Focus & Concentration: Crash Course Study Skills #5

[@Jabbawokeez4]

Had to watch this 2 times cause it was so helpful. Focus is my main academic weakness. This is what I took from the video: 1. Have a space for work only 2. Don't multitask. 3. Work 30 min, then take a break that DOESN'T switch your attention. 4. Don't give in to urges to switch attention or they will get stronger. Ignore them and they will get weaker. 5. Eat,sleep, exercise. 6. Even following all these, only so much can be done in a day.

[@TheHelghast1138]

Indeed

[@lilyplays2832]

Thank you!

[@antekotarac8848]

"(...)What is probably the biggest problem students struggle with, which is procrastination. I'll see you then." The pun game is strong here.

[@thespeedyyoshi]

ohhhhhhhhh

[@Goldenblade14]

I have my first exam over medical terminology tomorrow morning...wait, there's a new Crash Course Study Skills? This series has made me realize how terrible I am with managing my time when a video talking about managing my time is distracting me from getting work done.

[@nickc3657]

I love using an app called Forest, you grow a forest as you get things done (you can't exit the app while the tree is growing). God damnit I wrote it too early.

[@cassif19]

Nick C Forest is also great because as trees grow and the forest is formed, you get a feeling of accomplishment that charges you to keep on studying, even if you're not that interested in the subject.

[@jovan3IM]

hey ,if anyone else wants to discover how to focus at work tips try Vaxicorn Instant Focusing Guide(should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my work buddy got amazing success with it.

[@shodan658]

I absolutely love the app's idea, but I personally wasn't comfortable giving the app so many permissions on my phone, and I know that it won't function properly without having that amount of access, but I just don't trust the developer(s) enough to be sure that they won't misuse that amount of permissions.

[@elliesch1924]

I have that app two!! It great

[@crocopie]

Not effective if you need KZbin to study.

[@mMeFlora]

it usually takes me between 20-30 minutes to get my attetion started.... idk it takes me forever to get going but once i am working i hyperfocus for around 3 hours. staying focused isnt my problem - its starting.

[@Heulerado]

Yep, that's me. But with time it gets harder and harder to get started. The distractions are too many. The urge to watch KZbin or play games is too strong at first. And by the time I'm on the way to focusing, I'm already too tired to go on. Wanna start a tip thread for us lazy starters? I just thought that going to a place where people can see me could make me feel embarassed of getting distracted, and there would be this "Hey everyone, look at me! I'm working! I'm a good human being!" feeling that human brains like so much.

[@NadieHoy]

mMeFlora I also find very diffixult to start... but when Im in it, No one cant stop me.

[@foteininikolaou4172]

SAME

[@connorp3030]

I have to start in the morning, if i watch a youtube vid before I work the work will never start.

[@alesterprince518]

Create a timer on your phone for how long you wish to study (ie 25 minutes) and tell yourself that as soon as tree timer starts you can only study. The fact that there's a literal on/ off button makes everything easier.

[@csharpmajor4810]

I saw a couple of comments saying this isn't really a helpful video for adhd. But, my dudes, a lot of the things in this video (find a study space suited to you/break down tasks/beware of attention fatigue/make sure you sleep + exercise/remove distractions that you are able to remove etc.) are totally relevant (particularly the last two; no sleep and you can wave your working memory good bye for a while, whereas exercise is a hella good brain thing, and if you take meds it also makes them more effective). Also, the warning against task-switching: we have adhd - we SUCK at task-switching. Totally relevant! The study skills taught for adhd are just study skills, but with the understanding that there might need to be some tweaks (e.g. break a task down? Cool; don't just put 'write intro,' put down every tiny step for it. It gives you specifics so you're not overwhelmed, and also gives that reward-dopamine rush our brains love from completing a task). Having said that, I'm P-I, and boy howdy is it hard to implement when you're distracted by the inside of your brain instead of cat videos. But like, it's the actual skills they teach you, and they actually work. It's just really, really hard at the start :/

[@alphabettical1]

Csharpmajor ah, the refreshing feeling of seeing ADHD being referred to with PI correctly

[@kateschmid2889]

What is PI? Sorry for my ignorance!

