Struggling with studies
Hey everyone, I'm Bunny.
I can't concentrate in class or on video lectures. I zone out, my mind starts thinking about other things, and it just wanders. It's really hard for me to keep my brain focused on the class or the video lecture.
I feel like everyone else can concentrate effortlessly, and I’m the only one who struggles with it.
Even reading books feels hard. I’ll be reading, but I don’t really understand what I’m reading. My mind is just moving through the words without grasping anything, even when I try to focus.
Solving sums is also tough. I can solve them, but I’m not fully mentally present while doing it. My mind is still drifting off, thinking about random things.
Does anyone else experience this? Has anything worked for you? Any tips on how to focus better?
Because I can't concentrate, I keep falling behind and end up with a lot of backlogs.
I also procrastinate a lot, and I think it's all connected, the main reason for this is my inability to focus. It frustrates me a lot.
Sometimes, I find it hard to even start studying because I know I’ll probably fail again. It’s really hard to try over and over when I don’t know how to focus.
I sometimes sit down to study, but then I end up procrastinating in the middle of it because I just can’t concentrate.
It feels so complicated and overwhelming. Please, if anyone has been through this or has any tips or advice, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks.
@reliablebunny23 i know what you're feeling, because currently I'm battling it too. due to social media, we've forgotten how to consume long-form content, basically things that are less vibrant and meant-to-be-addicting, if you get me?
the best you can start with is meditation, it would help tons! and be cautious on how you use your social media. push yourself to focus just a tiny bit more, and in no time it'll make a big difference.
@northernlights47 thank you
I've tried meditation before, but it didn't help :/
& I think things like these take a lot of time to work, but I don't have time ): I've board exams in a month.
@reliablebunny23 aww i understand. have you tried the five second rule? basically, when you get distracted, you could from 5 to 1 and get back to working. force yourself through the first 10 minutes, if you cant focus you do something to give you adrenaline (like jump 10 times and try again) it might be more helpful
@northernlights47 um, actually the major problem isn't distraction, it is 'not being able to concentrate'. My mind wanders to thoughts and I'm not paying attention even when I'm physically studying and not distracted by phone or anything else, but just not mentally present.
@reliablebunny23
Hi again bunny thanks for sharing all this 🤎I read all your comments so I understand your situation better, and I'll try to write you something useful.
@JaceWayland Thank you so much, it means a lot.
Hello, I'm sorry I got really busy and forgot💜
@JaceWayland It's okayy! (:
I opened 7cups after so many days and saw this notification & it made me feel a lil better & happy. Thankyou! (:
That's nice It made you feel better 😊 how have been?
Did you notice any change in your ability to concentrate?
@reliablebunny23
I'll try to send you a message by today or tomorrow night okay? I'm just telling you in case you don't open 7cups.
my boards exams are in almost 10 days and I've not studied anything, :/ despite trying, I'm not able to do anything..
i feel like I'm going to waste these 10 days also, :/
I want to score above 95 & score the highest at coaching ): i don't want to disappoint my parents, coaching teachers and myself :/
I'm just continuously wasting time.. how can someone be so irresponsible about studies? How can someone procrastinate as much as I do. i think i'm just so lazy. I keep making excuses to not study. I just don't have the habit to study. There are just a few days left till my exams start. Time is slipping from my hands. I'm scared of not scoring well & being disappointed& ashamed of myself :/
@reliablebunny23
Bunny🩵
Sorry for promising and not replying. My life has been quite busy, and I realized that a quick search wasn't enough at all.
While researching solutions, I was shocked to find that most focus strategies (like Pomodoro or “just remove distractions”) are designed for neurotypical people. There’s little structured guidance for those with severe attention struggles.
Cognitive science deeply studies attention, but the research stays academic. it’s not packaged into structured, easytofollow methods.
So people who have severe concentration try standard techniques, fail, and assume it's their fault. But the method itself was incomplete or flawed for their needs.
I tried to make something myself.
I first considered a modified Pomodoro (5 mins study, 2 mins break, gradually increasing). But when I tested it, it completely failed:
⏳ Lost track of time & got stuck in a cycle of constant resets.
❌ Brain never entered deep focus and kept getting interrupted before full engagement.
⬇️ Timers felt more meaningless the more I used them.
So i'm thinking of shifting to Tracking progress & focus resets, not just time spent, taking breaks when mentally exhausted, not on a fixed timer, and using time as a secondary metric tracked but not the main driver.
Please don't blame yourself! You're not lazy or irresponsible, you just need to find the right methods that work for you.
I don't wanna make promises again, but if I come up with something I will message you.
I really really wish you goodluck!!🩵
Keep us updated :)
@JaceWayland
It's okay! And thank you so much!💙
It's true just removing distractions or pomodoro doesn't work for me like it does for others.
No matter how many times I tell myself to study for 25 minutes without getting zoned out, letting my mind wander, & being distracted. I just can't do it. It feels like it is out of my control.
But from a few days I've been trying to study and I've made a little bit of progress. ( very little but i think it still counts )
It's not like I'm not procrastinating at all.
