this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2024
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I'm a first-year university student. Right now, we're going over completely uninteresting topics that I’ve either already covered (or skipped) back in school. I have no motivation to complete the assignments because these subjects don’t interest me at all. I know that in the future there will be subjects I’ll enjoy, but for now, I’m stuck with all of this – and without any motivation.

As a result, I end up doing nothing all day, finding ways to distract myself just to avoid working on my university assignments. I don't like this at all because I’m not doing what I actually want to do. I "wait" until late at night, realizing I can’t procrastinate any longer, or I end up sacrificing sleep. It feels like a waste of time because I’m neither doing what I have to do nor what I want to do.

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[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 1 week ago

Anything worth doing is worth half assing. If you don’t feel like doing the assignment, sit down and start doing the work, but badly. Don’t check your work or self edit, for reading just skim it. No matter how badly you do it, it’s still going to be better than none of it being done.

Often just starting is enough to get you engaged and do better work. And if it’s not, well, half assed is better than nothing.

[–] pr06lefs@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Pomodoro technique. Basically set a timer to do work for 20 mins (or even 10 minutes), then take a break. Then do it again. Sometimes this can get you over the initial hurdle of getting started. Once you get into the task you may not want to take a break anymore.

A similar trick is if you think of something else to do that's timewasting, like posting on lemmy (lol), then its ok to do it - but only after working for 10 minutes. You can still do those things but prioritize getting something done first.

Another one: go to the library to work. Initially all you have to do is go, not do the task itself. Then you're there, and there's nothing to do except for work. This can turn into card games in the library cafe lol, but then you have to choose a less popular place.

[–] someoneFromInternet@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

pomodoro really good. Already tried it. And tried today(remembered) and I have some results. But it's not only about pomodoro. Thank you all, guys. Even if I know about most of all this tips - I just needed to hear it.

[–] GnuLinuxDude@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

If you have a Mac the free app Tomito in the App Store is a genuinely good pomodoro timer. There are plenty other options, even websites, but this one is my favorite so far.

[–] SorryforSmelling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

i failed out of uni so take my advice with a huge grain of salt. but its ok to fail or rescedule. as long as you persist ofc. I failed some class and the shame made me fail more. reality is pretty much everyone has parts of their studys that are boring or incredible hard. and pretty mich everyone fails some stuff. Just make a plan, figure out what made you fail last time (if it happends) and try to prevent that next time.

tl;dr: dont be like me. be open and honest to your friends, professors and family. and you will make it :)

[–] saigot@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

For my Wife the answer was medication because she has ADHD.

I hesitate to share my own strategy it was very effective for me, but I don't know if it's for everyone. What I found worked well for me was to integrate video games into my study routine. I would play CSGO, when you die in CSGO you are dead until the end of the round, and queue times are ~5-10min. Anytime I wasn't directly paying in the game I would study, and I would play very aggressively so I would be more likely to die early. After a game I would take a 20min study break then reenter the queue and study until the game started. It's not the most time efficient, but it didn't feel like work for me like that so I could do it all night. great for easy but long tasks.

Sometimes I would also play single player games on a slow harddrive and play during the loading but that is probably not as effective as it once was.

[–] someoneFromInternet@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

thx, I thought about it, but never tried. Maybe, I'll try it, playing in valorant :D.

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago

This is not great advice, but I just go the Shia Lebouf method. I just tell myself to "Just do it!". If I need to do something and there's no way around not doing it, then it's just a matter of time when that deadline happens and I'll be more stressed with cramming. So I might as well do it and get it over with.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

Ask about 'Independent Study' from your faculty adviser. If you don't have one, go to your Department head. If you don't have that, ask the Registrar.

Independent Study means you get to propose your own coursework and, if approved, get to do it and get credit for it. You still have to deal with faculty supervision but the subject is specific to you. Think about what you would love to learn and propose a way to get there.

[–] Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago

Make a list of all the tasks you need to do, pick the 'hardest' one first (psychologically hardest for you), and force yourself to just make a start, even if you tell yourself you'll just do 5 mins, it's usually easier to keep going longer once you make that start. Pomodoro technique, 25 mins focus, 5 min break to move about, works well for me.

I would also say be targeted. It's only first year at uni, depending on where you are studying it might not be that challenging or even important to you final degree. Make sure you know how you're being assessed, what the learning outcomes are, and if there's stuff that's new to you, or you're rusty on, spend time learning that. But for things you already know from school, it's fine to just dip in and out, do a bit to reassure yourself you know it well enough, then go socialise, get some exercise, do a hobby, join a student society. All those things are good for you, some can even look good on a CV, and it's likely you'll have to de-prioritise them a bit in later years of your degree, so enjoy the chance while it's there!

[–] eezeebee@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing and learn the hard way. Anyone can tell you to do your assignments, but until you fail the course and have to do it again the consequences might not seem real. Then you will really be kicking yourself for wasting even more time.