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All right, I'll keep this short (for once)!
Basically it's summer for me, a high-schooler and instead of getting some work done, I am wasting a lot of time doing essentially nothing, e.g. I have been on TL and the Internet for the entire day today from morning to evening... There is a ton of summer hw, I will be away from home starting the coming Sunday until the end of July--about 6 weeks--and cannot work that much while I'm gone, either.
+ Show Spoiler +Read 3 books for English, 1 book for AP Env Sci, 1 random book of my choice, several random assignments for AP Physics B that don't really have anything to do with physics, AP chem hw (read several chapters, memorize a few things, a few dozen problems, and have to understand everything), and I have to understand Calc AB because I will be skipping it. There's also an AB test in mid-August--so before the start of the school year--that the teacher is giving to make sure we know all the material.
School starts in late August, and I will get back around late July, so it's not too bad, but there is quite a bit...
So, how do you guys focus on your work?! This is a general question, I suppose, since this lack of concentration applies to homework and other work in general, not just during this summer. In fact, I've wasted a crazy amount of time doing essentially nothing for years now.
Advice? It feels like I'm a scrub in college, I'm wasting so much time... ;;
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Some people have success when they break down the work into more manageable mental parts. The people this works for are those that escape their tasks because of the perceived, whether consciously or subconsciously, weight of the task as a whole. If you're viewing it as "a ton of work," then try thinking of them in their most basic, individual forms.
Break it down, set a schedule, make it a mental goal.
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senior year?
gl with calcab over the summer haha. although i guess if you like math.
During school i have this mode where i'm just 100% focused on productivity. It doesn't turn on often but like, when i need to do something like study for a test or write an essay i'll just play music and sit down and do work.
Over the summer i tried to do little bits and pieces. Like i had to read 2 books and do a packet for ap chem so I did one book one month (well it took less than a month but whatever), read a bit every night and did the questions, did the other book the next month, and the packet whenever i could.
Try pacing yourself while that its summer.
also
In fact, I've wasted a crazy amount of time doing essentially nothing for years now.
God damn i'm glad someone else feels the same way
during school the easiest thing is to just suck it up T_T.
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Think about the end goal -- a lot of times imagining what job you will end up as if you keep doing what you are doing will be good enough motivation.
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If you can't focus at home because the computer or television is a distraction than force yourself to go to the library where you can actually get your work done without being tempted to do something else that is more fun.
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I've actually done the same thing (today that is, been here since 10 AM =p).
Same thing happens to me a lot, but so far I've been making up for it by insane crunch periods that last for 5 days to a week. As in Korean progamer style of work where you basically sleep, eat and go all-out on studying/work. I find this A LOT easier and more natural than committing to doing something for 3 or 4 hours a day, and then doing a different activity or taking a break, then doing it again etc.
I'm at university and I work part-time (not regular working hours though, I can do my job from home PC whenever I want), and my monthly schedule is something like do nothing for 4 days - work for 5 - do nothing for 3 - work for 4-5, and so on. It's not the healthiest thing ever, but I have little to no time constraints during the day, and the concept of deadlines is really flexible where I live, so I get by.
You really need to be able to commit and do this if you have that kind of issue. Otherwise, that kind of time wasting that isn't made up for can seriously hurt you in the long run. Basically the longer you're in idle-mode, the more difficult is to get back to doing something useful.
Come to think of it, I've been idle for nearly a week now and I've got a bunch of things that I need to get done by the end of the month. =/
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For the Calc AB stuff:
There is only like one or two new topics that you are taught in AP Calc, rest is just a review of Calc.
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For me, If i want to study (on paper) I get out of the house lol. Can't game if I don't have the computer with meh.
If I want to do the report, I just imagine a drill instructor next to me. Every time I want to detour, I have him say. "WHAT THE F*** YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! GET BACK TO YOUR F****** JOB!"
Yeh, kinda crazy but it works for me. Pretty much using willpower to just get things done. Our Great MightyAtom goes to his Machine Mode when he needs it.
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I've battled with a long history of procrastination, and even though it's gotten me through high school and college easily, I had to fix it before going to law school.
