#Studying tips

22 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

nova wadi
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I have a bad sense of time and ADHD so I forget to study a lot-
I just need some tips on sorting on multiple topics. (Around 20 ig)
Because my brain will never focus on that entirely.

craggy basin
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have you tried setting up timers
like to remind you to study at a certain time everyday?

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also if you could tell me what the topics are maybe i can help you?

nova wadi
craggy basin
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i..am not sure how to help you
but i am a uni student
and some of my courses have overlapping topics
basically i read the materials and if i see they share the same material
if they do, i just pick the side that makes more sense to me

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maybe start with doing a quick read of the topics you have so you have a better idea of how to group them?

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depending on the topic, the way you approach studying it is also different
so you can also sort them based on how you want to learn them
for example, math is more 'doing' so you can find exercise online to do
some science subjects are concept based and looking up videos online can help
and some are memorisation based, which is best to cut it down and revisit the material regularly

a more 'fun' way i would approach memorisation is to

  1. skim through the material (the first time you get it, can read it before the lesson)
  2. make up questions (pretend you are the teacher, make it challenging)/ make up stories related to the material
  3. after some time revisit your own questions and see what you get right and wrong, challenge yourself
  4. mark the questions you get wrong into a test and do it before you have exams so studying won't be unnecessary long
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i started doing it last semester so I can't guarantee that it works for you so you gotta try what works for you i suppose
but one thing that i think may help is that i share my made up questions with some of my friends
and they may point out some mistakes or find some questions particularly challenging, which makes me remember it better because then there is a story behind it that is beyond just me trying to memorise stuff

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what i say is rewarding is when i go to take my exam and i see some of my questions showing up on my actual paper
so it's pretty neat i would say

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also i generally toss the topics i am most confident in for the last
since i probably would do fine without studying them
whereas those i don't do as well I spent the most time on
so you can also sort them based on how bad you are at them
do a tierlist idk

nova wadi
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Heyyo
I have adhd aswell maybe i can help u lil

Create an environment where u are not feeling overwhelmed, where u can organized and have everything u need in the area ure sitting in.
U wanna avoid breaking focus once u have it so everything should have a place where u can kinda instinctively grab it from.
Before u wanna start u should clean up everything that u feel would distract u.
U should also have a clear mind (as far as it’s possible) so before u start try to write down any thought, idea etc.
have smth u can fidget with near u but only if yk that it wont distract u and rather support u in ur thinking process

Also planning before hand. To have goal in mind and writing it down can support u.
Make it as if u were preparing for travels and ure making a checklist of what to pack just that it is for ur studies.
U write down ur plan of what u wanna achieve even if its just reading a paragraph then u write down the time u’re thinking ull need to accomplish the task and the time u started with it. When uve finished the task u write down the time uve finished.
If u do that over a longer time period u kinda learn how u can estimate the time needed for a task (i think)
Plus ticking of tasks that uve finished can give u a sense of accomplishment which is making the body release serotonin. So the more u have the feeling that u can accomplish smth while studying the more joy (if u wanna call it that) is felt by the brain which will make it easier over time to get into studying.

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Idk if u have heard of it but there is some sort of ‘state’ in which adhd ppl r actually focused called hyperfocus.
U May or may nit have sometimes experienced staring at a single dot for a longer period of time. While u stare at it u realise how tho corners of ur vision r getting blurry or maybe even fully disappear.
Or that u were doing smth and suddenly the time has jumped to 6h after u started.
U kinda wanna teach the brain to start hyperfocus when ure studying (tho ofc it is not easy)

Also listening to white noise through headphones can help u calm ur mind down

Try building up some sort of system/ routine while u study. It is especially hard to get into a routine so if we wanna have a system that our brain can rely on then u have to be strict.
Ull realize that over time the system will become a habit

Try doing some sport before u study. With that u wanna achieve two things:
***- u wanna tire the body so that it moves less when ure calm

  • by doing sport u circulate the blood making more oxygen get through ur body which should make it easier to concentrate***
    U can also do this when u realize that u have stopped focusing.
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Now to the studying itself

Often it is frustrating to start which will make the brain wanna give up and do smth else
So what ure gonna do is ure gonna create some sort of build up.
Based on the subject that u are planning to study on
U wanna write down what u have to know in said subject. U can do this in form of a check list or in a list of contents.
Start from the top with one of the topic at a time.

Make a summary from that topic in ur own words
And then go deeper in to the matter.

Work with color, underlining etc. !

read stuff out loud

When u are repeating stuff try walking around to stimulate the body

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When u are getting bored or smth of that sort
Try to keep ur head engaged with little games.
For example imagine ure teaching what u are studying to a class.

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Also remember to not make urself too many goals for one day.
Start small with one little task and from there u build up.

U have to learn about ur own work load.
It is always great to have a big goal for the day but the more frustrating it is when u can’t actually achieve it.

**Remember to give urself breaks!! **
And study in intervals for example finish a segment in 30 min and then do a lil 5-15 min jogging. (In those 5-15 min do not attempt to study smth !)

The breaks after finishing a segment can help with processing the information that way the brain wont forget. Tho u have to see how u make those intervalls

nova wadi
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Thanks for the help. I'll try them out

craggy basin
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wish you the best buddy

nova wadi
turbid hound
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I would recommend getting a planner (online or a handwritten one) and sort all of the work for each period into separate spots..

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Then take that and note down due dates or star which assignments or task are due the next day (so they can be seen as important and what should be done first_

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from there ive learned to do a 20 minute work-time and then either a 15 to 20 minute break time, which allows you to walk around go for a quick jog use the bathroom or anything aside from doing work.

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Then repeat the process and if you are having issues focusing on the current assignment try switching to another maybe easier one to not overstress yourself! It's always okay to come back to an assignment later and try again if your having difficulties!