How to tell myself it’s time to stop studying for the day
Been trying to stop study at 6pm but end up going to 7pm because I always end up an hour behind. How do I stop this?
Comments
I understand your problem, it’s something I’ve been through myself.
I find that I have a few methods. My first one is I write out a list of things I need to do for the next week or at least couple days and then I prioritise it. I will often do a couple hard tasks and a few easy ones so I can break up all my time and I often I find I finish all my task before the end of my study time. It allows me to do a few easy task or at least split the hard task.
My second method is probably more knowing when enough is enough, I’m not going to be able to put the quality of work that I would like into it if I keep going. That’s probably my biggest one, if my quality of work will diminish then it’s time to stop. That I just call it a day and come back the next day even if I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to
I will also have a set time and activity that means I have to stop. So mine in particular is dinner, I’m not allowed to go back to studying after dinner. That becomes my time and my relaxation. I will often use this time to prep for my next day. Whether it’s writing out another list or organising myself for errands I have to run but I’m not allowed to go back to my laptop and do anymore. I will also find if I think of something for an assignment I’ll keep a list of things in my notes app. I then will go back the next day with those notes and put them where necessary or write them out.
I hope this helps
Hey @AcidMonster55
It’s normal to occasionally spend more time on studying than planned. If you consistently going over by an hour, you might be trying to do too much. See if you can scale back the amount of work you’re trying to fit into a day. Remember you can always get back to it tomorrow. At 6pm, you could make a list of the things you have left to do and do an activity that signifies the end of the study day (for me that’s taking a shower). It might also be useful to track the amount of time you spend studying. That way you can be confident that you are spending enough time working.
Hi @AcidMonster55
I know this is not directly related to your question, but I use a Pomodoro timer to reduce burnout and frustration when I study. It is a study technique for time management, keeps me accountable, and allows me to take regular breaks, which makes me more efficient. This may help you keep to a schedule as well.
You can also get themed timers, like this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkmH9CsMqOo), which is Harry Potter. I really like it. It just makes studying slightly more interesting, hehe.
Hope you find a good strategy that works for you!!
Hey @AcidMonster55, thanks for reaching out!
It sounds like you’re having a hard time with over studying, I know one thing that works for me is I set my clock back during study hours - it tricks my brain into thinking I’m an hour behind! Then when I switch it back I finish on time. Give it a try it 😂
Prioritising tasks and learning how to reschedule them is also a super important skill to have. This video explains how to prioritise tasks based on importance:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Le1Ddqq1saI&pp=ygUacHJpb3JpdGlzaW5nIHRhc2tzIGZvciB1bmk%3D
Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to be behind!! Your mental and physical health is so much more important than studying and you can always catchup the next day.
Hey @AcidMonster55
Looks like you overwork yourself and it takes longer to get things done than what you estimate.
As you said, having a fix time can help but how to avoid going over it,
Is it like you don't get the satisfication in what you did?
Maybe breaking the study into tasks and finishing those tasks in a day, later rewarding yourself for it can help. For me, I don't follow any timetable, I just have a bunch of things I need to do and I try to finish it until I need a break. Depending on the subjects, Sometimes I am slow paced, mainly when we are learning something new. Later on, in revision we can be quicker.
May I ask what type of thoughts come to you such that you want to stop studying but you just can't?
Here I found a useful AI, I can chat to, from Linkedln's post. It is very helpful with asking us questions and helping us decide and prioritize in life.
Here is the link for the Whatsapp version of it.
