Study Prof

So far in this series (other posts in the series can be found at the bottom of this post) we’ve looked at six of the nine aspects that characterize what psychologists term the “flow” state; that conscious state of high concentration and focus where we lose all track of time and perform at peak levels. We’ve looked at ways to bring each of those aspects into our studies. What about those last three?

(7.) A sense of control. In order to really get into that high concentration groove you’ll need to feel like you are in control of your studying. That can be really tough if you feel overwhelmed. You may feel that there is just so much to do you don’t know where to start or that the material or task is too difficult. When that happens most of us are tempted to throw up our hands in disgust and go do something we can control, like changing the desktop background on our computer or improving our skills with a Q-tip. Here’s how you can quickly gain a sense of control over those daunting study tasks.

First, make a list of everything you have to do…

• Read 6 chapters in A Comprehensive History of Plastic Wrap
• Write 20 page research paper for Parasitic Statistics
• Catch up on last three weeks of practice problems for Testudinate Calculus

Next, rank the list items in order of importance. By importance, I mean which will cost you the most if it doesn’t get done. This is very important! It’s really tempting to do the less valuable but more doable.

1. Research paper for P. Stat.
2. Practice probs for T. Cal.
3. Rdg for Hist of Pl Wrp

Now, take that first one and break it down into a series of steps. Each step should take no more than one hour.

• Rsrch ppr for PStat
  • Find three references in library
  • Skim through first ref to ID relevant passages
  • Read important passages and take notes
  • Skim through second ref to ID relevant passages
  • Read and take notes
  • et cetera

Now, work through the steps one at a time. Once you complete a step, check it off your list. Bask in your sense of control.

What’s happening here? Doing an entire research paper is a mountainous insurmountable task that leaves us feeling helpless. But mountains are climbed one step at a time. By breaking it down into small tasks we turn Mount Research Paper into the simple step of finding three references in the library. We also have the added bonus of being able to check that item off our to-do list within the next hour or so. That’s a nice reward that will keep us coming back for more.

(8.) Flow activities are intrinsically rewarding, meaning we do them because we feel good when we do them. Think of your favorite activity–skiing, reading, mumblety-peg, whatever. You do it because you enjoy doing it, not because someone is paying you or rewarding you in some other way.

Yow! How can we make our studies intrinsically rewarding? It’s not as hard as you might think.

Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.

As you work on your studies in the next few days, you might read one of these 9 characteristics of flow and try applying it. Practice these consistently and you’ll soon find yourself so absorbed in your studies that you’ll be forgetting to eat and regretting the need for potty breaks. Write me and let me know how it’s going. That is, if you can tear yourself away from studies for long enough.

Be Sociable, Share!

•