Expert: Jan Hayner - 9/28/2007

Question
I am preparing for a competitive exam of bureaucracy of Pakistan. The fundamental problem what I am coming across is that, I feel mentally fatigue after studying two hours. Obviously, two hours a day is like studying nothing at all if we are to consider competitive exams. Would you like to help me in giving me few tips how can i improve my study stamina? I actually want to study more but I just can not.

Back to five months I used to study 8-11 hours a day, but I scheduled it in the morning, early. Like, studying from 5 am to 2 pm, something. The day I got married, back in May, I feel a drastic decline in my mental ability to get exhausted after every two hours. However, yet I havent tried for morning since getting married, may be it will be helpful. Please suggest something useful in detail so that I can improve my stamina to study.

Answer
Hi Yasir;
I am not really sure that I am the only one that you should be asking this question too. I would get more opinions about this, just to be sure you have all of the facts. I will however give you some ideas from a Professional Organizers point of view that may help.

First
All of our brains have what is known as 'peak time' as far as obtaining and retaining information. During these times our brains work at 'peak' levels and we hold information and work at a higher speed. It is possible that your peak levels are during the time frame (5 a.m. to 2 p.m.)that you used to use. Give this a try again, I am sure that it will help.

Second
Your brain can be taking a break and be on overload. This isn't anything to worry about, it will pass and there are things that you can do to work through it. Some people call this 'burn out', because your thinking pattern changes. If your have been studying for those periods of time, you are probably going over some of the same information more than one time. Therefore your brain wants to know why you keep feeding it the same information. In other words, it is getting bored.  Write down the things that you seem to repeat learning and stay away from those areas and only add new information. It will rejuvenate your learning cycle and you will then retain new information faster.

Third
Work Smarter-NOT harder (this is my code for life) learn in smaller time frames. Receive and learn information for 30 minutes to an hour, take a break (drink a soda or coffee, go for a walk, talk to your wife) then go back to learning, reread your notes of what you have just learned and then add some new things, in another hour take another break. By adding things in small amounts you will retain it faster, not add pressure to yourself because you will be looking forward to finding out more.

Fourth
You have gone through a major change in your life, your living habits have changed, new responsibilities have been added and you have pressures from areas that you didn't have before. Your mind needs to be clear when you are studying. Get plenty of rest and work when you have a full stomach to make sure your body has energy. If things in your private life have to be taken care of, write them down to get them out of your thinking. You can read your list later and take care of them. This will free up your brain so it can add new information and not have to worry about other things.

Fifth
You may also being feeling a certain amount of guilt by studying. You feel (inside) like you are ignoring your wife by not paying attention to her while you study. Get rid of that thought. What you are doing is benefiting her as well as you. Work on the buddy system with this one. Talk to her and let her know that how you feel, I am sure that she will tell you that as long as you have time for her 'sometime' she understands how much studying you have to do. Look at it this way, a little time studying right now is going to give you and her a lifetime of security. Schedule a 'wife break' during your studying. Time when you and her can just talk, spend time together, catch up on what is going on and bond. It may be possible that she can also help you learn by writing Flash cards, questions, keeping track of notes, filing important information that you might need etc.

I hope that this gave you a few ideas that help you. Just remember Work Smarter-NOT harder. Look for the shortcuts, don't reread or re-enter information into your brain more than is necessary, take breaks and prioritize.

My best wishes are with you yasir, I know this isn't easy, but you will be a great asset on this earth when you have achieved your goal. I admire people that have the fortitude to stick with it and to always look for answers to problems. It is truly the characteristic of a great leader!

Good Luck, Best Wishes and Happy Studying,
Jan Hayner