What is the number one problem I face when I am studying?

I can't find a good place to study. I have to be in a school mind frame and do better when there are other people around me also studying. However, there is the risk of other people getting distracted and in turn distracting me. Maybe if I could build studying robots who would peer pressure me into studying without the risk of distraction...

What is the number one fear that I face when the word study comes in my head?

That I won't be able to fully learn what I am studying, whether at all or within the time constraint of an exam or a project.

I'm out of school now, but definitely face some of the same challenges in the working world, namely, procrastination. And as for fears, it's a combination of letting others down and not being able to succeed.

One word : PROCRASTINATION. I wish I could just swat it away

Great thread this one!

What is the number one problem I face when I am studying?

I'm a morning person and I study best in the morning. But I work full-time and am busy in the mornings on the weekend with the girls. The only time I have to study is the evenings, which is a flop because I'm too tired to read what is a pretty dry subject.

What is the number one fear that I face when the word study comes in my head?

Getting less than an A.. unfortunately.. it's not the grade but the admission to others that I got less than an A that I find challenging.

My course I am in now is really chilled so no fears there. I did just finish my last year of high school last year so I will base my post off that :)

1. My #1 problem with studying and school was my lack of motivation for sure, although I never saw the need to be motivated so its a bit strange

2. My #1 fear was everyone passing and me failing. I don't care about failure and bad grades but if I knew everyone else had made it. It was a very scary idea that people would know I failed

I am a Uni-Student and the pressure here is killing me. So I think my worst fear comes out only while looking at the huge syllabus. I cant complete them they are like never endingI dont know what to to.

As someone who just graduated from college I really find a lot of value in this thread! Thank you so much for creating something like this.

I often found my biggest fear at school was putting my best effort into something and not doing well. For example if I studied a lot for a test and didn't do well then I felt stupid whereas if I didn't study then I sort of had an excuse for why I didn't do well. In the end I stopped worrying so much about the end result and more about the process and things I learned along the way, that really helped!

I would say that my biggest fear is not being able to apply what I learn in practice, and forget what I learn.

Also:

- Being rejected/judged by fellow students

- Not making the right studies/orientation choice

- Not fulfilling my dreams because of motivation problems/short-term thinking (i.e: getting good grades instead of assimilating the knowledge in a lasting, in-depth way. Happens if I'm being demotivated about my studies: partying instead of studying → studying in last minute because in fear of getting bad grades → forgetting what I studied two weeks after the exam. Then I get 10/20 or 11/20 and feel bad about myself.) So I fear demotivation a lot.

- Having to find an internship. Sending CVs, taking phone calls, and so on.

What is that Number 1 Problem you face when you are studying?

Procrastination! I am one of those students that has an exceptionally clean and organized apartment the weeks before an exam or a paper is due.

What is that Number 1 Fear you Have when the word study comes in your head?

Not getting good grades. I want to do a PHD and for that you need to have really really good grades. If I fail at one class, it could mean that I can never reach my goals. So I am incredibly scared of failing to get the grades I need.

From a quick glance through the responses so far, it sounds like there are some common themes coming up. Higher level education is certainly stressful, because you're investing yourself for future opportunities. Although your goal is obviously success, the frustration and exhaustion of all the work can easily sink us into unproductive behaviors. Here's a few tips to get you back on track:

1) Manage your time and plan your schedule

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the assignments, tests, projects, etc. looming over your head. In fact, the quickest way to feel overwhelmed is through a lack of planning and time management, especially when it's all swirling around in your head at the same time.

What can you do?

- Use a planner - Whether it's an agenda or a smartphone app, write down your due dates. I personally suggest the smartphone option, because I like setting alerts for myself, but do what you're comfortable with.

- Break down your large tasks into smaller ones, and schedule those in as well - A huge project or test can seem too much to bother starting, but if you break it down into smaller parts, e.g. one chapter a week, it's a lot more manageable.

- Give yourself time to relax - If you don't want to start and you're feeling overwhelmed, that's fine. Give yourself time to get ready, e.g. an hour. Set an alarm and tell yourself, "I will give myself an hour to relax and get ready, but once that alarm goes off, I must start studying". Grab food. Take a nap. Go for a walk. Whatever. But once that alarm rings, it's time to get to work.

- Balance your school life with free time - The quickest way to burn out is to commit yourself 100% to studying. You're human! You need to relax and have fun, just like anyone else! If you find yourself having trouble making time for relaxation, feel free to schedule that into your calendar as well! Whether it's time for the gym, hang out with your friends, or something else, make time for it. But of course, prioritize study time first.

2) You're afraid of failure, or that you can't do a good enough job

I hear you. It's scary to think that there's so much riding on what you're doing, and it's just too much. Well the truth is that no matter how scary it is, you still have to get it done, because it will get you to your future goals. And if you don't start, it's just going to get worse and pile up. It has to start somewhere.

What can you do?

- Go back to my first tip, and plan your schedule out, especially breaking down the task into smaller bits. Congratulate yourself with a small reward, like a snack, after finishing each mini-task, take a 10 minute break, then get to the next mini-task.

- Remind yourself that your learning is why you're here. Nobody expects you to be perfect, including your professors. (And if anyone does expect you to be, *cough* parents *cough*, then that's simply unreasonable. What is reasonable to expect is that you apply yourself, and try your very best. Your goal is to learn the material, and that starts with just trying. The marks will come with the effort.

3) Lack of motivation

This one is harder to work on, and you might have to do some introspection. The question you need to figure out is why? Is it because of one of the above reasons? Or is it because you just don't enjoy what you're doing, and you don't think you could be happy with it in the long term? If it's the latter, read on...

What can you do?

- Remind yourself of why you want to do this - Once upon a time, you registered for this program for a reason. You had hopes for what you'd get out of it, and what you'd do with it. It might be a good time to remind yourself of that end goal. The struggles you're going through are just stepping stones towards that goal.

- Reflect on if this is just a temporary frustration or not - Everyone gets frustrated, especially around exam season, or before a huge project. This is normal. Sometimes, you might even question if this path is the right choice. Again, remember that there is an end goal that you really want, so relax, take a breath, and get back to it. Don't let this frustration get in the way of that end goal!

- What if you don't want that end goal anymore? - This is probably the toughest option. Is it just your frustration talking, or is this real? Think hard about what you want down the road, and if this education will help you get there. Sometimes it's a good idea to reflect and figure out if you'd rather go for a different path, e.g. different major. Don't make this decision lightly though. Talk with family and friends, and get their perspectives too.