Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - academics: how do you enjoy what you're studying?

rei · 10-26-2009, 06:30 PM

i will probably be following this thread as i would also enjoy suggestions for this issue.

to the OP: i understand what you're talking about. i don't know whether you are at the graduate or undergraduate level, but at the undergrad level the school expects you to want a 'well-rounded' education, which typically means you won't be naturally interested in every subject you take.

but you can generate interest. as someone said, you can link the topic to something you're already interested in. get creative with it... everything, and i mean everything, is connected. so you can look at making those connections more obvious to yourself.

another idea i have is actually a personal development option. you said:

"but i have studying (espcially math and science) so tied to pain and work that it stresses me out and i often lose concentration while working."

deciding a subject is not interesting or creating a connection to pain and effort is a form of attachment and an assumption. what was true in the past doesn't HAVE to be true now. you can shift your perspective. consciously release the assumption that studying is always a chore. make this shift into a game if that makes it easier... decide you will set a goal to study for just one less interesting subject and look at it as a valuable endeavor worthy of your time just because you signed up for the class. studying is only excessively like a chore or painful if you decide to see it that way.

i am taking a class this semester that i have no interest in: management of a non-profit organization. i don't want to be a manager and the format of the class (entirely online) leads me to find the subject even less interesting. but i have noticed the process of homework, assignments, etc. is so much more of a drag if i dread it, if i remind myself i don't like the topics or the format of the class. there are times when i set those beliefs aside and focus on learning the actual material, without my attachment (in the form of an attempt to avoid something i've labeled unpleasant). when i don't tell myself it's unpleasant, the whole process is more enjoyable and i probably learn better too because that attachment (wanting to avoid the activity) is a type of resistance. so it's the difference between trying to walk through mud and walking on one of those airport treadmills. i've provided my own experience here to show you that it really can make a difference to shift our perspective about learning.

also make sure you have scheduled time that is not related to academics. whether it's sports, arts, socializing, gaming, something you don't have to study for. this will be really valuable in avoiding burnout or keeping it from getting any worse as you shift your perspective.

good luck!

10-26-2009, 06:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
rei Family Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: earth, everywhere and nowhere Posts: 9,713	i will probably be following this thread as i would also enjoy suggestions for this issue. to the OP: i understand what you're talking about. i don't know whether you are at the graduate or undergraduate level, but at the undergrad level the school expects you to want a 'well-rounded' education, which typically means you won't be naturally interested in every subject you take. but you can generate interest. as someone said, you can link the topic to something you're already interested in. get creative with it... everything, and i mean everything, is connected. so you can look at making those connections more obvious to yourself. another idea i have is actually a personal development option. you said: "but i have studying (espcially math and science) so tied to pain and work that it stresses me out and i often lose concentration while working." deciding a subject is not interesting or creating a connection to pain and effort is a form of attachment and an assumption. what was true in the past doesn't HAVE to be true now. you can shift your perspective. consciously release the assumption that studying is always a chore. make this shift into a game if that makes it easier... decide you will set a goal to study for just one less interesting subject and look at it as a valuable endeavor worthy of your time just because you signed up for the class. studying is only excessively like a chore or painful if you decide to see it that way. i am taking a class this semester that i have no interest in: management of a non-profit organization. i don't want to be a manager and the format of the class (entirely online) leads me to find the subject even less interesting. but i have noticed the process of homework, assignments, etc. is so much more of a drag if i dread it, if i remind myself i don't like the topics or the format of the class. there are times when i set those beliefs aside and focus on learning the actual material, without my attachment (in the form of an attempt to avoid something i've labeled unpleasant). when i don't tell myself it's unpleasant, the whole process is more enjoyable and i probably learn better too because that attachment (wanting to avoid the activity) is a type of resistance. so it's the difference between trying to walk through mud and walking on one of those airport treadmills. i've provided my own experience here to show you that it really can make a difference to shift our perspective about learning. also make sure you have scheduled time that is not related to academics. whether it's sports, arts, socializing, gaming, something you don't have to study for. this will be really valuable in avoiding burnout or keeping it from getting any worse as you shift your perspective. good luck!