[@alphabettical1]

Kate Schmid I'm at school so I'll keep this short: you know how there's ADHD and then ADD? There actually isn't - it's all the one disorder, ADHD. There are subtypes though. PI stands for primarily (or presents) Inattentive, which would've been usually diagnosed ADD before. Primarily Hyperactive is the other one, if I remember correctly; I don't have time to Google rn. Combined is the most common type, especially with adult ADHD. Hope that helps - if you want to know more, Google as I'm not sure I've remembered things correctly.

[@ZohaibJarwar]

Your these two videos: Focus and Concentration Procrastination Whenever I don't feel like studying or I'm unable to study, I watch these videos and apply in my studies and my life. They have helped me a lot in past 2 years. I watched these 2 videos may be hundred times.

[@kotilabdulkadir]

Are you also got distracted by comments while he talks ?

[@Tarantio1983]

Abdülkadir Kotil what?! No ... Of course not! Oooooh! Squirrel!

[@usbgamers123]

Abdülkadir Kotil Was he talking?

[@anoshkaben8378]

This was helpful

[@guntericeking6330]

did*

[@avanichar4021]

Abdülkadir Kotil yep

[@LeafLeafy]

Thank you for your coverage of multitasking--I've always felt weirdly deficient as the only person I know who refuses to multitask since it is so difficult for me. Knowing that that is more or less the norm is really gratifying!

[@L_shaba7]

When he said multitasking I was doing something else and listening to him at the same time

[@aliaphoenix7194]

mohamed ahmed I was sorting through my MTG cards

[@MrDiscoOmastar]

Anyone else watching this instead of studying?

[@lucas8089]

Yup

[@thandie67]

MrDiscoOmastar lol yup

[@alecavery8820]

Hell yea

[@Jackie-nt6tq]

The irony

[@nathanbickel3916]

MrDiscoOmastar Wow. This is the most original comment I've ever seen. 11/10 for originality.

[@andysartz]

I wish I had watched this video earlier. It is EXACTLY what I needed! I think I'm great at time management but lately, I've been feeling my focus diminishing. And I don't like it at all. Now I've got an idea of how to start to fix this. Thanks!

[@planto.omorrow3280]

I'm heading back to school after a year off and I'm reviewing this series to get back in the mode! Thanks for another great series!!

[@viliussmproductions]

Thank you guys. Well timed as well, it's September, so many will find this especislly useful.

[@moazeldefrawy4379]

Main 2 helpful points for me: - have a study environment that has as few distractions as possible. - increase your tolerance for boredom

[@benh488]

Pay attention on the video not the comments smh 🤦‍♂️

[@pyrotheevilplatypus]

Hey, I *paused* the video to read the comments!

[@johnsridaoduan2368]

@@pyrotheevilplatypus Haha!!!

[@TheHelghast1138]

@@pyrotheevilplatypus me too! Lol

[@Lily.valkyrie]

Bless you man, and your other channel. As someone who sucks at healthy studying habits and has adhd, these videos are really freaking helpful gold mines.

[@RDeathmark]

This video is ableist! I have attention deficit disorder so telling me how to pay attention is oppressing me! On a more serious note I am listening to this video while working it's a physical job mostly so I'm able to focus my body on the task in my mind on listening to the video and listening to the video helps me at work by actually helping me to focus more on my work because I'm less easily distracted and bored by what I'm doing I think that this video is very over simplistic and its portrayal of what makes you able to concentrate easier and what detracts from concentration and stuff like that

[@jolieusher747]

Very helpful! Much appreciated, thank you. I will really try these tips because I can't focus for more than 2 minutes without getting distracted and before I know it 3 hours go by and I kick myself for wasting so much time geez

[@jasmeetk0]

OKAY. I'm going to finish reviewing for my exams now. Wish me luck! I really hope my attention muscle would have a nice workout today.

