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Why is it so difficult for me to study?
Often it is due to the same mistakes, says columnist Tim Reichel.
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Photo: Caspar Benson / fStop / Getty Images
Do you know these phases in your studies that you just want to get through and then forget?
You sink into work, feel overwhelmed, don't know where to start.
Sometimes studying is a chore.
But: many problems are homemade.
So you might not be so stressed at the end of the semester if you hadn't relaxed so much at the beginning.
For over eight years I have been working as a study advisor and have seen up close how students trip themselves up.
Of course, they don't do it consciously.
It just happened that nobody explained to you how to study efficiently.
That is why they make strategic mistakes that endanger their academic success.
By »strategic mistakes« I mean all habits - but also non-habits - that have a
long-term
negative impact on your studies, i.e. not only affect one semester or an exam.
Watching your Netflix series just once instead of studying is not optimal, but it is still not a strategic mistake.
On the other hand, if you systematically distract yourself and neglect your duties, things will look different.
Sure so far?
Then we come to three particularly common strategic mistakes.
1. You don't plan
Do you always have a plan in mind or are you someone who likes to let things happen?
Both are completely okay in life.
However, a lack of planning can cause bigger problems in your studies than you might think.
You wanted to have organized the internship abroad in South America long ago, but Friday was the last day for registration.
Gone stupid?
No, badly planned!
How to avoid this mistake:
See your studies as a long-term project.
Before the beginning of the semester, sketch out a rough course plan and think about how you will approach the coming months.
Then plan specifically what you want to do in the current week and on the current day.
Set at least your most important deadlines and to-dos.
That gives you support and orientation.
What if your plan doesn't work out?
Not so bad.
It's not about
having a single
plan - it's about planning continuously and flexibly.
2. You set the wrong priorities
A degree often leaves little time to breathe deeply.
During the lecture period, you rush from one event to the next, struggling through scripts and books.
After that it doesn't get any better, because now the exams come - several at once.
The way you deal with time is therefore becoming the number one success factor in your studies.
You have to learn to set priorities and take care of the important tasks.
You can take this opportunity to say goodbye to expectations that are too high: You won't get very far when studying with perfectionism.
Here's how to avoid this mistake:
Make it clear which tasks are most important to you and take care of them exactly.
Does it really make sense to copy the summary of the lecture a second time because your writing wasn't so nice?
Or are you falling into the trap of perfectionism?
What things could you do instead that might be more inconvenient but make more sense in the long run?
Determine at least one to-do for each day that will help you advance in your studies and do it.
Ask yourself: If there was only one thing I could do today to mark the day as a success - what would it be?
3. You study unprofessionally
More »Bachelor of Smarts«
How procrastination helps with learning: ... put it off until tomorrowA guest post by Tim Reichel
Grades during studies: grades are overrated! A guest contribution by Tim Reichel
Studying is a full-time job.
You cannot complete 30 credits per semester, consisting of compulsory courses, exams and study papers, in passing.
Nevertheless, I know many students who take their studies lightly.
They sit back and relax for weeks and then wonder when they can't keep up with their studies.
But studying is not a hobby that you can devote to when you feel like it.
I therefore advise: If you are already studying, do it right, otherwise every minute of it is a waste of time - and nobody can afford it.
How to avoid this mistake:
Give your studies a meaningful place in your life.
See it as a job or at least as an investment in yourself, with the goal of improving your life in the long term.
Be firm in your commitments.
It is up to you when you get up, how focused you study and whether you show up for the lecture.
You don't have to mutate into a philistine - it's enough not to act like an amateur.
Conclusion
If you're having a hard time studying, keep an eye out for strategic mistakes that are systematically sabotaging your efforts. There are more than the three mentioned, but after more than 1000 consultations I know: It often helps if you improve your planning, set priorities and take your studies seriously. Even small advances in these areas have a big impact and increase your motivation. And that will pay off in the next critical phase at the latest.
