How do you discipline yourself to work and concentrate. Sigh...i always have this problem of the lack of self-discipline. instead of working on my research assignment, i have spent almost 2 hours browsing the forums and chatting online.
Anyone has any solutions? 
Well, if you are a competitive person like me, live by the motto:
"If I don't, I am letting the professor and university win"
Or,
"I don't want to be a janitor", works as well...
Very simple man. Just disconnect your internet connection and do your work you can concentrate on your work 
i will eat my breakfast and concentrate to my work... 
Use the JDI approach:
Just
Do
It
STOP reading this stuff and go do your work RIGHT NOW!
| Nameless wrote: |
Use the JDI approach:
Just
Do
It
STOP reading this stuff and go do your work RIGHT NOW! |
lol nice one 
Me too lack of self-discipline. Always wanted to do my assignment but end up playing games 
I stop work immediately and brows threads at Frihost. 
LOL, I have the exact same problem 
I should be doing an assignment right now (in fact it was due in today, but i asked for an extension till Monday )
I'm hopeless when it comes to concentration (especially when its to do with university) the only way I can make myself do the work I am meant to be doing it to tell myself (out loud) to do it, and to stop being stupid, because if I don't get it done I will fail. having said that, it doesn't work every time and it pays to do it when there is no one else around (they might think you are crazy 
) I never have any homework to do--so I can just chat and play all day. sounds a little weird haha...but get yourself i nice dessert of something...and once your done you can go eat it and surf the forums....it'll make you want to work for a reward...and if you eat it without doing your work...have a friend put a password on your computer for the night that you don't know...that'll do the trick ahah!
Think about it this way...no matter what, you're going to have to do your research assignment, so do it sooner then later. That way, you don't have to worry about it...basically, just do it. Well usually, i do something fun first like playing WoW then I am motivated to work cuz after i will play it again.
hahaha....u guys are really creative. Really appreciate it. well well, i'm gonna try working on it now...... u guys have a great weekend.
cheers I usually set goals or rewards for myself if I accomplish something. Everyone tends to have trouble focusing on things for long times... ADD is really just human nature...
I'm on cable so I can't disconnect unless I pull my cord, and I dont plan on doing that!
my way is :
think about the results that i will have after finishing the task, maybe i will get compliments and appreciations from other people. Then i will carry on with it without thinking of any other things.
or
think about the consequences if i cannot finish the task on time or do it good. if in school, i may get poor results and that's not what i hope. if at work, maybe i will be scolded by the boss or even get fired... ...
And also,
i will turn off all the entertainment like internet connections, video games, tv etc.......
live by my moto
"Why do today, when what you can ignor till tommorow?"
gets me in trouble but i deal with that tommorow also
I wait till the last moment (when animals are not concerned) and have TOTAL concentration (as in developing a slight "fever" from it, my temperature goes up a degree C) I don't hear anything and don't see anything else. Work gets done very fast, no mistakes and having done it many years I'm very relaxed about it, so no stress.
I punish myself. Somehow I think the best think to do is ask yourself. Hey come on everyone knows how to concerntrate but what lacks is their control of themselves. I think you should learn to control yourself from going after distractions in your work.
I can`t ... I`m a loser 
Well, what I usually do is to set a Timeline of what I have to do.
And sometimes I drink beer just to get on and after that I feel the drive working on things I really hated to do.
But, I don't mean you try it too because you might end to be drunk! Hehe.. Seriously, disclipining oneself should know first Time Management. That's what I'm trying to say.
______________________
I imagine this is going to sound silly, but I'm a psych major and a bit of a gadget lover, so this works for me, since I tell myself this organization is why I got my PDA and student software and so on. I take the time to make to do lists and set times aside as appointments in my calendar on my computer or my PDA, sometimes weeks in advance, or even at the beginning of each semester, by looking at the syllabi the lecturers have given us. I even set up a grade-book like spreadsheet for myself before I found software that includes the same functions & syncs to my PDA easily. That shows me the lists of what tests and assignments are going to be needed in each class and when they are due as well as what percentage of my grade in that class rested on each assignment, to give each assignment a sense of importance. “If I don’t study, I might get a D on this test. A D on this test would drop my grade down to a low B or even C and this is the next to last test. I wouldn’t be able to pick my grade back up, so if I want a good grade in this class, I’d better study.” This also helps me keep track of how I am doing in my classes, how many times I’ve been absent, and if I have to decide how much study time I have to allot to each of two tests on the same day, I can gauge which class I need to put the majority of my energy into. I know you didn’t mention disorganization as your problem but for me, being organized helps me control my procrastination, which is the problem you mentioned.
