Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Creating Self-Sustaining Momentum - Willpower (Self-discipline series)

Kaspian · 05-23-2007, 07:54 AM

I studied music in college, and one thing that helped me a lot was treating practicing like a class. My #1 rule was "Never skip class." This way, not only did I have consistent class notes, but I also always got in at least two hours on the horn outside of orchestra/band rehearsal time. A typical quarter/semester looked like this: 8:30 class, 9:30 practice, 10:30 class, 11:30 practice, eat while walking to class, 12:30 class, 1:30 work, 2:30 work, 3:30 rehearsal, 4:30 rehearsal. Busy, but effective. (I still had to study in the evenings, since work and rehearsals took up large chunks of time.)

You could do the same thing with study sessions in the library. Commit to being either in class or in the library studying for certain hours during the day, perhaps between 8am and 4pm. Treat it like a job. Don't skip. (Rule #1: Never skip class!)

Also, you might consider switching your focus every 20 minutes or so—20 minutes of math, 20 minutes of psychology, 20 minutes of math, etc. Apparently you remember things better if you don't pound away at them for long stretches, and you'll probably enjoy it better if you're not doing 3-hour marathon sessions of organic chemistry. Schedule breaks and time to eat, too, but keep them short and plan them ahead of time, not in a moment of weak willpower or distraction.

You could also find a study buddy for each class you’re taking. The two of you could agree to spend an hour per day together in the library. Schedule a specific time. Sometimes involving another person makes keeping the commitment easier.

Choosing to study in the library (instead of at home) and getting study buddies are both ways to alter your environment. Making 8am to 4pm your time for “school stuff only” is a matter of self discipline. Plan ahead of time what you will say to friends who want you to go hang out during your school-only time, something like, “I’d love to join you, but I need to go study. I’ll call you at 4pm and see if I can catch up.” If necessary, plan arguments to use on yourself, too.

A thought on self discipline: One thing I learned from being a polyphasic sleeper was this—frequently reinforcing my desire to change my habits makes the self discipline easier. Bursts of thinking/writing, “This is what I want to do, and here’s how I’m going to do it,” tended to last me 3-4 days. Recommit to your studying plan more often than that, like every morning.

One totally different suggestion: Make studying more fun. My brother LOVES rock climbing and doesn't really enjoy sitting still for long. His solution is to study at the rock climbing gym. He reads a paragraph, then climbs to the top of the wall once, reads another paragraph, does another climb, and so on. He says he's able to process the material better when he's moving, too.

05-23-2007, 07:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Kaspian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 501	I studied music in college, and one thing that helped me a lot was treating practicing like a class. My #1 rule was "Never skip class." This way, not only did I have consistent class notes, but I also always got in at least two hours on the horn outside of orchestra/band rehearsal time. A typical quarter/semester looked like this: 8:30 class, 9:30 practice, 10:30 class, 11:30 practice, eat while walking to class, 12:30 class, 1:30 work, 2:30 work, 3:30 rehearsal, 4:30 rehearsal. Busy, but effective. (I still had to study in the evenings, since work and rehearsals took up large chunks of time.) You could do the same thing with study sessions in the library. Commit to being either in class or in the library studying for certain hours during the day, perhaps between 8am and 4pm. Treat it like a job. Don't skip. (Rule #1: Never skip class!) Also, you might consider switching your focus every 20 minutes or so—20 minutes of math, 20 minutes of psychology, 20 minutes of math, etc. Apparently you remember things better if you don't pound away at them for long stretches, and you'll probably enjoy it better if you're not doing 3-hour marathon sessions of organic chemistry. Schedule breaks and time to eat, too, but keep them short and plan them ahead of time, not in a moment of weak willpower or distraction. You could also find a study buddy for each class you’re taking. The two of you could agree to spend an hour per day together in the library. Schedule a specific time. Sometimes involving another person makes keeping the commitment easier. Choosing to study in the library (instead of at home) and getting study buddies are both ways to alter your environment. Making 8am to 4pm your time for “school stuff only” is a matter of self discipline. Plan ahead of time what you will say to friends who want you to go hang out during your school-only time, something like, “I’d love to join you, but I need to go study. I’ll call you at 4pm and see if I can catch up.” If necessary, plan arguments to use on yourself, too. A thought on self discipline: One thing I learned from being a polyphasic sleeper was this—frequently reinforcing my desire to change my habits makes the self discipline easier. Bursts of thinking/writing, “This is what I want to do, and here’s how I’m going to do it,” tended to last me 3-4 days. *Recommit to your studying plan more often than that, like every morning.* One totally different suggestion: Make studying more fun. My brother LOVES rock climbing and doesn't really enjoy sitting still for long. His solution is to study at the rock climbing gym. He reads a paragraph, then climbs to the top of the wall once, reads another paragraph, does another climb, and so on. He says he's able to process the material better when he's moving, too.