Hey anons, I need some help here. It's been a few weeks since I started my Chemistry degree (I'm not entirely sure if it's what I really want, but I'm not ready to give up just yet). The issue is, I just can't seem to study properly. Every time I get home at night, the only thing I feel like doing is watching short videos on TikTok and Instagram that my friends send me. Before I know it, it's late, and all I want is to keep watching or play games, even though I know I need to study.Right now, I'm taking Calculus A, and it's been really tough to keep up with that class in particular—the others are challenging too, but this one's hitting me harder. In the other subjects, it feels like everyone already knows the basics, and I never quite get the flowcharts in the labs. Not to mention, I have some overdue assignments piling up.I went straight from high school to university, but back in school, I barely studied at all (just cramming on test days). Now, professors are telling us to read books (I even checked some out from the library, but haven't cracked them open yet). What should I do? I know there's no magic fix, but I'll take any tips or advice because my academic life feels like it's going from bad to worse. I even suspect that in my friend group, I'm seen as the "slacker" since I never know what's going on when they talk about classes.
>>33768834Stop watching videos and playing games, it's that simple.
Put your phone in a cabinet/drawer and maybe turn on airplane mode.
>>33768834What honestly saved me was that I was in such a boring place that not even video games were fun, so I took an A4 whiteboard and solved practice equations over and over until I understood them.
I went through whole uni like this, it was miserable. I still haven't quite solved it, but it's gotten better, I'm desperately trying to cram a whole year graduation project in two months.Dude there is. no. magic. solution.Do you understand? No easy way. Really. One thing that helps me a little in my job is working somewhat harder so that I "deserve" my weekend gayming binge more. I know it's stupid logic but it helps me a little.Still... idk man. Uni is tough, it's suposed to be for people who really want to study, you don't. Don't try to convince yourself, you just want a certificate that says you can have a good paying job. That's ok but it also means it's going to suck ass.Good luck, there are others like you.
>>33769306Also quit social media for the love of god. Procrastinate doing literally anything else. This site is also pretty cursed but at least you engage some.You don't have to have meaningful habits or anything, just don't poison your brain like that, do one thing at a time, it's better for your head
>>33768834There is magic fix. It is called Adderall.But seriously if you hate chemistry then why don't you do something you are passionate about?
>>33768834Bro are you sure you wanna go into Chemistry? I would check the job market first especially for where you want to live. Chemistry is really competitive and often has a grind culture. If you wanna be a professor or a researcher you often have to get a PhD. PhDs for chemistry takes roughly 4-6 years more work. Luckily you don't have to pay for it cause you'll be on an assistantship which will pay for the whole thing plus living expenses. As for bachelors there are easier degrees that pay more. Chemistry is awesome at the end of the day but you're married to it in a sense.
>>33769525Forgot to mention you will likely also spend time on a post-doc if you go PhD route which can be an additional 2 more years. So overall majoring Chem takes 12 years of your life if you want to be a scientist.
You lack passion!
>>337688341. Work on concepts first. It is hard to learn facts or formulas when you're not really sure what they're for. Get clear in your head "This kind of calculus problem (or calculus in general) is designed to solve this sort of real-world issue faster than other kinds of math" Then you'll be able to see WHY each step is taken and the whole thing will make sense.2. GO TO THE TEACHER. Tell him/her you're having trouble with this bit of the process. usually one one-to-one session can clear it up. That is what they keep office hours FOR.
>>337708821Got any book recommendations? I think I’ll review the concepts since I usually skip them.2I’ll try, but I’m struggling because the teacher explains too fast. I end up not asking questions because I don’t wanna slow everyone down
>>33768860Sounds like a good strategy. Maybe I’ll try that when I get back from university since that’s usually when I waste the most time.>>33768871How so? What kind of place is that lmo?But yeah, taking a whole day just to solve equations actually sounds like a good idea.
>>33769306That idea kinda makes sense, but I don’t really have a “hobby” to use as a reward. I even thought about using porn or masturbation as one, but I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.Anyway, it’s nice to see people going through the same stuff. Makes me feel kinda understood, lol.>>33769319I’ll try to avoid social media as much as I can. Already deleted TikTok and don’t really miss it.Instagram is the only one I still use since that’s how I keep in touch with friends.>>33769436I still don’t know what really drives me. Maybe physical education or psychology, but those don’t pay much.I chose chemistry because the idea of being a scientist seemed cool, but now I see myself more as a teacher. Still thinking about doing both degrees though.>>33769525 / >>33769530I think I’m starting to accept being “stuck” with chemistry.Job-wise it’s not too bad, I’ve got some contacts and there’s a chemical plant in the nearby city.Also got a recommendation to try a public exam to work for the state water supply company..
>>337741822 That's what office hours are for
>>33768834>I know there's no magic fixCorrect. I'm someone who coasted effortlessly through secondary school and was top of my year in nearly every subject without ever really doing any work, simply because I'm smart. But I came badly unstuck at university because at uni you actually have to work - a lot; being smart is no longer enough. And it was hard for me, because I'd never developed the habit of working or revising.You simply have to resign yourself to the fact that you have to spend A LOT OF FUCKING TIME reading and revising, and it has to be done continuously - there is far too much to try to absorb it at the last minute. You need to make sure you understand everything in every lecture, and keep bashing away at it until you do. There won't be time to catch up later.My only real tip is to take frequent breaks when studying to keep your mind fresh. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique ).