If the fact I have x number of things on my To Do List for the day or that it's time for my "appointment" with my research paper, then I use a simple system of conditioning.
I turn off any distracting stimuli like TV or Radio and shut off all my IM programs or set them to an Away message asking not to be bothered. I start up a play list of particular MP3s that help me study, usually things without words. That's to block out any background noise, serving almost like white noise or headphones to actually help me concentrate.
Then if I still don't really want to do it, I set myself a specific goal. It may be a time limit like "one hour of reading my notes aloud or quizzing myself with my note cards" or certain segment of the work, for example, “All the outline and the first page". I set a reward like "one hour of role-playing or TV" or a treat like making cinnamon rolls and having one with milk or making a sundae that I'll give myself the minute I've met my goal. I also set a punishment that I'll have to stick to if I don't do it, like "no playing Sims 2 for the next 3 days" or "no renting a movie this weekend." You should use whatever rewards and punishments will work for you, pick things you really enjoy as rewards to make success sweet.
After doing it and sticking with it for a while, I usually find that just sitting down and turning on my "homework" play list gets my mindset right and it feels normal to study now.
Environment helps a lot too. Homework that doesn't require my computer, I do in my library at a desk without a computer and with no TV in that room at all. I've even been known to change the desktop "theme" on my computer if I found I was thinking about whatever movie or band my theme featured instead of my homework. Starting by clearing off your workspace and just laying out the books and things you'll be using can be a big help too. For one thing, you won't be tempted to allow yourself to be distracted by looking for materials and reducing clutter you can see seems to help reduce the clutter in one's head sometimes.
Sorry for going on so long, but these are the things that usually help me. So far, I've managed a 3.87 GPA through over 100 hours of college with these tips, some of them learned only after hard struggle. I hope some of it helps you, too!
it depends what work needs to be done... if you like what you do you wont lose your concentration?and if you dont like it than there must be some REALLY good reason to do that thing.
I recommend relaxation videos at http://www.relaxwithnature.com
Help me to concentrate when I'm doing my work. | Nameless wrote: |
Use the JDI approach:
Just
Do
It
STOP reading this stuff and go do your work RIGHT NOW! |
That's the way I do it!I use a system of rewards...
If i study for an hour, I get to spoil myself with a piece of chocalate or get to pop some popcorn and watch a movie.
I also am a video game addict, so I reward myself by giving myselfplaying time Remove all distractions. All of them.
The environment could be a big factor. I couldn't study in my room when I was in college, I always had to go tot he library to get anything productive done.
| Nameless wrote: |
Use the JDI approach:
Just
Do
It! |
My approach as well.I couldn't help replying to this post, having just read a really interesting New York Times article about willpower and self control.
The article postulated the following two points:
1. Immediately, the more we exercise self discipline in one area, the less of it we will be able to exercise in other area, whether related to the first area or not.
2. In the long term, the more we exercise self control, the more it will "grow". So as to compare our self control to a muscle.
Don't take it from me though, go read the article, which was very interesting. I found it linked to from reddit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/opinion/02aamodt.html?em&ex=1207368000&en=389b01b889cd3fb2&ei=5087%0A
Here's an interesting bit:
What limits willpower? Some have suggested that it is blood sugar, which brain cells use as their main energy source and cannot do without for even a few minutes. Most cognitive functions are unaffected by minor blood sugar fluctuations over the course of a day, but planning and self-control are sensitive to such small changes. Exerting self-control lowers blood sugar, which reduces the capacity for further self-control. People who drink a glass of lemonade between completing one task requiring self-control and beginning a second one perform equally well on both tasks, while people who drink sugarless diet lemonade make more errors on the second task than on the first. Foods that persistently elevate blood sugar, like those containing protein or complex carbohydrates, might enhance willpower for longer periods.
Anyhow, love to all.
Say hi to your moms for me.
Uwe
