Getting motivated

[Moon]

Hi everyone,

This has nothing to do with bellydance, so I thought I'd post it here.
At this moment, I should be studying for a re-exam I have to do next week. Problem is, I have serious trouble getting motivated! (It's such a boring subject ) I find myself being on the forum or doing other bellydance-related stuff most of the time.

I was wondering, are there maybe other students here that have to do re-exams? Maybe we could help each other getting motivated to start studying?

 

[Leyla]

here I am! I have an exam on 31st of august ... a long,boring exam that I absolutely HAVE to do... but no motivation to study! I do everything except study...

 

[Alaya]

Oh, Thank God I am not the only one. I have re-exam in 3 weeks but I have to start as soon as posible. I think it is good ide to make a plan, that you are resting from 10 till 11 and study from 11 till 5 o'clock. I am planeing to have a dance tight just me my hipscarf and miusic. next day just studying. It is also good to treat yourself, if you made your plan for a day you can get some ice-cream or buy that lip-glose you wanted. O.k Why I am not studing now? I think I have to falow my own advaice
Fingers cross for everyone. LOve, Alaya

 

[Mariyam]

Don't have exams, but I have 1 assignment to turn in Monday, which means I'll be working on it all weekend, while I'd rather do some sewing (including my bellydance outfit for my courses ). And it ain't my only assignment, I have another one to turn in around the 6th of September and yet another one early October... Where oh where will I find the time to sew and dance?

I have some vacation days left that I could take, but I'm saving them for November, when it will be rainy, cold and boring! Nothing better than a nice day off spent behind the sewing machine to take the blues away

 

[Yshka]

Nice subject Moon. I have the same problem. Only right now I don't have a retake but I just get de-motivated for every exam that comes up.
During last exam period before summer holidays our troupe had some major performances. People stopped dancing for a while because of exams, I kept dancing and performing. I failed only one exam though but I just seem to be doing other stuff than studying all the time.
I do have a retake in a few months for a subject called "research methods". I failed twice already (last retake went even worse) and have to do it again in a while.

Alaya, yuor plan-idea sounds good. I usually end up changing the plan to less studying and more dancing but this time I'll try to stick to it.

Usually I'm good at planning... just not.. executing those plans lol, I seem to be very good at changing plans all the time too

Good luck girls!

 

[Demelza]

'procastination' one of my weekest downfalls so I understand. although I don't have any exams to sit or re-sit I wish all of you all of the best xx

 

[Moon]

I always have more difficulties with studying during the summer holiday than during normal "study weeks".
The week before I had my first performance, I had to hand in a draft version of an essay and I finally handed it in 4 days later because I could think of nothing else besides bellydance

I have the same problem as Yshka... I can make a plan, but I don't stick to it. Most of the time I really have to feel at a certain moment that I really have to start studying or it'll be too late and then I start studying like crazy
Problem is the subject I've to study for now (crop ecology) is so extremely boring. I can't even tell exactly what it is about... something with greenhouse crop production, models and a lot of equations.

I do have a retake in a few months for a subject called "research methods".

Sounds horrible. There is a course on my university called "research methods in crop & weed ecology" which I already decided not to take, althought that means I have to do "advanced statistics" instead

However, it really helps to know I'm not the only one who has to study now and is trying to avoid it Thanks girls!
I wish you all lots of success!!! You too Mariyam with your assignments.

 

[Mariyam]

What are you all stydying? I'm in a Teaching to Adults program, right now my subjects are something like "Theories of learning and adult education" and "Intervention strategies".

Oei... crops, ecology, statistics, research methods... sounds horrible

 

[Moon]

I'm studying Plant Sciences (starting my 4th year in September). My specialisation is "plant pathology & entomology" (specialising mostly towards entomology now. For those who're not familiar with the terminology (forgive me if you all do know), entomology= insect science, plant pathology= science of plant invading fungi & bacteria)
I'd like to become a researcher, which means I have to do statistics. Furthermore I like most of my specialisation subjects. But crop ecology is part of the obligatory "common part" of the study. It's mainly an interesting topic for those who want to specialise in horticulture.

Mariyam, what do you teach to adults?

 

[Mariyam]

Ahh that makes more sense now! The last time I did anything that was remotely scientific, that was about 10 years ago, during my nursing studies Entomology, I always think of the guy in CSI when I hear that word!!

I'm not teaching anything yet, but I'd like to teach French (my mother tongue) or basically do any kind of corporate training. It's a very general program I'm following, we can study further and specialize any way we want. I must say that I have a eclectic educational background Bachelor of Nursing, Certificate in Translation (English -> French) and soon Adult education! LOL

 

[Sara]

I've just found out I passed all my exams!

But I had exactly the same problem, but it's such a good feeling when you pass.

To get motivated I had to shut myself in a quiet room with nothing electrical, and just get down to studying.

In the end it worked a bit, but not alot. Write down how many days till your exam so you can see it everyday, and each day cross one off. As it gets closer and you realise it and it might help.

