If like me, you've had to read tough, nearly unintelligible philosophical texts or maybe you've had to study physics or statistics (which are simply too hard for me), you may not believe that the root of the word "school" in Greek actually also means "leisure." This makes sense since in Ancient Greece, only free men who had enough resources and didn't have to worry about survival were able to engage in the study of politics, rhetoric, mathematics and philosophy. Studying or learning was and in many cases remains something that not everyone can enjoy. So even if there's a whole economics book or a long list of French or Dutch verbs waiting patiently for you to give it some attention or if you dread going through oral exams (and who doesn't?), you can still consider yourself lucky to have the time and opportunity to improve and possibly make something of yourself through learning. Or perhaps you can take comfort in the idea that when you study, you are making use of a capacity that sets you apart from everything else. Philosophy has long taught us that thinking, reasoning, reflection are uniquely human capacities. Though of course, most of the studying done nowadays consist more in rote memorization, at least you're still given some opportunity to confront difficult questions or think of good convincing arguments. One could say that when one is learning, one is being true to oneself—a human person capable of thinking and reflection. If any of this doesn't console you at all (and it's quite understandable if they don't), remember at least an ancient proverb that Paul Giamatti shares with a hopeless Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding, "This too shall pass."

But then, as a good friend pointed out to me once, things will not simply sort themselves out on their own. You will still have to study one way or another. So, let me share with you some tips on studying. I'm neither an expert on learning methods nor am I a top student, but there are some things I've gathered from books and articles that have been extremely helpful to me.

First, try to get to know yourself a bit better. When are you most awake and most productive? Where are you most comfortable studying? What are the things that distract you the most? Me, for example, I read only in the morning. It would be quite funny to watch me trying to read after lunch or in the evening as I'll be nodding off after a couple of pages into a book. So I always do other school related things in the afternoon or evening, like arranging my notes, writing, answering emails, searching for sources online, etc. I also make it a point to go to a place where I also see other people studying—not because misery loves company—but because the sight of so many people busy with school work gives you a feeling that you're not alone and that there must be a purpose to all this.

Second, I try to come up with a list of tasks for the day and I promise myself to turn on my computer or to go online only after lunch (unless of course there's something urgent I need to do on my laptop). We all know that Facebook, emails, and the internet in general are tools for wasting time and procrastination. They're not all bad but they do get in the way of real work. I still do these things everyday but I try to situate them in my plan for the day, allowing myself only so much time for them. I find great satisfaction in crossing out tasks from the list after accomplishing them. And at the end of the day, I can be proud of myself for having done so many things.

Third, don't forget to reward yourself. Maybe you like reading, watching movies, doing sports, Facebooking, drinking and chatting with friends. There's nothing wrong with any of these per se, unless of course you spend too much time on one of them and you end up blaming yourself for having too little time left to study. Maybe you can "trick" yourself into studying first so that you can watch a movie, take a stroll, have some drinks with a friend later on. You can look at studying as a kind of precondition for doing one of these things. They can be like rewards you give yourself for being such a good and studious boy or girl. This way you can avoid feeling guilty about doing the things you like and you can actually accomplish things you have to and have a little enjoyment afterwards or in between your tasks.

These are just some thoughts and tips that might be helpful to you as they are to me. If you're still having difficulty studying, I'd say, as the French do, courage! Or perhaps to quote Nietzsche out of context, Excelsior! Ever higher! Upward! When rushing water meets an obstacle, its tendency is to go upward, thereby moving forward and overcoming the obstacle. Human persons, like you and me, are known to be capable of this too. |