[@helios_v2]

Because of these videos, my notes ON these videos are top-notch.

[@Submersed24]

Seeing that I paused the video right now to write this comment, I have something interesting to point out: I typically read multiple things/articles at once when I am writing essays because writing and creativity involves breadth of thinking. Switching back and forth between similar subjects can actually increase creativity I find. For math however, it is best to have no distractions at all because you need depth of thinking.

[@LivLaugh]

The timing of this series is impeccable! This year I'm going through hell and back to get a teaching degree in France..

[@wilsscribbles3304]

Pomodoro Technique! You can get focus keeper apps which set a timer for hard work for 25 minutes and then a 5 minutes, once you've done about 4 rounds you get a long break of 25 minutes, you get so much more done!

[@imcrazysosueme]

"These footnotes are not actually related to the content above. 10/10 for noticing" So I was distracted but it kinda paid off?

[@jotagabe]

It`s almost a decade i get out my house to a library and i had promised myself my focus would get better. At least i had some hope. But now i still get amazed how people can sit down on a chair and stay focused for long hours. I am in a mastering degree right now and i am having a very hard time when i am writing some essay or reading a book. Things get even harder when a need to read a book in English (as you guys may have spotted already English is not my mother language). Every time i wondered if i have ADHD people just say "nah, you are just lazy and do not have will" or "nah, if you did manage to get into college you do not have any problem". As i am getting old and frustrated for do not have the focus i hoped, even using the pomodoro techie and others, i think i should see a doc and talk seriously. Did you guys even promised yourselves you you finish just one paragraph without daydreaming and your focus simply vanish at the second line? It is sad.... you do not feel motivated in any way.

[@francoislacombe9071]

How dare you insinuate that I look at cat videos while listening to you? I play solitaire.

[@applepenguin5074]

You have no idea how close I was to opening a solitaire tab, instead of getting to work after reading this

[@Kellen_Quigley]

3:25 - Cowboy B-Ball - Quad City DJs vs The Seatbelts. It's so good.

[@TheHelghast1138]

A man of Culture I see Love those old folk blues See You Later, Space Cowboy 😎🎷🚀

[@masentledlamini3160]

I wish this study skills series was around when I was in first year...🙃 could’ve saved me man. It’s still helping me in third year though 😌

[@TheRebelSpyGamer]

I really like this series - it's nice to go to a crashcourse-brand video rather than sifting over some social media's "top ten tips" for some iota of useful information.

[@indirapoitier338]

Listen to this guy, he knows what he's talking about. I'm proof. you can do it.

[@OlivertheJoyboy]

These are great tips. Thank you so much! I am in ninth grade and I really have trouble focusing on my work. So thank you a bunch. I will apply these tips when I'm at school and doing my homework

[@Antenox]

I can assure you I did not click away during the first four videos. I watched them while driving on my commute, so your videos had 100% of my attention! In other news, anyone have a recommendation for a good body shop in the LA area?

[@whitneyempey4429]

Figures I was having problems with concentration when this video went live. Thanks Crash Course!

[@krutishaileshkanaskar7924]

I liked the video just because we'll be having procrastination as a topic next time! YAS!

[@meryemosmanaga4191]

Thanks for his great video 👍🏻

[@onetwo4833]

"Silent, totally isolated desk in the basement of a library" - That literally sounds like a dream ahahaha. I just about got giddy thinking about :P

[@yamayayutraca]

I like how I walked downstairs, took a peak at my brother watching The Flash, dodged a conversation with my mom, and got the exact flavor of tea I wanted all within the intro XD

[@Philboshaba]

This video is about to change my life!!

[@lokiofmidgard4921]

Thomas is my favorite youtuber.

