Time Management and Students: Spend Time Learning Something Just Because You Want To

Too Often Our Time Management Plan

Is stunted simply because we suffer from brain damage due to too much learning that is not of our choosing. Don't get me wrong, I know you're in college to get a degree because you have an interest in a particular field but I want to talk about 2 different kinds of learning and the need for college students to have both simultaneously to stay mentally healthy.

As students we spend so much time "learning" what the college thinks we should learn. For our discussion we'll call that the non-engaged type. You obviously need this type of learning to learn your field and graduate.

In this article I'm going to focus on the other type...the engaged type and tell you why you should spend time learning something just because you want to. What I'm talking about is the kind of learning that has your mind fully engaged because you're so interested. It happens to me with 95% of the books that I read.

As a matter-of-fact, the only reason I'm reading a book is because I have an intense interest in learning more about that subject. If that particular book doesn't engage me that much, and quickly, but I still want to learn the subject matter I'll find a different author.

What I Mean By Not Fully Engaged

Is that it's no secret that students, many times, have trouble focusing on their textbooks while studying. That's because, while we may have an interest in the overall general topic of what we've chosen to study, specific parts of that topic may put us to sleep.

For instance, with psychology I had no interest, whatsoever, in the different theories, but that's a lot of what psychology is about...theories.

Boring!

And don't forget that while studying theories you, of course, learn about the people behind the theories. To me that was pretty boring too. So, even though I was spending a lot of time "learning," many times it wasn't anything I really wanted to learn.

Instead of the subject matter actually engaging my mind I had to try to make my mind engage.

If I had to try to make myself learn this stuff, how much of it do you think I would retain long-term.

That's Not My Definition of Learning.

What I mean by learning is that after even after reading my textbooks for several hours, sometimes until I couldn't focus and simply couldn't learn anything else from it, I'd take a short break (for my eyes) and eagerly grab one of My books...you know, the one I want to read...and settle back with my "treat."

There Are a Variety of Ways to

Learn. I personally, and obviously, do a lot of reading...and I do mean a lot...but you could do other things. You could learn from a video or from hands-on or a combination of the two. There are other ways too. Explore and give yourself permission to learn something you're not required to learn.

The point is that you should make a concerted effort because the old adage is true...what you don't use you lose.

If you follow this advice then your mind will be more refreshed for the next time you reach for those textbooks and if you're more refreshed then your time management plan will be easier to follow.

Want more tips on how to get your crazy life under control? If so, then download my free ebook about Time Management and Students where you'll find ideas for time management in several crucial areas where we all struggle. Also visit me at There Must Be A Better Way