By Muhammad Nadeem
The New York Times best-selling author Austin Kleon has a theory: when people give you advice they’re really just talking to themselves in the past.
Here, I am providing three basic elements which help us to shed procrastination; organise our studies, and understand the most of what we study.
1: Set Goals or You’ll Work for Someone Who Does!
With a goal, the brain and the memory work much better because they exactly know what must be found and memorised. “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” says Tony Robbins. And set high, unique and detailed goals and you will make great strides in your life. Bo Jackson used to say “Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.” You must keep setting your sights on a higher goal as soon as you achieve one. It is an ongoing process. Be like a chain smoker. Start over another project as soon as you end one.
2: Count Time by Heart Throbs!
It is essential to study at the same time every day. It is best to choose the time when you are free every day. Soon you’ll find your mind is adapting to this new schedule and you’ll be able to achieve, slowly, at the beginning, but gradual productive outcome.
Remember the brain acts in the limits it is given, as the Parkinson’s Law says: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” It means that if you give yourself two hours to do a work, it is likely that you will spend two hours. If you give yourself three hours for the same work, you will surely spend three hours. Your work will be often better with less time because it will appear easier (except if the time allocated is really too short).
Indeed, the more the amount of time spent on a work is large, the more this work will appear as being voluminous and complex. Moreover, taking less time will force you to get rid of distractions. The best time will be simply the one you prefer! Plus note the moment when you study should be exclusively yours and be alone during the time of your study.
3: Concentrate!
Concentration is one of the most efficient ways to study because it gives you the power to both:
1- achieve a specific goal in your life; and
2– fully concentrate on what you want as long as you want.
Those who can’t concentrate well are not able to remain exclusively focused on their goals enough time. 97% of the people almost always drift from their goal. They adopt one of the most common and efficient way to fail: they are unconsciously anticipating failure by “putting their eggs in several baskets”. While the successful people can demonstrate enough concentration power to dedicate themselves to the attainment of their goal with an unswerving singleness of purpose. They keep the main thing the main thing. As Andrew Carnegie said: “put all your eggs in one basket and watch the basket”.
It is also true that good concentration automatically triggers good memorisation whereas the main distractions like stress, worries and anxiety can directly impact your ability to concentrate, and thus your ability to memorize things.
This is how you begin but, yes, this is not all. Once you start organising what you do, other elements of successful study will begin to demystify, and everything will start making sense! These three essential elements are interwoven: So, set up a goal, set a deadline and try to give your 100 % concentration to it.
Don’t w
ait for inspiration. Be Inspiring. Don’t waste your time. If you want to achieve something and be successful- Start Now!
(Author studies in Mass Communication and Research Centre at University of Kashmir.)
