[rp 12]

Hello,

I hope everyone is doing well. I’ve been trying to pass this exams since last few years, but have been falling short at times and finding it difficult to stay motivated (also focussed). I just wanted to get couple tips/suggestions that can help me to get this accomplished.

1. How do you stay attentive/focussed while studying during a weekday and weekend to ensure we got good ‘quality’ studying done?

2. How do you stay motivated despite not seeing effective results?

Thanks in advance for your time and help.

Sincerely,
rp 12

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

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[Ana]

You read my mind. Been studying for almost two years and it's hard to stay focused. I get distracted easily especially since life around me has been put on hold for studying and some things need attention by now. I'd love to hear people's tips.
On the matter of staying motivated, keep your goal in mind and don't compare yourself to others. You never know how long this journey will take, 1 year, 18 months, 3 years, etc. but you have to want it bad enough to persevere until the end. Bottom line is you can do it, it's just are you willing to put up with the pain, misery, and everything else to get there.

[Recked]

I take frequent breaks. My mind can only focus for about 1-2 hours.
Know your limits.
Some days I'll try and try and try and eventually just puts the books away for the day and do something else.

[cleethree]

I agree with @ReckedRacing. Taking breaks is definitely key. Most minds can't take, process, and fully understand large amounts of information in one sit in. So it is best to cover a set of sections and take a break and then cover more sections.

I think everyone is different in how frequent/long they need to take breaks, but you should have a feeling of when you need one.

[M123]

A significant part of the solution for me solution was to get up early. I despise getting up early. Always been a late riser. But it certainly promotes focus because it's the ONLY reason to be up! I regularly got up 1.5 hours before my normal time and studied. Still studied at night but not at a back breaking level. Slept like a baby too.

Also – the 48 minutes on 12 off concept works great. I forget the term that is popular for that but it's the real deal.

[kay]

I schedule my days, and use the pomodoro method and set timers. The 25 mins the method recommends doesn't seem to be long enough so I do 45 mins with a 10-15 min break. No more then 3 cycles before I take a longer break to refresh. The key to this though is I eliminate all distractions during that 45 min session. My phone gets turned off, I use the bathroom before, I clear my head and for 45 mins I intentionally focus on learning and studying. This works for me instead of spending 4 hours studying and feeling like I didn't learn anything because I'm thinking about what's for dinner or my dogs barking, or work ext.. I eliminate distractions knowing all those things will still be there in 45 mins.
Hope this helps, it does me. I spend less time studying because when I do I'm focused on it only.

[ellejay]

I agree with most others here, study in shorter chunks of time. That seems to help me a lot. When you take breaks, make sure you get up and move around, change the scenery, get a snack, etc. Breaks shouldn't include surfing the web or getting on social media.
If I feel myself starting to space out then I take a longer break, maybe for an hour or so then return to studying, or if I can I stop for the day.

[Alex_84]

Hey, That happens don't worry. Try and connect with a Study partner or a Study group that will keep you motivated throughout also that can help you in making your regular boring study sessions more productive. Check StudyPal few of my friends have used it for finding study partner and that works

[Anonymous]

Paying for your NTS right away and scheduling your test before you start studying is great, because then you are on the clock! Most review course have a study planner-and you stick to it! I also agree about breaking it up. I i will listen to lectures while commuting, read a book on the train or do some MCQ, and look at that I have already studied for about an hour without even trying!

[Tim]

I do most of my studying at work. I can do some of it during the day but I will stay late a lot to get a few hours of studying in. Home is distraction city and that's just with me and my girlfriend and our pets there.

But, yeah, if studying at work isn't an option try going to a library or something where there is literally nothing else to do except study.

[TommyTheCat]

smoke lots of weed.

i kid i kid. For me having a crying baby in the other room and having to study at 9.30 once the kiddo is down and the household work is done is all the motivation i need…..i cant afford to be doing these exams in a year or two or three. life only gets busier and I cant imagine what it would be like trying to pass these exams with a second or third kid in the home.

My other motivation is thinking about the big raise once those initials follow my name. Those are my two motivations: my time and money made in exchange for my time. I encourage you to find out what motivates you, and build the exams around those motivators.

[Author]

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