when you study. I also suggest exercise and meditation before breakfast and some walk or run in the afternoon (I simply walk my dog for 30-1hr).

 

[LMac]

I find it really helpful to decide which subjects I'm studying that day, how many hours to dedicate to each and then set my alarm on my phone for 50 minutes and study one subject. When it goes off I take a 10 minute break and repeat. I found time went by faster that way

 

[Kentobari]

When I was younger, I got by on just being smart... If I took courses regularly with some association, I would just remember all the old material with the new. Being removed from previous coursework, it's hard to focus on just studying. How do you stick to a study plan and not get distracted or discouraged?

This is why I visit the nontrad forum! I think we all have this problem...

I have one type of music which I try only to listen to when I'm trying to focus on something (baroque piano: think bach's well-tempered clavier). I try to trick my brain into associating this music with focus and study, so that when it comes on, my brain goes into study mode.

Also, knowing what you're studying helps. Sitting down to study without focus will get you nowhere. Knowing that ok, I'm sitting down right now to study cell respiration and I'm going to make flashcards of the substrates and reactions... Or I'm going to study stoichiometry, and am going to do practice problems. This helps. If you don't have a concrete idea and focus when you sit down to study, you won't be using your time effectively.

 

[ktgk]

I've found that as long as I go to class and do the assignments I'm almost guaranteed an A. With all that's going on in my life, it's hard to study more 10 to 15 hours a week, but I also know a couple non-trads who are willing to live on campus hours away from their families to limit distractions.

 

[galaxyx]

Yeah, coursework isn't really a problem. I can still do the "go to class, get an A" thing I did all through undergrad. It's more the studying for the mcat that causes a problem. I don't know how someone can study for 6-8 hours a day as per some of the schedules I've seen.
I've never been a sit in the corner and read by myself kind of person. I used to 'accidently" roll my pencil across the table and onto the floor just so I'd have to go pick it up even when I was in the 1st grade.

 

[Kentobari]

Yeah, coursework isn't really a problem. I can still do the "go to class, get an A" thing I did all through undergrad. It's more the studying for the mcat that causes a problem. I don't know how someone can study for 6-8 hours a day as per some of the schedules I've seen.
I've never been a sit in the corner and read by myself kind of person. I used to 'accidently" roll my pencil across the table and onto the floor just so I'd have to go pick it up even when I was in the 1st grade.

Personally I don't believe these 6-8 hour study people. Or if there are people who go overboard like this, they are younger students who are still in the cram-it-and-forget-it study mentality of college. We older (sorry, non-traditional students) have the advantage of having more self-knowledge, meaning we know how our mind works, etc.

Study smart. Don't set time limits for yourself, but be adept in being familliar with what the test looks like, the kinds of questions it asks, so you know how the knowledge is assessed. Then assess what you need to know, what you don't know yet, what you need to know better.

If you do this, then you will be more focused when you sit down to review concepts, and won't have to sit there for 6 hours just so you can say you sat there for 6 hours!

Of course, this is all unsubstantiated opinion. Good luck 🙂

 

[kayak30]

.

 

[kayak30]

Yeah, coursework isn't really a problem. I can still do the "go to class, get an A" thing I did all through undergrad. It's more the studying for the mcat that causes a problem. I don't know how someone can study for 6-8 hours a day as per some of the schedules I've seen.
I've never been a sit in the corner and read by myself kind of person. I used to 'accidently" roll my pencil across the table and onto the floor just so I'd have to go pick it up even when I was in the 1st grade.

I'm right there with you. I recently started studying for the MCAT and my Orgo 2 class (last pre req) before it starts in couple of weeks. Honestly, write down a plan that works best for you...break it up. For example I wake up exercise, meditate, eat breakfast or run to Starbucks and study for 2-3 hrs before taking another break to walk the dog or something...make sure to write it down and don't let yourself get up for the 2-3hrs, use a timer if you must, keep snacks nearby and don't forget to use the bathroom before 🙂! After lunch go back and study another few hours. Also, if you have a hard time 8+ study hours do the 4 or more month study plan of that works best for you...try different things! You never know what might work best until you try it. Best of luck!!

I should add you will need to adjust for work etc. I recently stopped working and only volunteering so that I can do this plan otherwise it would take me longer than a 4mo plan.