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Any distance learners here?

DuckBread

I work full-time and I'm coming towards the end of my final year on a Masters course (distance learning). I'm so burnt out and really struggling to get through all the work! It's not that I particularly struggle with the subject; I just genuinely feel like I have no energy and the thought of even trying to work makes me really anxious (I feel pretty overwhelmed by how much it's all stacked up). I end up procrastinating for hours and then having a meltdown about all the work I haven't done.

Does anyone have any advice or study tips they can share please?

  • in reply to Ophidia

    Thank you! I'll definitely give this a go. I need to get better at going out for fresh air and taking regular breaks (I always try and force myself to do several solid hours, which never works). I definitely have dips throughout the day, so I suppose I just need to work out when I'm most focused and schedule my work for then Slight smile

  • I use writing timers of 20 minutes to keep up to speed on work. Usually they kickstart me into hyperfocus if I am feeling that way out.

    Taking time to go outside can help, even if it is just the garden to clear your head.

    Starting first thing in the morning and then not working after 12 is also good, depending on whether you are a morning person or not. Most human attention span is shot by mid afternoon, so make sure to avoid that time of the day to work. It might stop you from panicking if you beat yourself up during that time, since most people can't focus during those hours anyway. 

  • in reply to Deepthought

    Thank you - I really like that analogy. This is exactly what I do - I look at the huge task ahead of me rather than focusing on the small steps I can take (I'll try and change this by focusing on one task at a time). I definitely think the humid weather plays a part (it absolutely saps my energy) - so cooling breaks sound like a very good idea!

    Thanks for the tips Slight smile

  • DuckBread said:

    Does anyone have any advice or study tips they can share please?

    Look not to the summit but to the next step and take that step ~ be it writing just a sentence or a paragraph and you will reach the summit one step at a time.

    Respect diligently also how much you have done and how much you are doing, and work one step at a time accordingly ~ treading slowly and grasping surely that you are generating and conserving vitality for the summation of your mastery.

    Rather warm and humid currently too which is rather exhausting ~ so cold shower sessions can freshen one up and break the pattern for more productivity rather than having meltdowns about the lack of which perhaps?