Author Topic: Students of MMM unite!  (Read 2174 times)

Imma

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Students of MMM unite!
« on: April 07, 2019, 08:21:01 AM »
I'm sure there are some other students around, so let's support each other!

I'm working on a master's degree parttime while working and owning a small business. I started last September and hope to finish in June 2020, but it's getting increasingly difficult. This term I'm taking two really notoriously difficult classes, and my overall energy and concentration levels are down. I have an exam in two weeks so I really should find the motivation to study. My grades are suffering from it. I used to be a straight A/A+ student, but in my last exam I scored an A-. I really need to find a way to gget my motivation and concentration levels up.

John Galt incarnate!

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2019, 12:37:52 PM »
I'm sure there are some other students around, so let's support each other!

I'm working on a master's degree parttime while working and owning a small business. I started last September and hope to finish in June 2020, but it's getting increasingly difficult. This term I'm taking two really notoriously difficult classes, and my overall energy and concentration levels are down. I have an exam in two weeks so I really should find the motivation to study. My grades are suffering from it. I used to be a straight A/A+ student, but in my last exam I scored an A-. I really need to find a way to gget my motivation and concentration levels up.

 What field are you studying?

 What are the two notoriously difficult classes?

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2019, 01:45:53 PM »
Tax law (degree and courses). It's really interesting but it's SO MUCH even by law standards. So much reading, so many textbooks, so many cases. I used to be able to really immerse myself for hours at a time but concentration has been an issue lately

John Galt incarnate!

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2019, 02:52:14 PM »
Tax law (degree and courses). It's really interesting but it's SO MUCH even by law standards. So much reading, so many textbooks, so many cases. I used to be able to really immerse myself for hours at a time but concentration has been an issue lately

Tax law was taught during my third year in law school. It was one of my favorite classes, perhaps because as an undergraduate I was a finance major. Occasionally, I still read the tax code

When I was a student each school year started around the end of August or beginning of September and ended in June of the following year. The arrival of spring ALWAYS induced  a pleasant ennui, that,   when I think about it, I attribute  in part to a sense of being "over the hump" since  June, the end of another school year, was not far off. I'm sure spring's  warmer, sunnier weather was also a source of my listlessness.

 So when  I read your post I thought that maybe you are experiencing a weather-induced listlessness too. I do know that "So much reading, so many textbooks, so many cases" can be exhausting of one's ability to concentrate. In fact, I read so much in law school that since then, I've not been able to summon the concentration to read ANY long  book cover to cover.

May your ability to concentrate soon return.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2019, 03:04:26 PM by John Galt incarnate! »

John Galt incarnate!

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2019, 03:01:34 PM »
Deleted.

Tass

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2019, 03:09:40 PM »
Yep, I'm here. @Hirondelle and I have had some discussions on our two journals recently about biology PhD life, sticking with it, finding balance, etc.

Any idea what your specific struggle might be? Are you not getting enough sunlight, good food, movement in your life? Is the internet sapping your attention? Is your school/work setup somehow toxic? Do you just need to grit your teeth and get through the hard part?

calimom

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2019, 06:48:07 PM »
Are you making money from your side hustle? If more money is going into it than out of it, it might be best to rethink it.

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2019, 02:26:53 AM »
I usually get that 'yay it's almost July' feeling but this year I'm just thinking 'noooo my exams are getting closer'. Tax law is really interesting, I work in the field as well and I'm pretty good at it.

I think I just need to grit my teeth and get through the hard part - but
I've lived like that for years and it's more difficult than it used to be. Seems like I'm all out of willpower. I have studied parttime, while having a job, since the age of 21 and when I'm done next year I'll be weeks away from turning 30.

I don't regret going parttime at all - due to circumstances attending fulltime was not an option so it was this or no degree - but it's only now that I'm starting to realize how much I've missed out on. My s/o will be away from home the next 3 weekends doing things that are fun and I can't remember the last time I've had a really fun weekend. (I did ask for 3 weeks off work during the summer, that's the longest holiday I've had for years, I'm really looking forward to that!!!)