I'm doing it, a lot, but I'm studying late night & I'm trying to study on a table and chair.
I'm spending too much time on a very less amount of work. Like I watched a 1 hr 35 minutes lecture in around 3-4 hours. Even when I watched it on 1.5x speed. Ik It's a lot.🥲
I was getting zoned out again and again while watching the video lecture, my mind wandered so much, so I had to rewind it again and again. That's why it took me so much of time to watch it.
And the next day I watched another video lectures. It took me a lot of time to watch them too, afterwards, I read and learnt a few pages from my textbook, i spent almost 1 hour reading just a few pages. But maybe practice will improve my concentration level. Tho I'm still worried because I don't have that much time to improve my concentration level, i need to complete my syllabus before exams begin.🥲
And then yesterday, I watched another video lecture. And I found it so interesting. Again it took me a lot of time to watch it but it was interesting.
(Sorry if I wrote too much)
Thankyou so much again! 🤍
@reliablebunny23]
hey friendo it's gonna be okay 💗 im sorry been a while since we talked, i miss you so so muchhh 🫂
@Phoenix1234theythem
Thank you sm!! Phoenix! ⊂(・﹏・⊂)
I miss you a lot too.🤍💙(╥﹏╥)
@reliablebunny23
🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
are you in rooms much? n if so, when? :)
@Phoenix1234theythem no, I'm not active in rooms because of studies & some other things. ):
even I rarely open cups now.
🥲
@reliablebunny23
aww :( good luck with the studies btww, please lets stay in touch ilysm friendo 💗
@Phoenix1234theythem
thank you phoenix!💙
ilysm too 🫂🤍
We can try to stay in touch on our old forums. (The ones you mentioned me in)
@reliablebunny23
Hii, how is studying going for you?
@JaceWayland not too bad, but I'm still scared it's my first exam day after tommorow 🥲..
And i have to complete so many chapters and practice questions as well.
I want to score really good. But what if I just waste my time and don't complete these chapters🥲.
Time is really less but I've to study a lot. 🥲
@reliablebunny23
Bunny, you’re seriously underestimating yourself! You’re sitting down and preparing for exams despite everything, and you’re still trying your best. You haven’t given up, and that’s really really great!
The struggles you’re facing with studying won’t last forever—especially since you take things seriously. But let’s leave this for after the exams.
Believe in yourself....You’re capable!
Wishing you the best of luck! 🩵
@JaceWayland Thankyou so much! (╥﹏╥) ❤️
@reliablebunny23
Feel free to message me in this thread here if you’re stuck on anything while studying—I’ve tutored students in grades 9-12, especially in Math, English, and Physics. You can send the pages you're stuck in for example using imjur, and I'll reply asap.
Even if it’s not a specific question—if you feel distracted, stuck, or don’t know what to do, you can message me here in this thread, and I’ll help however I can.
Only 1 or 2 days left—you got this! 💪💪
@JaceWayland Thankyou so much! (╥﹏╥) 💙
I think I've overthinked a lot that I can't concentrate,.. and that's why it has become more difficult for me to concentrate, because everytime i try to pay attention in class or on video lecture, the first thing that comes in my mind is " I won't be able to concentrate"& then I try to force concentration instead of just paying attention normally. 🥲.. idk if I'm still overthinking or if i was overthinking before. But I feel I'm dumb to make problems for my own self.. it's been a year that I've not been able to concentrate in classes and video lectures, and idk if it's because i was just overthinking or if i was actually not able to concentrate.. but now it feels like, half of my brain is always thinking that I won't be able to concentrate, which is the real reason behind me not being able to concentrate.. :/
As my concentration was not always like this. I could pay attention earlier and understand everything easily. I think I've just overthinked and made a problem for myself for no reason.
But now I can't come out of this loop.
Everytime i try to pay attention i just know i can't.
Maybe that's why no tip or suggestion ever helped me to concentrate.
:/
I wish I could just forget that I ever thought i can't concentrate...
🥲
Are u getting me? :/
I feel stuck in these thoughts. How do I pay attention while thinking all this. :/
@reliablebunny23
Hi bunny! How have you been?
Absolutely, I understand completely and you’re not alone.
When you think, “I won’t be able to concentrate” , your brain perceives this as a threat (like a someone chasing you!). It floods your body with cortisol and adrenaline.
This puts your brain in fightorflight mode, shutting down your prefrontal cortex (the part needed for attention).
So Your fear of not concentrating literally blocks your ability to concentrate instead of helping you concentrate.
So instead of thinking "I need to concentrate" when the teacher is talking, get straight into action! Just a small easy action.
Like "open the notebook"
EVEN if you don't understand anything, or you're not sure what to do. Open a scratch notebook, and write 1 word related to what the teacher is saying. Example if the teacher is talking about ww1, write "alliances".
be engaged in lectures when the teacher is talking don't just listen passively.
✅ Write anything you remember in simple words.
✅ Use quick symbols instead of full sentences.
✅ Add small ❓ marks next to things you don’t understand.
I wrote you an example of worse case scenarios of what the teacher might be saying.
