tips for staying focused?

[Muse600]

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What do you guys do?

This is targeted towards those that get tired easily/lose focus. Based on what I've read, I'd like to be able to cover everything in RxPrep within 3-4 weeks. But after an hour and 4 pages out of a book, I take longer, and longer breaks, and get stuck on page 5 after three hours from when I opened the book. Yeah, I suck, I know.

I only work 2 days/week, eat relatively well (indian diet; much variety and nutrient rich), workout 5-7 days/week for 1 hour, and sleep 7-9 hours/night.

My life's errands are the bare essentials to open up more time, I'm off caffeine (it would work for an hour or two, but then I'd crash and waste 2-3 hours daily), I try to go to a library or coffee shop, and I *try* to meet up with people to be an "active" study person because seeing them study makes me want to keep up! Unfortunately, I moved to a new state and only have 2-3 friends (that are on their own schedule anyways).

And unlike most people, stress and the fear of failing actually helps me to finish the material in a timely manner. So, sorry in advance to the positive, inspirational people that studied in 3 weeks and did awesome...you guys are a great motivator to many! but this is going to be a stressful thread for unintelligent people like me

 

[Bkobe7]

Adderall...just keep it legal 😀

 

[Dilaftin]

NAPLEX registration fee: $485

 

[Muse600]

ha, pretty sure I don't have ADHD, so no adderall for me

the cost is a good motivator...anyone else got anything?

 

[LearnerSharer]

Every morning, I do sample test questions for the subject that I will study. Naturally, I often can NOT answer the questions.

Then, I felt bad and I told myself that:
"Look, 3 years of pharmacy school and could not do the questions? It's time to read the book."

I get really motivated by questions that I can not answer.

Maybe such method motivates you, too. Seeing that I can not answer the questions really brings me to the table to find the answers.

 

[Muse600]

you know what? that's absolutely true...if I just "read" everything to study, I don't remember much and "feel" like I studied it all, when it's not well connected

questions definitely showcase my weaknesses and motivate me to go back and review...but so far I leave the questions until the end...maybe starting with a few will remind me that I don't know enough!

good stuff...keep the tips coming!

 

[Muse600]

Well...I'm stuck again...slept 7 hrs last night, had 2 waffles, a plate of rice in lentils/mixed veggies at 9:30 for breakfast, came to the library, studied from 10:30-2, did all the rxprep q's for htn, and took a 10 min walking break and snacked on a granola bar.

But now I don't want to do anything anymore...i could sit here for another 2 hours and barely get through 2 pages or just go through 10 pages and not absorb anything...wtf is wrong with me?

Any tips would be appreciated, thx!

 

[poda521]

I know how you feel. I've been studying from 12-9 M-R and 11-4 Fridays and weekends. It is a drag to keep yourself motivated.

I barely eat or drink. I come home and I am exhausted. Wednesday and Thursday I felt like a zombie, no brain activity whatsoever. I don't even remember driving home.

But starting yesterday, I'm studying a few chapters (4-5) a day, memorizing the crap outta them (MOA, doses, SEs, formulations, DIs, counseling points) and I'm done. When I say study, I mean I do active studying, not passive. I go to the library, get a room and talk outloud as if I'm teaching this information. It really helps. I used to just write things down on paper and memorize that way, but it's not helping for this.

Yesterday and today I knocked out BPH, ED, Migraines, Gout, Thyroid, Urinary Incontinence, GERD, PUD, Constipation/Diarrhea, Allergies, Hepatitis, Immunization, Cystic Fibrosis, and Transplants. And when I say I studied them, I mean I know every GD thing about those drugs. I couldn't say this 3 days ago when I "studied them". If anything, you're probably already comfortable with ID, HTN, Cholesterol, Diabetes. Make sure you know CF, Onco, HIV, and familiar with the chapter on antidotes. 2 antidote questions on NAPLEX from what I hear. I already got down HIV but its Onco thats killing me. I looked at it once and I'm just amazed at it all. It's gonna take quite a while to be OK with that topic.

RxPrep book is a lifesaver however. If I had to put in this many hours with my APHA book, I'd be SOL. Probably just reading words rather than remembering.

I gotta make sure I eat and drink though. I only eat breakfast (10am) and then I'm done eating for the rest of the day till around 930p.

 

[LearnerSharer]

Thalidomide? or Our GOOD MOTIVATION?

Please spend 5 minutes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQPmY4nIjVE&feature=related

Above is link to a Youtube video with title: "Man with no legs and arms - Inspiring story"
A story about Nick Vujicic.

Many people commented that his positive attitude woke up lots of us who are down.

You may get motivation from this.

Good luck.

 

[LearnerSharer]

You wrote:
"i could sit here for another 2 hours and barely get through 2 pages or just go through 10 pages and not absorb anything"
I just want to remind you what you often knew already:
We remember best if: we go from GENERAL To specific.
We remember best if: we go from GRAND VIEW To detailed view.
When we build a house, step 1: we add frame.
Then, we add wall.
Then, we paint.
Then, we move bed in.
Then, we hang pictures and all the little details.
So, how does it work in studying?
So, you seem not to remember ALL THE DETAILS.
If time permits, let's hold hand and BUILD THE FRAME,
Then, tomorrow, we come back, visit the frame, and then, ADD THE WALL.
Then, next day, we come back; visit the frame and the wall, then, ADD ALLTHE DETAILS.
If time permits, such method will fill our brains: 1 step at a time,eventually, you will have ALL THE DETAILS.
In summary, I am SURE you have the Frame already;
Today, try ADDING THE WALL.
Tomorrow, ADD THE DETAILS.

Also, when I am tired, I take a cool shower; not hot, not cold, just cool…I like cool water…Why?
Water magically COOLs DOWN my frustration and refreshes my energy level.
Try it sometimes, and let us know if water refreshes you so much that you sing in the shower.
It's cool. It worked. You should do it.

 

[Trakker]

the fear of failing should keep you motivated!

 

[Muse600]

Thanks everyone! I come back to this thread when I'm slowing down and it keeps me going!

It still takes me a long te to get through it, but studying daily seems to help to build my studying endurance. So doing 2 chapters per day is definitely within reach...hopefully in a couple weeks I can do even more. One of my friends kindly has offered to do an oral review on some days (like one hour per chapter) so that helps me to learn it, by saying it out loud, and forces me to finish material by a certain time.