While I was busy burying my head in my books my friends got married and had kids and I've noticed some of them aren't interested in hanging out with non-parents. I need to get my social life back on track but I can't find the time. I always walk at least 10.000 steps every day so I'm getting some exercise, but I cancelled my gym membership because I didn't have time to go. I try to eat healthily but my diet could be better. Some days I feel like I don't even have time to eat or sleep.

I'm just so sick and tired of this that I can't motivate myself anymore, even though I'm only 4 exams and a thesis away from the finish line.

Tass

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2019, 08:26:21 AM »
Sleeping enough is the foundation of everything, in my opinion. Sleep is more important than work, fun, socializing, exercising - you can't do any of those things well while sleep-deprived. At least if you're unmotivated, be well-rested.

You are so close that I am sure you can finish without any improvements, but why not take care of yourself a bit on the way?

John Galt incarnate!

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2019, 10:07:15 AM »


You are so close that I am sure you can finish

I am sure as well because the OP is typically an A+/A student.

The mastery of difficult subject matter is ever commendable.

I assure each of you   that when  you finish  your highest degree will be among the finest feathers in your cap.

Bravo!

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2019, 05:32:17 AM »
I have suffered from serious anemia in the past and after reading back my own post yesterday I suddenly figured my blood iron levels are probably low. I had blood drawn this morning and I already had a voicemail message in my lunch break that I'm anemic again (lower than 6 or for Americans 100 g/L, so not dangerous but really quite low)  and will need treatment for that.

So yay, at least part of the problem will be solved! I've studied quite a lot yesterday so maybe venting my frustration helped too ;-)  I'm still struggling with inheritance tax so I have a long list of questions to ask in class tomorrow night.

Tass

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2019, 03:01:31 PM »
Anemia would certainly explain exhaustion and listlessness! Glad you have (at least a partial) solution.

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #12 on: April 10, 2019, 09:53:09 AM »
Docter also asked me how much I worked, so I made a quick calculation. Day job, side hustle and classes take up an average 50 hours a week. Less in the week after exams or summer holiday but also much more some other weeks. This probably sounds very familiar to PhD students :) It's too much for the long term. I'm definitely not ever going to accept a job where overtime is normal.

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2019, 01:46:57 AM »
July now! Will have my last exam before summer in 10 days and the last exam for my work certification is today. Seems I've survived so far. Iron deficiency was definitely contributing to my exhaustion in spring. Summer weather is also very helpful, I always feel much more energetic when the days are long and warm.

I have decided to take up exercise again, I'm joining the gym again as soon as I get back from my summer holiday and I've also started taking some extra sewing classes that are a lot of fun. My business is also growing and this work doesn't feel like work at all. I'm always  looking forward to meeting my customers. But 'fun' is something that I need to actively create more time for or I forget -so much actually that I've created a tracker for it in my bullet journal. Now if that doesn't sound pathetic I don't know what would :)

Hirondelle

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2019, 10:02:05 AM »
You sound a lot better and more energetic than a couple months ago Imma. I can almost hear the enthusiams in your internet stranger voice :)

Good luck with the last exams and enjoy your well deserved vacations!

Imma

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Re: Students of MMM unite!
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2019, 02:57:00 AM »
I can't believe it's already August! Just officially enrolled in all my new classes + thesis. I passed the exam in July and I also got the work certification. That one was mostly just a hassle, not truly difficult exams, but I jumped through all of the hoops and now I'm in a public register of people who do their job well and will use this to ask for a raise.

I can't believe how much quicker this Master's is going compared to the LLB. That just seemed like an endless amount of exams, assignments and papers. The LLM is just 60 credits and I'm already halfway. The mandatory general courses and the mandatory courses related to my specialization are done now, the only things left to do are writing a thesis and taking 15 ECTS of electives. I'm not too worried about the thesis, my previous one went very well. I still have to pick one elective - I'm not really sure about picking the 'career' choice or the 'fun' choice. As adding more fun to my life is a goal I'm seriously considering that one.