[@ephycs]

I like your setup it gives me lots of eye-candy and keeps me on the page

[@bepherr]

I love Forrest!!

[@emilskov2783]

Good job, the 'Forest' app is pretty fun to use

[@HananAman20]

I can't focus without drawing .. I don't know why it's a habit I guess .. every time I'm in the class I find myself busy drawing the teacher's nose or something !

[@kevlonk]

Thank you for letting me find out about Forest! And more importantly, thank you for this video, it put a lot of my (bad) study habits in perspective!

[@kreffus]

Thanks a lot! Was really helpful

[@KylePapili]

By far my favorite crash course series

[@majadaddel9141]

This series is the best!

[@earthling7183]

I just checked off the list in my student planner: "Watch 2 CC Study Skills videos". (I watched 3 because they're wicked awesome yo.)

[@faithm2551]

Is listening to music actually worse for studying? I've heard people say that it doesn't help, and i know for me that it takes me longer to complete an assignment sometimes. At the same time, it makes it much more enjoyable for me and I find that i don't get as bored as easily. I have actually got ahead on assignments because i wanted a reason to listen to music.

[@joekotlarsic4360]

Have yall ever considered doing a Crash Course to Criminal Justice? I know it's a fluid and sensitive subject but I feel like it would teach a lot of aspiring policemen and citizens the basics of law.

[@armorsmith43]

JoeKing K lawcomic.net

[@شمسالأمل-غ1ش]

really helpful thank you very much ❤

[@anirudhakumar1653]

thanks for such a nice compilation all the things needed for attention..

[@Zetto129]

Waited till the end of the video..now I am going to find those corgies jumping into a lake :)

[@cowboy0827]

This is very helpful, I am doing remote learning right now so thank you.

[@savannahhamilton8044]

Yah, I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Dissorder) so this video is helpfull, very helpfull.

[@amru31]

Thank you so much! I absolutely needed this.

[@traxstaromega3467]

I love how this series has the most distracting background of them all. I cant stop watching that spinning light bulb in the background XD (for comparison crash course history literally had just whiteness a black board and a globe. This one has a guitar, all kinds of books, a bird, wall-e, a manor of statues. ect.) Out of curiosity was that all on purpose, or did it just kinda happen? im guessing its on purpose.

[@rebecca3647]

If I'm doing something boring, I take a page out of Pavlov's book and train myself to do portions and reward myself for finishing it. For example, if I'm reading a boring book, I'll read a few chapters, then watch an episode of a show I like.

[@soumiayousfi9968]

Thank you for the video 💗💗💗

[@halfsasquatch]

Interestingly enough a lot of this is stuff I've been working on with my academic support coach and psychologist

[@kalpnasaxena9112]

Me: *six seconds in* Me: *opens description box because why not* Thomas: "...promise me you're not gonna click over to another tab.." Me : um wow Then Me: *writes this comment*

[@Chaseosa]

I never get distracted by cat pictures... But puppies are another story.

[@leseanpayne2805]

I have been here for 10 minutes dancing to space jam x Tank! and you should have foreseen this as a possibility.

[@MrSlicksuperman]

College Info Geek doing a crash course?? I dig it You the man Thomas!

[@conceptualactions1828]

wow nicely explained👏👍

[@dominickoquin3103]

Ty, I love this channel.

[@FallyingHigh]

This is my favorite so far. Keep it up CC Study Skills! :D

[@Symorialove]

Seriously love this! Thank you for making this! It's really a big help👍🏽🙏🏾

[@mohammedkarim8627]

great episode . thanks

[@cassioamorim1348]

By 3:20, I already answered 3 msgs on the phone, checked the pace in a game, and made a toast.

[@PikkuPossu123]

Great tips, thank you!

[@LianaHo421]

Thank you so much Thomas! Your tips are accurate and are so helpful! I love you!:)

[@sarahhumbert5970]

Can we get a crash course study skills for people with ADHD or other learning disabilities. I love this but I can't do a lot of it

[@esperanzaestaestudiando5099]

Question: How is this different to ADHD with not being able to regulate your attention?

