Studying - Overcoming its challenges

Studying – overcoming its challenges

Studying has several meanings among which are, an activity of learning or gaining knowledge either by reading or painstaking observation. It is also the act of considering and examining things in detail.  Studying could also involve the revision of materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination. Studying as the name implies, is not a passive action but a highly demanding, involving and engaging action. A lot of things in this sphere of life can be very demanding. Things like cooking a great meal and arranging things require all of one’s attention and cannot be done passively – whether in part or as a whole. Driving and playing a video game are activities that can be termed as partly passive because there is a part of them that is done subconsciously. Studying is a unique activity because of the parts of the body that is used in achieving it. The brain, eye, hands, emotions and senses are fully used to get the best out of studying and because of this; it poses many challenges and difficulties. A lot of challenges may arise from trying to study especially for and examination. Some of these challenges are identified with suggested solutions in the succeeding paragraphs.

A wandering mind is a very detrimental challenge to the act of studying. When the mind wanders, it is preoccupied with aimless thoughts and never able to focus on one thing at a time. A person trying to study with a wondering mind only ends up becoming agitated, resentful and emotionally drained. This is because the present matter of concern which is to study cannot be brought into focus. The usual reaction to this challenge is to fight mentally and try to stay focused on studying. This approach works well for some people but is absolutely off limits to others because instead of bringing their wandering mind into focus, the effort leaves them nervously drained and before long, the zeal is lost. Waiting for the time when one is sober and free of worries can enhance the ability to stay focused and study, techniques that can aid in bringing a wandering mind under control can be learned from participating in mentally exerting activities like the ones done in societies that teach about science and public speaking. A wandering mind interfering with the will to study can be brought under control by becoming friends with serious minded colleagues and people. Their achievements and progress has the potential to make the desire to achieve well up from within and spur concentration while studying. Setting little realistic studying goals also helps in bringing a wandering mind under control. Since the goals are not big, the encouragement to study – say for an hour everyday – is in abundance. A time table with detailed time schedule can also condition the mind to stay focused when the time to study arrives.

“The Roadblock” is another monolith to surmount in the quest to study. Many a time it becomes clear that the next step to take to enhance understanding of a subject matter is just not there! Problems arise and solutions are not forthcoming. There are instances when it is impossible to move ahead with studying without totally grasping the significance of the present concern. There are other times when all effort to even have the most basic understanding of a subject matter becomes a fruitless. The Roadblock as a challenge in studying has its unique characteristics and should be examined and dealt with accordingly. Seeking help from someone with a better understanding of the problematic subject is very helpful in dismantling “Roadblocks” while studying. It saves time and precious nerve energy. Taking a break has a way of making it easy for the mind to find solutions to problems that prevent progress while studying. When the “Roadblock” is left alone and the mind takes a break, it can revisit the problem with rejuvenated energy and eventually find a solution to the problem. Anything that would take the mind off the “Roadblock” can do the magic; go for a walk, take care of siblings or play a video game. When the difficulty is the ability to comprehend the basics needed to make progress, a visit to a school, conference or workshop where instructors, teachers and trainers are paid to impart knowledge could be the saving grace. Meditation that keeps the mind fixed upon the peculiar nature of the problem causing the challenge in studying can lead to a solution of the problem. Meditation helps to continuously feed the mind with critical information about the “Roadblock” and encourage subconscious rumination on the problem. This is a mighty tool that has been used by great scientists in the past. Inventions and scientific progress of epic proportions has always been the result. Meditate and see what the hidden genius inside you is capable of doing! Going empirical also has its power in bringing “Roadblocks” to their knees. What has been done in the past when the same problem was encountered? Asking this question may well be the visa to a solution.

The “Overdose” is the peculiar challenge that comes with having to learn, understand and master so many things within a specific time period. This circumstance has led many to blissful sleeping while trying to study and worst of all, absolute chaos when trying to bring all the pieces of what has been studied into a whole picture. When the material or subject to be studied is very bulky, it becomes imperative that study starts on time. It can be very disastrous to put a lot of information into the brain in a very short period of time. Start studying on time and the zeal to study would continue to build up until all necessary studying is done. Take the subject matter piece by piece. No one puts a plate of rice all at once into the mouth, one would choke! Start from the basics and simple illustrations and progress in an ascending order of difficulty. This gives the mind all the time it needs to digest the information fed to it for processing or storage as the case may demand. Spending more time with more difficult aspects of a subject also aids the relieving of the “Overdose” challenge. Spend less time with simple aspects of a subject matter and more time with the challenging aspects. Take notes while studying and concentrate on the “Must know” of the subject matter being studied. Review the studied material as often as possible after going through the whole bulk of it. There is no limit to the number of times review can be done. Review studied material till confidence that all subject matter that have been learned can be remembered.

 “Unwanted spectators” are distractions that hamper the study process. Things like noise, television, friends, siblings and uncontrolled desire for pleasure make studying very challenging. Make sure all distractions are left alone when studying. It will not help the study process to leave the television on while studying. Studying is best done in a quiet, well-ventilated and neat environment. Loud music should be avoided and if music must be played, a low background sound is not going to spoil anything. If the need to enjoy oneself through cycling, swimming, watching a movie or visiting friends is not satisfied, studying should be avoided except when discipline can be enforced to condition the mind to concentrate on studying despite the nagging need for pleasure. Visit your friends, go cycling, go swimming or watch a movie. Get the need for pleasure out of your system and when this is done, it would be easier to sit down and study without distraction. When a private study is within reach, pleading for all that have other motives of being in the study other than to study to leave would be of immense benefit to the study process. Do not be shy, tell them you wish to study and you want a quiet and serene environment to do so.

“Biology’s role” gives credence to the fact that we are a very complex being made up of cells with different areas of specialization. The body needs to be nourished and taken good care of for it to perform optimally. The importance of eating a balanced diet is continually stressed by doctors, nutritionists and health workers. A weak and malnourished body cannot cope with the rigors and challenges of studying. To study, thousands of calories of energy are burned or used up. A well-nourished body would be able to give all the needed energy for the mind to stay focused while studying. Drink a lot of water, exercise regularly, sleep or rest well and avoid abusing drugs.

Aristotle’s dictum about man knowing himself is of considerable help in determining what challenges are faced while studying. Individually, examination can be carried out and a lasting solution to study challenges can be mapped out.