Really struggling with motivation

[DendWrite]

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First off I don't mean for this to be a medical advice thread. Here's the deal: lately I've been having a HUGE problem with getting motivated to study for a class. Literally, I go to class every day but I can't bring myself to open the book and sit down and read. For all of the exams I've had this semester (3 so far), I've put off studying until 10 or 11pm the night before. The thing is, I haven't done that bad (I got a B+ on all the exams). And, since they were only midterms, I can easily bring that up to an A.

I know this thread probably sounds really dumb. It's like, yeah, OK, so you can cram and get a decent grade, whatever, stop being a ******* and just study already.

Granted, I'm working 40 hrs. per week and taking 15 hrs, so the time that I -do- have available to study is limited. But I'm not even using that time.

I think a lot of it might be that I'm reconsidering the path I want to take (med school vs. md/phd or just a phd). But I still find it hard to bring myself to do any work outside of going to class and working at my job. I come home and sleep.

Have any of you had a similar situation and if so, what did you do to get out of it? Again, don't want it to be a medical advice thread, but if it is depression (which is very possible) then there won't be a quick fix, and I don't want to have to take a medical leave of absence and scrap the semester. So any tips as to how to get myself to work harder?

 

[twoinone]

maybe take a vacation for a week or so to recharge. sounds like you are burned out.

 

[12345a]

maybe take a vacation for a week or so to recharge. sounds like you are burned out.

true story

I unwind on the weekends. It's the only way I can stay at equilibrium. Study almost every weekday, golf on Saturday, and a little light reading on sunday night. Granted, I'm a premed pych major so I'd probably have 20% of the work med kids have.

find a schedule that is sustainable and works for you....

 

[Algophiliac]

What about for those of us who don't find taking a break helpful? Usually if I take a break, I can't make myself get back to work, thus escalating the entire situation for the worse.

For me, personally, the only motivation that works is getting out there and doing something productive, and it usually has to be something relating to healthcare or the medical field in general. Sometimes just reminding myself why I do what I do is important.

Hopefully one of these methods can work for you.

 

[BlueElmo]

I'm kind of same as well. Finding hard to stay motivated, this is my last semester. Maybe burned out.

 

[fastboyslim]

I'm kind of same as well. Finding hard to stay motivated, this is my last semester. Maybe burned out.

Same here: last year of school, applications already submitted, a little burnt.

 

[trep14]

I'm kind of same as well. Finding hard to stay motivated, this is my last semester. Maybe burned out.

True that. I've already been accepted to a D.O. medical school and am waiting to hear back from some M.D. schools, and now that I have been accepted, it is so hard to give a crap about school. I've already missed plenty of classes doing interviews and my grades are suffering. I mean, I'm not bombing the semester by any means, but our midterm grades were just released and as it stands today, I would have a 3.2, which is in sharp contrast to my past six semesters of college which were all 3.75+. I'm just hoping to get above a 3.0 this semester. At what point would a school rescind an acceptance?

 

[TexasPrincess]

First, catch up on your sleep and make sure you are taking your vitamins.

Here are some tips I use to get myself to study when I don't fee like it:

I bring my textbook to read when I know I only will have 2-5 minutes at a time to read (exp commute, waiting for someone/something, commercials, bathroom, etc). The time adds up.

I read before I go to bed when I have a hard time going to sleep.

I tell myself that if I can just read 2 pages, then I can go do fill in the blank (check sdn?)

I read around the material I need to read like the different colored boxes or anecdotes in my book.

You could try to tell yourself that before you go out or before you go to a class you will just read however many pages or for however many minutes. I guess I am suggesting breaking up your studying into pieces spread out over time instead of all at once. Use the last couple of days to cement the material before the test.

Maybe you are bored with books or teacher? Get the same material from a different author like Organic Chemistry for Dummies. I had some lousy teachers in college who definitely took the fun out of some really cool subjects.