What I did was make a schedule. Very simple. Just lay out how many a hours a day, every week, you want to work on your assignments, then stick to it. Print that schedule out and tape it all over your house. Everytime you feel like blowing it off, force yourself to sit at your desk and begin doing your homework. You might not feel like doing it, but once you get started, it'll be much easier to finish.
For us, starting homework is probably the hardest part. Once you've beaten that hurdle, everything becomes much better.
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Thanks everyone! Keeping all of this advice in mind.
Starting is definitely the hardest. At this point, it just feels like I have a lot of time and quite a bit of work, and I'm not sure whether I should begin it because I'm afraid I'll forget the material if I do it early...heh. Also, I'm a rising junior (will be junior in the coming year). Unfortunately, the library or studying out of my house is not an option, as it's quite far and I do not have a ride--so it's down to organization and my will.
I would rather do everything in a more balanced manner instead of wasting a ton of time and then hardcore procrastinating, so I'm trying my best to get focused and organized...!!
Thanks again!
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Set a goal and a schedule. View it as a challenge and not a chore. Think of a time you procrastinated and make sure you dont experience that feeling again. Leave some time for fun but don't just waste your days. Just try and make a little bit of progress each day and go form there.
Good luck !!!
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AP homework shouldn't take more than a week or two to do. Most people do them in the last week... some fake it and do a bit during the first week. Still it's nice to do them so you don't feel bad about relaxing.
I don't know what I can tell you if you can't go to a library or coffee shop. You can invite a friend over to do the homework with you to keep you on track. All of the above advice is useful, but I find these are the only thing that has really helped me. I feel so bad giving away my big university secret >.<
Get rid of your procrastinating habits before you hit Uni... does your major require you to be around a computer as much as a computer engineer does?
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Haha. This is the most probable thread topic to come out of you.
But in any case, what I did last year and am doing this year is wake up at 8:00, eat breakfast, work until 12:00. Mess around for afternoon doing whatever. Then I get bored and do some stuff at around 9:00 generally.
Btw, the environmental sci book is interesting (hot flat and crowded, for those who are interested)
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Aha! Are u influence by me?
Actually I am not as hardworking as u tink.
When I was younger I am able to focus easily. I do it by, start doing work. keke
Meaning, if I have homework, once I reach home I do not think about other things just take out homework and do it. Do not think of other things, just do it. And I dont care about other things 1st.
I realised, if I choose to watch youtube 5 min b4 I start homework, or online chat 1 hour, I will...waste more than 5 min or 1 hour, until it is late until I lost my motivation to start doing homework.
However, once I start doing, It gets easier and I wont feel guilty at all. aha. Like how u are feeling now. So dont think and just do the thing u feel right, right away.
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@Z3kk I found that the site http://www.khanacademy.org/ is an amazing resource for your AP Chem, AP Physics B, and your AP Calc AB review. Just try it out and see what you think. Hope this helped!
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On June 17 2011 19:55 XiaoJoyce- wrote:
Aha! Are u influence by me?
Actually I am not as hardworking as u tink.
When I was younger I am able to focus easily. I do it by, start doing work. keke
Meaning, if I have homework, once I reach home I do not think about other things just take out homework and do it. Do not think of other things, just do it. And I dont care about other things 1st.
I realised, if I choose to watch youtube 5 min b4 I start homework, or online chat 1 hour, I will...waste more than 5 min or 1 hour, until it is late until I lost my motivation to start doing homework.
However, once I start doing, It gets easier and I wont feel guilty at all. aha. Like how u are feeling now. So dont think and just do the thing u feel right, right away.
Haha yeah ;; Partially influenced+realization that I was wasting a lot of time :o
I watch youtube 5 minutes and it turns into...5 hours =___=;;
Thanks everyone! Keeping all of the advice in mind. I will do my best 
Just realized that I'm wasting my life doing pointless things (again), so it's time just to stop wasting time and work.
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Nike: Just do it.
Personally I found that whenever I made a lot of plans, I would eventually fall behind schedule and then get even lazier. Just do the stuff you have to do.
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EPT
