Making learning a self-discipline! | Kalvimalar - News

Making learning a self-discipline!- 15-Dec-2017

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STEP 1: REMOVE TEMPTATIONS

Self-discipline is the easiest when things that distract you from your studies are out of sight, out of earshot, and out the window, if necessary. If you find yourself tempted by external distractions like your cell phone, then by all means, turn the thing completely off.

STEP 2: EAT BRAIN FOOD BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before we ever sit down to study, we need to be sure to indulge in some brain foods like scrambled eggs, a little bit of dark chocolate, maybe even a jolt of caffeine to make sure that our glucose is steady enough to NOT drive us away from the learning we're trying to do.

STEP 3: DO AWAY WITH PERFECT TIMING

There is never a perfect time to begin studying for your test. The more time you give yourself the better off you will be, but if you sit around and wait for the perfect moment to start studying, you will be waiting the rest of your life. There will always be something more important than reviewing the Mathematics test questions.

STEP 4: GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

By giving yourself a break, definitely don't mean abandoning all self-discipline and settling down in front of the TV. Its scheduling mini breaks into your study session strategically. Set a watch or timer (not the phone - that's turned off) for 45 minutes. Then, force yourself to study for those 45 minutes, making sure that nothing interferes with your work. Then, at 45 minutes, take a scheduled 5 - 7 minute break. Use the bathroom, stretch your legs, grab some brain food, reorganize, and get back at it when the break is over.

STEP 5: GIVE YOURSELF REWARDS

Sometimes the answer to being self-disciplined lies in the quality of the reward you give yourself for exercising willpower. For many people, the practice of self-discipline is a reward in and of itself.

For others, especially those who are just trying to learn to have some willpower when studying, you will need something a little more tangible. So, set up a reward system.

STEP 6: START SMALL

Self-discipline is not a natural thing. Sure. Some people are more self-disciplined than others. They have the rare ability to say "no" to themselves when they want to say "yes". What you need to remember, however, is that self-discipline is a learned skill. Just like the ability to make a perfect free-throw with a high percentage of accuracy only comes after hours and hours on the court, self-discipline comes from repeated exercise of willpower.

Start by forcing yourself to study ("I have to" style) for just 10 straight minutes with 5 minute breaks in between. Then, once that becomes relatively easy, shoot for fifteen minutes. Keep increasing the time you manage self-discipline until you are able to focus for the full 45 minutes. Then, reward yourself with something and get back at it.