It also sounds like you are just having a problem with that one class. Figure out why?

Good luck!

 

[BlueElmo]

True that. I've already been accepted to a D.O. medical school and am waiting to hear back from some M.D. schools, and now that I have been accepted, it is so hard to give a crap about school. I've already missed plenty of classes doing interviews and my grades are suffering. I mean, I'm not bombing the semester by any means, but our midterm grades were just released and as it stands today, I would have a 3.2, which is in sharp contrast to my past six semesters of college which were all 3.75+. I'm just hoping to get above a 3.0 this semester. At what point would a school rescind an acceptance?

dude, same here. I just don't give a crap anymore. Bad.

 

[CopToEM]

You don't mention it but I really suggest finding some kind of outlet. For a lot of people - it's working out. Something to separate you from the monotony of day to day classes.

You can only give one pursuit so much attention and you eventually have to find something to separate yourself from the game for the sake of staying in the game.

 

[URHere]

I've always had the same problem - I do well in school, but I just won't force myself to study on my own until I absolutely have two. If you're anything like me, one of two things will happen.

1) You'll keep pushing everything off to the last minute, and...nothing bad will happen. In that case, if you're doing well and you're happy, I think you should just leave well enough alone.

2) You'll get really frustrated and/or your grades will slip. If that happens, I suggest turning studying into a solid time committment. Join a study group (I bet you'll show up to meetings at set times) or put study time directly on your schedule. You sound like you have no problem keeping committments...you just need to turn studying into a committment.

 

[boaz]

... The thing is, I haven't done that bad (I got a B+ on all the exams) ...

Well, if the professors would have been nice enough to give you C's, then you would be nice and motivated .

 

[BlitzSleep]

Have any of you had a similar situation and if so, what did you do to get out of it?

I went through something like this. I changed my study environment. I absolutely hated being isolated in a library or my room, so I started going out to places to study. I study outside on nice days, at the hospital cafeteria on days that I volunteer, and the local restaurant that has wifi, good food, and free drink refills on days that I get out of class early enough to get a few hours of studying in.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

First off I don't mean for this to be a medical advice thread. Here's the deal: lately I've been having a HUGE problem with getting motivated to study for a class. Literally, I go to class every day but I can't bring myself to open the book and sit down and read. For all of the exams I've had this semester (3 so far), I've put off studying until 10 or 11pm the night before. The thing is, I haven't done that bad (I got a B+ on all the exams). And, since they were only midterms, I can easily bring that up to an A.

Granted, I'm working 40 hrs. per week and taking 15 hrs, so the time that I -do- have available to study is limited. But I'm not even using that time.

Have any of you had a similar situation and if so, what did you do to get out of it? Again, don't want it to be a medical advice thread, but if it is depression (which is very possible) then there won't be a quick fix, and I don't want to have to take a medical leave of absence and scrap the semester. So any tips as to how to get myself to work harder?

Ive been feeling the same way lately and i dont know why as well. I also work a lot. earlier in the semester it was full time as a tech in the ER( working mainly weekends 7pm-7am but one weeknight 7p-7a when school before and after which burnt me out) and also working as a firefighter (maybe 12-24 hrs a week tops). I currently went down to part time in the ER but i feel like every free hour i have i spend on just sleeping or laying in bed when i could earily be studying. I think my problem is is that i work at the hospital 7p-3am and dont get to sleep until 4am on those day(sometimes with school in the morning). I think this is really affecting my sleep pattern.

I think im gonna try what blitzSleep said and try a new study environment. I dont have any room in my house so i end up studying on my bed( which makes me want to relax or sleep) and i dont like studying at school cause i commute over an hour. I need to find a close library lol.

I feel you though. I thought i was the only one. im glad someone said something cause i felt so dumb about mentioning my lack of motivation on here due to fear of people telling me the same thing.

Good thing you are doing as well as you are right now, with some real studying im sure youll have plenty room improve. good luck

well im off to work lol