 

[Suhad]

Now I use a little different tactic than Sara; I use bellydance related stuff as a reward for studying. If I study for an hour, I get to do something bellydance related -- read forums, watch DVD's, or dance for 15 minutes. Then back to studying.

It really helps, as long as you are strict with keeping to the times for both -- whatever you decide are the times.

For me, an hour at a time is about as long as I can stand studying, more than that and I get the glazed eyes and mind wander syndrome.

I start school again on Monday. Only one semester left, thankfully. I love the clinical portion of school but I really hate the classwork.

 

[Shanazel]

I'm studying Plant Sciences (starting my 4th year in September). My specialisation is "plant pathology & entomology" (specialising mostly towards entomology now. QUOTE]

Good for you! I got my first degree in Plant Science with specialties in agronomy, soil science, and range ecology. Of course, that was in 1977! I did graduate work in range ecology and worked as a range conservationist for many years. I also worked briefly as a fisheries biologist, but that's another story.
PS my daughter used to want to study insects; she called it "bugology."

My last bout with formal education ended with certification in 2000. To study for exams, I always took myself to the student union where they had lovely overstuffed chairs and ensconced myself in one for hours with all my study materials spread around me. I could not study efficiently at home because it was too easy to get distracted.

 

[Moon]

I've just found out I passed all my exams!

Congrats!!!

Good for you! I got my first degree in Plant Science with specialties in agronomy, soil science, and range ecology. Of course, that was in 1977! I did graduate work in range ecology and worked as a range conservationist for many years. I also worked briefly as a fisheries biologist, but that's another story.
PS my daughter used to want to study insects; she called it "bugology."

My last bout with formal education ended with certification in 2000. To study for exams, I always took myself to the student union where they had lovely overstuffed chairs and ensconced myself in one for hours with all my study materials spread around me. I could not study efficiently at home because it was too easy to get distracted.

You and your doughter have great interests

For me it's easier to study at home, as I only have my boyfriend's slow pc here without sound that plays all youtube video clips very shaky. And at least as important: this pc doesn't have msn
At the uni there are too many good pc's with sound and msn.
The big problem is just this subject is so boring... The last few days I managed to make a summary of a few chapters everyday. Maybe it isn't going that bad at all .
I hope I'll pass. If not, I can try again till the end of time. But I just want it to get over with.

 

[Yshka]

Congrats Sara for passing your exams!!

Mariyam I'm doing something totally different than what Moon's studying (which sounds very interesting by the way, but "exacte vakken" was never my strongest point lol.
I'm currently at Tilburg University doing Cultural Studies (Cultuurwetenschap). It's like this very broad thing that handles everything from different cultures and the effect of art and cultural expressions on society and the other way around to marketing and media-influenced culture.
It's really interesting, but research methods was something I foudn really hard. Biggest issue is that now I must retake research methods AND also I will get a statistics course next year sucks lol, but we'll see how it goes.

Suhad, bellydance related things as a reward for studying could actually work for me!!! this is a very good idea (why didn't I think of that before? ) All I can think of when I have to study is dancing, so this might actually help me concentrate (at least by telling myself I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DANCE until I've studied )

I need harsh regulations to really study in a disciplined way at the moment lol. I was pretty good at studying and concentrating for long periods of time, but since last year I just didn't feel like it anymore. I guess I do what Moon does too, I wait and postpone until I absolutely HAVE to study because ther4e won't be any time left, and then I study like mad

Good luck to all of you!

 

[Mariyam]

Wow Yshka, that sounds actually quite fascinating. Not the research methods, but the rest of your studies When I worked on my thesis at the end of my translation studies, I had to do a lot of research about the ME, bellydance and Islam (I translated a text by Karin van Nieuwkerk) and I must say that it was a great learning experience. Never thought I'd say that about research, but anyway!

Now, I have finished one assignment yesterday and I have begun with another one. I'm quite inspired so I believe I can finish it for early next week. Then only one more assignment before the new classes begin!

When do classes resume here anyway? I know, I should know but I'm not studying in a Dutch university, you see

 

[Yshka]

Lol Mariyam, research methods is my least favourite thing about it, but I guess when it comes to suck'y courses statistics will beat research methods

My classes start next week, 28th of august.

 

[Moon]

On my university courses start again at September 4th. For me, they start at August 28th (I've a one week subject I really want to do). Officially next week is still summer holiday/re-exam period.

hm, I didn't study for the past 3 days (sigh).

 

[Aniseteph]

I guess when it comes to suck'y courses statistics will beat research methods

Oh yes - statistics are the utter pits. I scraped my way through university and beyond without ever really getting my head round statistics properly (shhhhhh! I've got away with it so far). Every so often I try again but they defeat me every time.

 

[Moon]

Oh yes - statistics are the utter pits. I scraped my way through university and beyond without ever really getting my head round statistics properly (shhhhhh! I've got away with it so far). Every so often I try again but they defeat me every time.

Buy a Graphical Calculator. They're a little expensive, but they're one of the best "weapons against statistics" in my opinion.

And believe me, as soon as you find the oppertunity to use statistics within your own research instead of in your boring statistics course, it will be far less boring and you'll even find out it's actually useful!