Trouble COncentrating and Sitting at Once Place

[ragda26]

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Does anyone have any tips for me because I cannot really sit donw at one place for more than 1hr and do MCAT problems. I can study college material but not the MCAT.....do you have any study habits that can help me concentrate better?


I want to stay in one place for around 3 hrs straight.....hows that possible?

Thanks,
ragda 😴

 

[drusier]

listen to music and give the cable to the TV to your mom

 

[karlin009]

I have the same problem. Even for my classes I can't sit for more than an hour... I need to move around and change environments. I have ADD and I'm off the adderall...makes me too "speedy". I've been taking Xenadrine 8 hour time release..I take one...and this stuff is so much better. It does not make you too hyper but gives you enough energy to motivate and concentrate. I am able to sit still for hours. I'm skinny so I'm not using it for anything other than energy.

As for study habits work up to it slowly. Make goals..ok study for an hour then build up. Relax!!! you have 7+ months to prepare. I'm listening to AO everyother night and reading the chapter bio and chem a few hours a week. Then Dec...fulltime

 

[MeowMix]

To start:
Work for an hour, take a SHORT break with a reward (snack, drink, whatever)
Work for another hour, take another SHORT break with reward
Work for third hour, quit for the day

It takes practice to get used to the long periods of focus. You will need this focus for the MCAT and for med school studying (not to mention 4-5 hour anatomy tests!).

 

[themadchemist]

I have trouble fousing during the reading/studying part. However, I can do problems for a much longer time because it's a more active and goal-oriented activity. I don't know, reading science material for long periods of time can just be excrutiating.

A good balance between reading (and trying to do so actively) and doing problems helps me.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Try working out before you sit down a review MCAT material. Get a nice, quiet spot with no distractions and focus.

Hard to do, but try.

 

[shad420w]

Well honestly, I had this problem too. I basically had to keep getting up and walking aroud. You should set goals for yourself for time periods. That was the BEST WAY for me to focus. I would keep getting up and calling friends, and this was even if I had the most quiet place in the library. It takes practice. Try settng yourself some goals within a time period, and adding pressure to it to make yourself concentrate. For instance, plan to do 4 passages in an hour. And keep trying till you hit that goal.

 

[ASDIC]

I used have this sort of "attention deficit disorder"...but I overcame it prior to the mcat following the simple steps:

1. Try to settle on a circadian rhythm. Try to wake up at the same time everyday (even weekends). I believe this is the most important thing to do to control your mind and body.

2. Stay away from audio and visual stimuli...like music and TV. There was a recent study that determined a large correlation between TV watching and ADD/ADHD in kids

3. Get enough sleep. I recommend atleast 8 hours. Lack of sleep can lead to stress, moodiness, inattention etc

4. Work out your body and brain. If you have the time, do some exercise and extra reading.

 

[rcd]

i am trying to get through the same type of thing. i'm a long distance runner, so i'm into the whole run a bit further then comfortable for you type of thing. in other words, push yourself to study more, and pat yourself on the back for doing it. your 'training' will reward you with greater endurance. that's how i'm doing it anyway... may sound stupid, but hey, whatever works.

 

[r_salis]

When I'm really desperate, I use a countdown timer while I'm studying. I set the one on my Palm to, say, 45 min, work like crazy for that 45 min, and then take a short brain break before I start over again. It sounds a little obsessive, but it really improves my concentration level.

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

try Shackles
I Have A Pair From "le Cherio"
The French Trader Ship
let Me Know..i Promise U Will Study In One Place
Keys Not Included ..pm Me

 

[drumming207]

Ok, I wasn't going to say anything, but----PLEASE STOP THE PIRATE MADNESS!

👎

 

[ASDIC]

They are coming out with this new movie called:

Pirates of the Carribbean and The Curse of the DieselPetrolGrl

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

Ok, I wasn't going to say anything, but----PLEASE STOP THE PIRATE MADNESS!

👎

then dont say anything
skullduggery!

OP you may want to find a seculded spot also..like the dungeons of me vessel
or try different time of the day..like when the 1st rays of the sun refract through the ocean blu'

 

[myodana]

find a study partner and a quiet place. then just go section by section and build up your endurance. it's a marathon, it is...

 

[Jack_Adam]

I have some advice that may or may not benefit you.

You say that you can sit and study college material. What do you mean by this? If you suggest that you can sit and study for your science courses, then I really can't understand why you wouldn't be able to study for the MCAT in the same manner.

