Study/Focus Tips

loves2shop4shoes · April 2011

Hey girls. So, finals seasons is upon me. I have about 4 weeks left of classes and then exams. Needless to say, this is seriously crunch time. So, I was wondering how YOU make yourself focus/study/work for LONG periods of time without going batty? How do you STAY motivated? I need help finishing the last hurdle of the marathon that is 1L.

Any study focus tips would be greatly appreciated!

MidniteRae · April 2011

It's hard for me to stay focused for long periods of time. I take a lot of breaks. Josh recently cleaned up our (ex)roommate's old room to make a writing room for me. It's a nice quiet place for me to do my work. I say just focus on one thing at a time and be sure to give yourself breaks.

I don't know if that helped any, but it is now time to get back to writing my paper..that is due tomorrow.

Oh, and don't wait till the last mintute.

peekaboo2011 · April 2011

I used to be able to get through by saying "If I do this then I get x" So, if I finished my stat project (I did the entire thing on a Friday night), I got to go drinking.

Now, seriously, being 33 days from graduation, there's no helping me. It took me 18 hours to write a three page paper. It's out of control.

lmwilber · April 2011

Shoes, I found that sitting down and writing out a study attack plan was very helpful for me, both in school and during the bar study period. I literally took a calendar and divided up each subject by days. For the first week I would focus on making flash cards and finishing out lines. Second and third week, I would focus on memorization, with accuracy goals, maybe do some CALI practise testing, fourth week and any exam study period, I would work on practice essays. Make sure to take as much time to review your answers as it would take you write the answer.
Most importantly, try to stay as calm an centered as possible. Lay out your plan, then just work the steps. Try to block out a day each week, or a least a few hours, to relax and forgot about law school.
Congrats on being so close to putting your 1L year behind you!!

SeaTea02 · April 2011

Yeah I do the reward system too. Like I can watch a TV show or have a little piece of candy or something. Sometimes I have FI promise not to take me somewhere or do something with me unless I finish a specific assignment. It works for me.

bethsmiles · April 2011

I go to the library and hide away in a corner for hours with my phone off and in my bag and headphones in.

peekaboo2011 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_studyfocus-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:cb1f773b-146d-417f-b46a-135ece12b495Post:56b35f0a-5e19-471b-bbbe-fc6014bb3a9c">Re: Study/Focus Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]Yeah I do the reward system too. Like I can watch a TV show or have a little piece of candy or something. <strong>Sometimes I have FI promise not to take me somewhere or do something with me unless I finish a specific assignment. It works for me.</strong>
Posted by SeaTea02[/QUOTE]

<div>FI does this automatically when he visits. When he doesn't, it doesn't work. But it's nice to see him try. </div>

Sparrow87 · April 2011

I also use the reward system, but I do it with video games. If I get a certain amount of work done in an hour I take 10 minutes to do a crossword or a sudoku. Then I get right back on the study wagon.

MissOwl · April 2011

mine is a weird one. i can't listen to music with lyrics, except for Christmas music. when i'm really stressed i listen to christmas music while i study. it keeps me mellow yet upbeat and since i know all the words, i don't get distracted. weird, i know.

marleylikeair · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_studyfocus-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:cb1f773b-146d-417f-b46a-135ece12b495Post:bca29024-7ac8-4f28-b70f-a5befaaa2a15">Re: Study/Focus Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]mine is a weird one. i can't listen to music with lyrics, except for Christmas music. when i'm really stressed i listen to christmas music while i study. it keeps me mellow yet upbeat and since i know all the words, i don't get distracted. weird, i know.
Posted by MissOwl[/QUOTE]

This makes total sense, MissOwl! When I feel like falling asleep on the couch, I can't be watching anything I haven't seen before, but if it's a rerun of The Office, for example, I can pass right out. :)

Shoes, I am THE WORST procrastinator/psuedo-ADD case. I have no suggestions for you. I am sorry. <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

DanieKA · April 2011

It's very old school, but as a fellow law student coming up on finals myself, I have been most successful with flashcards. I KNOW IT'S CRAZY! Some people can't do it that way. Study groups and outlines seem to be most law students bread and butter, but I've always been an independent studier. And I have NEVER used an outline before. I tried making one once and it was a disaster. 30 pages of hot mess. My A classes were studied writing and then reviewing those old school cards.

Good luck. People say it gets easier after 1L. In my personal experience 2L year is the best, so you have that to look forward to! It's almost over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alanna91 · April 2011

It's kind of elementary, but I always find it helpful and fun to make myself a bunch of quizzes to take and study with. Make a few copies and switch the order of the questions so you don't predict what's coming next. After you grade them you can go back and study more on the topics you didn't do well in.
However, I haven't been to law school yet so I don't know if this would work as well for you. Good luck!

bsidebella · April 2011

When I was in school, the best way I found to study was turn off the TV (or go into a room without one) and put the cell phone on silent. Then I would wear headphones and create a special playlist on my iTunes just for studying - pretty much the same up-beat punk and techno music that I work out to (Panic at the Disco, 3OH!3, Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes). Pretty simple, but it got me to focus.

PaigeMcC · April 2011

Good tunes and lots of breaks. I make a playlist of songs I like studying/working to and giv'er. I make sure I take breaks every 2 hours, for at least 15 minutes. Get up, strech, have a glass of water...whatev.

ADTonk · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_studyfocus-tips?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:cb1f773b-146d-417f-b46a-135ece12b495Post:746ae6f5-3327-40b3-a47d-5683710e2f00">Study/Focus Tips</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey girls. So, finals seasons is upon me. I have about 4 weeks left of classes and then exams. Needless to say, this is seriously crunch time. So, I was wondering how YOU make yourself focus/study/work for LONG periods of time without going batty? How do you STAY motivated? I need help finishing the last hurdle of the marathon that is 1L. Any study focus tips would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by loves2shop4shoes[/QUOTE]

I can't study. I just can't do it. I read and read and read and then I forget what I read.

The only way I was able to study for a big test was to rewrite or type up my notes from class. Then I read them once through on the day of the tests.

As for focus: coffee.

jeanacorina · April 2011

I procrastinate until the last possible moment, then stay up late with plenty of coffee and peppermint tea, panicking and sulking that DH is snug in bed and I'm on the couch studying.

I have found that leaving the apartment is good- I study better at a coffee shop or on campus, less distraction. I seriously can't do ANYTHING at home these days.

I take breaks a lot. I probably spend more time taking breaks that I do studying. Like, right now. This is a break.

Good luck!

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