You don't have to understand everything right away! Just writing ANYTHING you understand or remember of what she's saying and any questions you have quickly using symbols.
@JaceWayland
Thank you so so much! 🥹
@reliablebunny23
Bunny, it's ok! There's no magic that makes someone unable to concentrate. There are always underlying causes, and they all have solutions!
I can't promise to solve the problem instantly, but one thing is as true as the sun rising everyday: we can definitely work towards it and make progress!
What's important is not to get stuck on what isn't working, but to keep moving forward and making sure your efforts are actually helping you in the right way.
If it doesn’t work once, or twice, or even 100 times—that’s not failure, that’s a step toward success.
Every effort matters. And you seem like someone who truly cares about improving and studying, so I’m sure that with time and the right approach, you'll get there. 😊
And I’m saying this not just about concentration, but about studying, learning, and actually getting better at things.
It’s not about forcing yourself to focus—it’s about making things easier to understand so focus happens naturally.
It’s not about just memorizing—it’s about knowing how to use what you learn.
It’s not about trying harder—it’s about trying smarter.
Because when studying makes sense, everything else follows.
@reliablebunny23
This applies to life in general, not just studying.
Every effort matters, and what’s important is to work smart, not just hard.
It’s not just about pushing yourself—it’s about finding the right way to do things so progress actually happens..
@reliablebunny23
1️⃣ Are you caught up with the pace of school?
(Most important question!)
- Do you understand all the concepts previously explained, or do you feel behind?
2️⃣ How do you usually study?
- Do you take notes, solve practice problems, or just reread textbooks?
(This helps me understand if you have study methods or if you’re just passively reviewing.)
3️⃣ Do you feel anxious or stressed while studying?
- Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you try to focus?
- Do you worry about not understanding things fast enough?
4️⃣ How strong is your mind’s eye? (Your ability to visualize things in your head.)
- Can you picture objects and concepts clearly, or is it more vague?
(Might seem like a random question 😂 but I think it could help us pick better study methods! 🤔)
5️⃣ Do you use timers while studying?
- If yes, how much do they help?
6️⃣ Do you get distracted easily while studying?
- Is it external distractions (like noise, phone) or internal (like overthinking)?
7️⃣ How organized are you in general?
- Do you usually have a structured study plan, or do you just go with the flow?
- How are your notes? Do you write things neatly, or is it more scattered?
8️⃣ Is there anything you’d like to tell me about your studying struggles?
- Any specific problems that frustrate you the most?
- You can tell me anything!
No rush, take your time
We’ll figure this out together! 😊
@JaceWayland
1. Actually I don't go to school regularly, I've to go to just give exams.
I go to coachings tho.
And I don't understand all the concepts explained there.
I couldn't concentrate in class most of the time and whenever I did and whatever I learnt I forgot everything.
And like I said in the post I observed that all the other students at coaching don't face this problem, they're easily able to pay attention, and when the teacher asks question they are able to answer, they remember things unlike me.
So I'm really behind coaching.
Because my mind keeps wandering at coaching & I struggle to pay attention.
2. I study from youtube. I watch video lectures of chapters. Because I don't understand most of the things at my coachings.
My board exams are going on. So I study from youtube for them..
But it's so hard to keep my attention on the video.
3. Yes, I feel overwhelmed when I try to focus. Even just the thought of studying stresses me now. Because I know I've to watch video lectures to understand the chapter & it's so hard.
& I worry about not understanding this fast too. I want my concentration to be normal like others. Why's it so bad. It didn't use to be like this before.
I feel like my concentration was never bad, i just started to overthink that I can't concentrate and now i can't unthink that, i wish i could erase this thought of 'not being able to concentrate'. Idk if that makes sense or not but that's how I feel.. :/
4. I think I can picture concepts well sometimes and sometimes not.
Sometimes it's too hard, sometimes it's bit easier.
5. Yes, I use timers/ stopwach while studying sometimes. They're usually helpful.
6. I get distracted while studying too often.
Both external and internal distractions.
7. I just go with the flow mostly during usual days.
But as my exams have started so I've a small plan. But I am not able to follow it. Lol :0
8. I get frustrated when I'm not able to concentrate on lectures. And then I procrastinate and my study goals are never achieved because of it even during exams ..
It takes me so many hours to watch a video lecture because I keep rewinding and pausing it, because of not being able to concentrate & most of the times I leave the lecture in between because of frustration & then it just stays as a pending task.
@JaceWayland
I tried it, but my brain just can't concentrate:/
I feel like I've forgot how to concentrate.
It feels so unnatural to concentrate on anything now.
I don't know and remember how I used to concentrate before.
Till 2-3 years ago, I was able to concentrate.
Atleast when I wanted to.
But now, it feels impossible.
It feels like my ability to concentrate is lost and it isn't in my control now.
I don't know why this is happening to me and what do I do to just end all this
I want my ability to concentrate back, just the way it was.
Rewinding the video lecture again and again, still not able to understand a thing.
It's so frustrating.
It's a time waste.
I could save so much of time by being able to concentrate the way I used to before.
I am tired of not being able to study
