Day 323. Different yet so alike

   People are funny when it comes to studying for an exam. Nobody likes to study but we all find something to make us do it after all.

   Some start early because they want to make sure they make it to the deadline and they're very organized when it comes to setting goals and achieving them. They're the ones who, somehow, find something to like in everything they study and so they're usually the bullied ones. The ones who spend their days studying their heads off and end up saying "why am I the only one studying?" However, after the exam, we all know they take the highest grades. And believe me, sometimes grades do make a difference in our life.

   Others start at some random point when they feel it's the right time or maybe when they are reminded they have an upcoming exam. They're not really driven to study, but they do it anyway because afterwards they'll get some sort of reward. These are the majority of the people. If they were in the right spot (school, university, work place of their choice) they'd like what they would be doing so they'd study early. Nevertheless, it's a good thing they find something to keep them going.

   The last category starts studying a couple of days before the actual exam when they realize they can't procrastinate anymore. They say they don't want to forget what they just studied but we all know that's a lie. They are the ones who start studying only because they know they have to. They hate it and so they try to cram it up and hope to God they'll be given one of the two subjects they took a glimpse at. Sometimes they're lucky, other times they're not.

   The thing is that right before the exam we all magically remember we don't like studying and therefore only two options will be available for everybody: we either feel like we don't know anything or we don't care anymore and we just want it to be over so we could start enjoying our life again.

   I know, I shouldn't complain since I love what I'm doing and I sometimes enjoy what I'm reading for the exam, but you know, we all get there. To the point where we say "No more!" And that's when people who have studied for 2 months take a break and do whatever they want because they can afford it and then they face the exam knowing they'll handle it no matter what. I know. It's gonna be ok. So tomorrow I'm taking a break:) 

Day 320. Getting in the mood

   An awesome thing is awesome only if you're in the right mood for it. Otherwise, it's just plain boring. This is why I tend to postpone things that I need or want to read or watch till I'm totally up to it. I might upset one or two people, but that's how I know I'll enjoy them the most. 

   How do you get in the mood for something? Can you always get in the mood when asked to? How about getting in the mood for things like work or study? 

   It's been a while since I'm studying for this summer's exam and lately I'm feeling more and more out of the right mood for it. So the only thing that works for me is finding something to motivate me. Yep. A reward. It all goes down to classical conditioning. I admit, sometimes I give myself the reward before studying (some say it's a biiig mistake) but in the end people are different and we all have our twisted way of getting in the right mood for something. So why not take it easy and know that when we get there we enjoy it fully rather than force ourselves to do something when we don't want to? 

   Take a break. Have a Kit Kat:) Or a piece of cake:)

Day 294. Getting started

   ... is always tough. Most starts are full of anxiety and lack of motivation. At least the ones when you know you gotta learn 500 pages by heart in a month. Yeah, it sounds like a lot of time, but when procrastination is your best friend, well... it's kinda hard to make it work:) 

   There's an age when you just can't study like you used to. That age when you'd rather work than study. The age of maturity. Sounds so final but I guess it's true. It's been 20 years since I started learning stuff so I guess my brain wants some rest. But you know what they say, if you gotta do it, you gotta do it. 

   So here I am starting to study. At first my mind goes "squirrel" every 5 minutes and I even catch myself daydreaming now and then but...

   ... so everything has a purpose I guess:) 

   My lesson today: The start is always tough but once you've started to walk/run/study, it's not that bad after all. Until it's way too much. But that's why breaks were invented:) So use them wisely;)