Exam revision motivation needed!

8383

My exams start next week and so far I have done very little revision for them. I just can't get motivated enough to do them!

Every time I try I just find myself bored and wander off to do something else.

Anyone got any ideas on how to get myself motivated to do some heavy revising??

Midget_Karen

Turn off your computer so you can't get too interested in MSE.
I'm halfway through my finals with another tomorrow, and still check MSE every couple of hours. It's bad for you!

8383

Thanks, but I've tried that and I just find something else to do!

highlighter

Well i was quite disciplined with my study/revision when it came to my uni exams, which isn't really like me. I found writing out a timetable of how much time i had to study for each subject everyday was helpful for me.

Are they A-levels or degree your revising for? Dony't be too hard on yourself i.e. thinking from when you get up til when you go to bed you should be revising. Always have a cut-off point which you can look forward too (then plan to do something e.g. meet mates in the pub-but dont drink too much lol).

rchddap1

In the old days I use to set myself time limits for revision, and then rewards if I did what I had planned. I also found it useful to find a quiet corner with little or no distractions (eg, no TV, computer, games etc...), but I did find it useful to have some music in the background.

Over time you will work out what works best for you. For some its a trip to the library, for others its music on full blast. Everyone is different.

I found having some short breaks very useful to stop myself from getting too bored. Eg, 1 hour revision, 15 - 30 mins 'play time'.

pavlovs_dog

im in the same boat!

the hardest thing is sitting down and getting started! but im very proud of myself for having made a start this morning. i find writing lists of what i want to cover motivating (i get a strange thrill from being able to cross things off)

just on a break for lunch/recharge me batteries, then im going back to it

find somewhwre you wont be disturbed, sit down with your books, a drink, something to munch on, and get started. stop making excuses, just do it.

pavlovs_dog

oooh and "heavy revising" ?! bad idea, you're putting yourself off before you even start, and setting yourself up for a fall. you dont eat an elephant in one sitting, you do it in chunks!

lots of small baby steps are whats needed!

declanmcc

I always used to think that it was just 1-2 weeks out of my whole year and then that I had the whole of the summer to relax after it. Regular breaks are advisable else your head will be fried with an overload of info. If the sun's shining - sit out with your books for a while. If there's a footy match on telly you want to watch or a soap you want to watch - go and watch it - as other guys have mentioned to you - timetable your study around these things and see these things as rewards for your hard study.

I may sound like an old man saying this - but the reward in the long run is career prospects. For just a llittle bit of effort every now and again during my studies - I'm sitting on a very healthy salary as a computer programmer while some mates who didn't put the effort in are sitting in call centres getting abuse down the phone - and some are sitting bored - like you are now - on the dole.

Haize

Never underestimate the power of rewriting things. This really depends on what subject you are studying, but if there are formulas, write them to a sheet with short explanations. For other things, just try to write a few summary sheets. This means if you do wander off and are feeling really unmotivated, you can just get your few sheets and spend five minutes reading them again. Five minutes is so short that even I can stay focussed, and at least you then feel like you've achieved something! That appears to be half the battle, because it's very difficult to concentrate when you're worrying about not being able to get anything done!

Do not under any circumstances allow yourself to clean or cook anything*, unless it is something that you would be doing even if you weren't revising. I tend to find that the minute I start to revise is when I notice that the bathroom needs an extra-good scrubbing, that bit of floor needs hoovering, etc. These are displacement activities, and the hours just drift past whilst you do things that you probably wouldn't do if it wasn't for the fact that you are putting off revising.

* Please don't starve. That's also bad for concentration. But during revision is NOT a good time to have a go at making a full roast dinner with all the trimmings

Chalky87

I think the fact that you're exams are starting soon should be motivation enough! However, I agree with the earlier comment of getting away from all distractions if possible, that is what I attempt to do sometimes it's very difficult revising at home when you have the TV, PS2 and the computer to contend with but once you get down to it I find that I'm ok then for an hour or so of solid revision, turn everything off and get yourself set up and then away you go!

Also I would try revising at the place you're going to be taking the exams or in the library at your school/college/uni always nice and quiet in there and no distractions, plus once your in then you feel you may as well stay in for a good few hours...well at least I do anyway.

Tar

CrazyChemist_2

I find trouble with concentrating on the boring stuff which I don't find interesting.

Any tips for getting through material which is soooooooo boring it makes you sleep?? Not that I don't like the course - it's just in the first year there is so much irrelevant stuff which seems to have nothing to do with my course.