Motivational tips for studying at home?

Question

My computer & my cat draw my attention. I struggle to make time for studying, but finals are coming up. Any good study tips?
Don't say to get a study partner; we are all too far from each other to make that a reality.

Answer 1

Okay. Try these things, they seem to help me and my friends a lot.

-Go to your room and shut the door. Leave the cat outside, if its one of those cats that seem to knock or pat at your door, try to ignore it. Or if you are not distracted by music, play some to drown out the kitty. If your computer is in your room try to go into another room that has a door in which you are able to shut and keep out certain things.

Some studying tips:
-Note Cards!!! I know a lot of teachers, professors probably tell you to use note cards, but they really do help. Especially if you are doing soething with vocabulary.
If not them write down some main aspects of what it is you need to know on the note card and then try to remember them by going over them a million and one times. it really works. But if all else fails, make up questions about the topic you need to know about. And then on the flip side of the note card write the answer.
[only do it on the flip side if you are going to be asking yourself the questions. If someone else is going to do it for you, then write it below the question]

-An example: Q. What is the mans name who wrote the Declaration of Independence. A. Thomas Jefferson
[not sure if that is him but uh, i am pretty good at studying.]

-I would say a studying partner is a good idea also, but I did read what you wrote above. Yet, why couldn't you make a set day and tell your close uddies to stay after school that day with you? That way you guys wouldn't have to drive from place to place because you would all be right there after school.

- Sometimes when I have to know certain things for a test, like a set of rules, I would make up either some sort of rhyme or take the first letter of the words, put them all together and then try to remember each of them in that order. Then when it comes to taking the test I know what KCS means. [Kingdom, Class and Species. This would work for a test in Biology mainly, where they like to name alot of things different weird names.]

- take notes in class. When the teacher says "remember this", or "you may need to know this". Write It Down.

I know that most of these things you need to repeat to remember, or just the fact that you need to actually remember something is scary. For me it is. it takes me forever to remember things, but uh, it will end up helping if you just reread them over and over. Sounds stupid, but what can you do?

Answer 2

I'm not in college yet but I have learned from my own experiences. I had a 3.0 GPA after the first semester of freshman year in high school because I was lazy and refused to work more than the minimum I needed to get at least B minuses in my classes. This year (sophomore year), I realized that I'm the one that decides what my future will be like. I have gotten up and really started to get involved in school activities as well as actually STUDY my butt off for tests. My finals start tomorrow and it's the worst day of the whole week so I'm really hardcore reviewing right now. But just think about it. No motivation? Well, don't expect any A's. No studying? Expect that 3.1 GPA to either stay that way or drop. If you truly want to do well on these finals and pull up your borderline grades, start studying right NOW. If you cram you will REALLY REALLY regret it (as I've learned in the past). Cramming keeps you from achieving a good night's sleep and then guess what? The day of the finals comes up really quickly and you're too tired to focus on anything. What good would that do you? Stop being a lazy butt and start reviewing all your old tests, notes, lectures, etc. The later you start, the more you'll regret it. Some time to study is better than none. Please get going!! There's only this last week and you'll be done, but don't give up yet; finish the semester on a strong note. (: ........And good luck to all of us taking finals at the moment............

Answer 3

You are honestly going to have to learn how to motivate yourself. Turn off the computer when studying. Put the cat in another room.

Do you want to fail? Allow that to be your motivation. You don't want to have to unnecessarily do something more than once just because you couldn't concentrate. Eat a healthy meal prior to studying. Nothing that is too heavy, but enough where you won't be interrupted by the thought of hunger. Some people snack while they are studying, but I think that is a distraction in itself. Fruits and veges are the way to go - just eat before you hit the books. Drink water while you are studying. No caffeine or sugar-filled drinks.

Answer 4

MSN study partners aren't too bad - I have an agreement with my friend to check up on how each of us are doing every half hour or so. Any more than that and it becomes a distraction.

Try to incorporate your distractions into your studying. I will write out my notes, but search google images to illustrate them, or I'll take out my coloured pencils and draw out some of my lessons, since doodling is a bad distraction for me.

Keep off the television. Keep off the internet if that's a horrible distraction for you (like it is for me). Or, if you lose concentration, do 10 minutes of study, 5 of distraction. Make sure it's a distraction you can do in short bursts. No clicking on the TV to watch 5 minutes of it - that NEVER works! ;)

Make a study corner for yourself - a desk that faces a wall, or curtained off, with plenty of light, plenty of stuff to do with your hands if you're thinking, plenty of pens and nice paper and such so writing's not so boring, and lots of stuff to snack on (healthy, mind you - if I eat lots of carbs, I get totally distracted), and lots of liquids to keep yourself hydrated.

Also, I keep a trampoline and my Wii nearby - you need to take little breaks once in a while to move around. Find something to take a short break from sitting every once in a while.

Answer 5

Go to a room that your dog and cat don't have access to or just lock them out...and if you can't make time just think studying for a few months will be worth it because it could help you get a good job and a lifetime of financial security. Good luck!

Answer 6

Go sit in your favorite arm chair at home, or even find your favorite bookstore or library to study in. If your cellphone has a timer, set it for a certain amount of hours, and put it on vibrate, then back in your pocket. Put some classical music on your headset or--if you're at home--your stereo (it's been proven to help focus and determination). If you're at home, put your kitty in the garage or a seperate room. Make sure she has water, some food, and her litterbox. You might need to plan ahead earlier in the day.

I like to study at night. As weird as this may sound, I make my environment "scholarly" by lighting some candles and turning on Vivaldi or Bach. I sit in our "library" and pretend I'm some absolute genius or something who thrives on learning, and who would'nt want to do anything else. Strange as this sounds, it works for me.

If you make it a positive experience, you'll be bound to do it again.

Answer 7

separate yourself from all living creatures and all form of electronics/entertainment,

and sit there with the book your studying in your hands,

oh and dont get too comfortable.

you can take breaks often if you would like but not to long like 5-15 min tops

Answer 8

just think about whats going to happen if you dont turn off the tv or get off the computer and study. your going to fail and have to retake it. maybe that will motivate you. if you dont like to read alot just read in paragraphs write a sentece about each one and just read over your sentences instead of the whole thing.

p.s. girls like smart guys =]

Answer 9

The hardest part about anything especially things you don't want to do is getting started. That's what you have to key on and force yourself to do. Sit down and start.

Answer 10

i guess just blast some music in your Ipod and go into a room where nobody will bother you...

and just tell people that you cant hear them and they usually dont try to bother you...

oh and as for the computer...

unplug it and just leave

ahah easier said than done i know