Anyhow. My assumption would be that the reason you are premed is because you really enjoy studying the sciences and wish to become a fantastic doctor/researcher (if not, why are you wasting your time?). Take the enjoyment you get from studying the sciences and funnel it into your MCAT studying attitude - if that makes sense. Part of the problem, in my experience, has been the fact that people tend to focus on the idea of studying for the MCAT as opposed to studying to learn the information for their own long-term benefit. Don't think of yourself as studying for the MCAT, but instead, consider the fact that you really want to learn this information b/c it is interesting to learn. It's not for the MCAT, it's for you.

The MCAT is testing not just how well you've learned the information that's been throw at you over the course of your college career, but your ability to analyze and interpret data and information. Performing well on the MCAT comes not only from the information you've retained, but your interest in the material as well. How else do you expect to sit down in a 6 hour exam and read passage after passage of material based on concepts in physics, chem, orgo, and bio?

Hope this helps a bit!

 

[DieselPetrolGrl]

I have some advice that may or may not benefit you.

You say that you can sit and study college material. What do you mean by this? If you suggest that you can sit and study for your science courses, then I really can't understand why you wouldn't be able to study for the MCAT in the same manner.

Anyhow. My assumption would be that the reason you are premed is because you really enjoy studying the sciences and wish to become a fantastic doctor/researcher (if not, why are you wasting your time?). Take the enjoyment you get from studying the sciences and funnel it into your MCAT studying attitude - if that makes sense. Part of the problem, in my experience, has been the fact that people tend to focus on the idea of studying for the MCAT as opposed to studying to learn the information for their own long-term benefit. Don't think of yourself as studying for the MCAT, but instead, consider the fact that you really want to learn this information b/c it is interesting to learn. It's not for the MCAT, it's for you.

The MCAT is testing not just how well you've learned the information that's been throw at you over the course of your college career, but your ability to analyze and interpret data and information. Performing well on the MCAT comes not only from the information you've retained, but your interest in the material as well. How else do you expect to sit down in a 6 hour exam and read passage after passage of material based on concepts in physics, chem, orgo, and bio?

Hope this helps a bit!

i love the opening line
u go in my good book ...feel free to have a cookie 🙂

 

[Fed Meat]

This sounds like a motivational issue. You're either afraid of the MCAT or just don't want to take it. Convince yourself of the importance of this test. Make it a mission to prove to yourself that this is what you want to do with your life and realize that this studying will be essential. For me, just realizing how stiff competition was going to be upped my study levels.

For a grad program where I had what amounted to a fading interest, I felt a lot like you do. It wasn't going to affect my med school admissionsk and I didn't have the drive.

Also, study in the same, quiet place all the time. Preferably away from the library hotties, as they are inevitably a distraction that will lure you away from your studies and off to better things 😉

 

[terzian]

I wore sandals to the MCAT, and after a few hours I kicked off my shoes and sat with my feet tucked up for a while. Alternating sitting positions helped me concentrate, since I usually fidget after a few hours but did not want to distract my fellow test-takers.

 

[eldoctoraz]

there have been studies that have shown the human brain can only focus for 30 minutes at a time when doing ANY activity...I found that doing this with 1-2 minute "breaks" mixed in between really works

KARLIN009 - depending on how long you have been off your adderall, you might want to get your dosage checked to see if it is too much; i saw this ADD specialist that does all this computerized brain mapping and testing and he said that the typical dosage should be around 10 mg /day; i know exactly what you are talking about with the "speedy" feeling, but I switched to Adderall XR and i dont have that anymore; plus the extra dosages could cause anxiety; careful with that xenadrine stuff, cuz its dangerous and its not supposed to have the same effects as adderall

 

[RAwe]

I have some advice that may or may not benefit you.

You say that you can sit and study college material. What do you mean by this? If you suggest that you can sit and study for your science courses, then I really can't understand why you wouldn't be able to study for the MCAT in the same manner.

Anyhow. My assumption would be that the reason you are premed is because you really enjoy studying the sciences and wish to become a fantastic doctor/researcher (if not, why are you wasting your time?). Take the enjoyment you get from studying the sciences and funnel it into your MCAT studying attitude - if that makes sense. Part of the problem, in my experience, has been the fact that people tend to focus on the idea of studying for the MCAT as opposed to studying to learn the information for their own long-term benefit. Don't think of yourself as studying for the MCAT, but instead, consider the fact that you really want to learn this information b/c it is interesting to learn. It's not for the MCAT, it's for you.

The MCAT is testing not just how well you've learned the information that's been throw at you over the course of your college career, but your ability to analyze and interpret data and information. Performing well on the MCAT comes not only from the information you've retained, but your interest in the material as well. How else do you expect to sit down in a 6 hour exam and read passage after passage of material based on concepts in physics, chem, orgo, and bio?

Hope this helps a bit!

Nice post Jack adams!