What is a good way to suppress my emotions for a brief period of time?

Question

I often find myself extremely bored while studying.This causes my mind to wonder and I rarely get anything useful out of reading things, Even if I attempt to read multiple times over a period of days.

Is there any way to suppress my emotions for the time period I would be studying in? I'd rather not take any drugs for it so please don't name pills.

One thing I neglected to mention is that sometimes the work I'm doing reminds me of non-related situations that get my emotions going. Sometimes I remember a mistake I have made in the past or the frustration of not understanding something gets to me. These feelings are inevitable because the memories that cause them are brought to my mind by the work I am doing. Somethings are really hard for me to forget about so they keep me depressed or anxious for a really long time.

I need a technique so that when these memories come, I will not feel anything related to them. Otherwise I sometimes find myself depressed or even extraordinarily happy when I am studying. My thoughts then stay that way and I get nothing done.

Answer 1

Hi,
Suppression of feelings and getting bored in studies are two different things.
1) Suppression Of Feelings: It is concealing of ur emotions at certain time either temporarily or as a habit. If temporary, e.g. U are feeling angry and instead of over reacting , U take ur time to analyse the event ( being empathic) and then express ur feelings after a little a while in more consiced, concrete and logical way. This is very good habit and adds to personality ( although tough to develop). On the contrary, If u r in the habit of suppressing ur feelings concerning anything, it may lead to conflicts on unconscious level and U may be a victim of " misplaced anger" or hidden anger which can destroy ur personality and ur relationships. U may become easily irritable and excitable on little things and may not be aware of it that what is causing it.
2) Boring Study
U don't feel like to study or even if U study, ur mind is wandering and u think that study is boring.
Think about it again. Pre-occupation with any matter, present or of past, also lead to this state of mind. Question urself, what is the real problem. Do a little self-criticism. Is the subject too tough for U? Are u paying full attention to it? Do u have attitude for it? This will give u better understanding of ur situation. Then decide what to do.
Always remember if u r pretending that u r studying but not paying the full attention required, u will always find it hard and useless. So be honest with urself .
I hope U will find the answer.
With regards:

Answer 2

Maybe you could listen to music while reading. This gives you a little bit of something to listen to while reading. Unfortunately, sometimes this is more distracting for some people, and for others, they can't work without background noise.

I agree with the notecards. Write stuff down. Or, I know I can't read without a pen in my hand. That way I can underline stuff in the book, write notes in the margins, and keep my thoughts organized. This provides a bit of distraction from the reading while also getting work done.

Or, if you have the place to do it, try reading out loud. Yeah I know this feels dumb to do, but when I really need to focus, this is what I do.

And if you have the place to do it, you can exercise while reading. Such as if you have a stationary bike or a treadmill, you can read while running or riding. This again gives your body something else to do while your brain is concentrating on the reading.

Answer 3

ur emotions are not the problem. Boredom is not an
emotion, as such. It is an attitude of mind. It is the lazy
way of seeing the world. This is all a matter of self-
disciple and self-control. The world, and all the things
in it, only become interesting because you make it so.
It's not easy to make some things interesting, lord
knows, but you have to try. You have to make an effort,
and above all you have to focus. The mind is like a
muscle --> EXERCISE IT! :)

Answer 4

Well, I assume that you are having a lack of focus. I know you said no pills. What I am suggesting is not a drug though. It's a vitamin. It's called DHA. It help poeple by suppling them with the ability to focus threw the vitamins alot of us lack in our physical body. Vitamins are all natural an can sometime really help situation of the mental or physical body.

Answer 5

I too have had this problem while studying;you may have Attention Deficit Disorder.It's not your fault;you just have to work twice as hard as everyone else.To suppress your emotions naturally,try to concentrate on your work and focus less on other things.

Answer 6

I find that writing keys ideas in my own words as I study keeps my mind more focused. You need to think more to do this then you do when you just read.

Answer 7

As you are reading make 3X5 cards of the knowledge. This will interrupt your reading and give you something to do with your hands. Hope it helps......

Answer 8

Simply control your thoughts.