[@dave14647]

this is so good please make more

[@JonathanIsrael708]

Should be studying for my MCSA, but instead I did my budget, called my student loan servicer, grabbed some tacos, watched tv while I ate said tacos, did some laundry, and now watching this videos. 😂

[@gabbyholloman9398]

I actually do best if I don't take breaks 😅 I normally study for a about 2-4 hours at a time. I get hyper focused and if I stop I know I won't come back to the notes. (Most of the time I don't even know how much time has passed I set alarms on my phone so that I won't accidentally study into the late night 🤷🏻‍♀️)

[@tunesmithdainfinitytunegat1691]

With me it’s cravings it’s the reward if I’m not doing other acts it makes me feel normal sort of but I can notice when the brain is going into another set of thinking it’s like phantom thoughts that materialize in the brain just read for 8 hrs then go back after a break then don’t do it for a two weeks I think myself it takes more reading time... to get more information... the information is known even if it’s not rapid it’s a mind trick it’s other ways to describe it but can’t say 24-48 hours of reading you would have a lot of info even if you read News 72 hours is a lot of reading 1000hours but to the mind it’s always chemical reactions based on community or endo exo modes for one Maladaptive learning experience or vitamins in vitro to Vivo dithering it’s also Disintegrative integrative praxis.. the mind can take in the most a list of 100 items but it’s clear mindedness it takes preparation.. after a while it takes longer to think because you find out that it’s all just what it is.. it’s all Mathematics... I THINK TO DAY TURN ON MUSIC AND DANCE AND GROOVE GET DOWN WITH BOTH FEET AND PUT YA HEAD UP hands up and wave... get your back off the wall and dance and sing along if your proud to make dollar bills... do the bank teller.. do the bank teller Go out and buy New Gucci.. look like a star you look broke if you got everything but the stupidest.. learning you now know everything just from the last part you cool

[@halfsasquatch]

The one problem I've just discovered with the separate work area approach approach is what happens when you lose access to your designated work area, which is why I'm now procrastinating with youtube videos instead of working. Although Saturday is typically my off/shopping/house work day anyways. Still trying to figure out how to get back on track....

[@echotree]

Thank you!

[@theshyguitarist4536]

This was the most important episode for me

[@heimonmisuiam]

Great video..

[@PsychoVdude13x]

Drawing as I'm watching this. 3:25 yeah that sounds about right.

[@suivaxbroussard9851]

Good on you, mate.

[@tino9676]

3:26 I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE COWBOY BEBOP SOUNDTRACK FOR THE PAST WEEK HOW DID HE KNOW

[@mjocosta8275]

Why are you scrolling down in the comments? GO TO THE VIDEO!!!!!!

[@llumar100]

Mjo Costa okey :c

[@fran6b]

I usually watch comments after listening to the video!

[@shoilo]

All of these are very helpful and useful but as a subscriber and also as a fan of crashcourse I can't help but say..Thomas, your presentation is appealing..one might say flawless..but I find it a bit rushed. Take a moment while you speak to let us digest what you just said. May be a 0.5 gear down could do the trick :) Nevertheless, please keep uploading these gems.

[@Veronica-wd5il]

make more earth system science vids ! such as plate tectonics, climate change, biochemical cycle, water cycle, ecosystems, including all the layers of the Earth! Thanks.

[@kevjumbaz]

Interesting topic Frank, as you mentioned in the video that the brain needs proper rest and nutrients, what are your thoughts on nootropics? Also, I'm glad that I'm ticking at least most of the boxes that you've mentioned in the video :)

[@kallistoindrani5689]

Great video!

[@ArktheLark]

Do you have any resources for people with ADHD and/or on the Autism Spectrum who have difficulty maintaining focus without bottom-up stimulation (i.e. stimming tools), and want to be able focus better on studying? For myself personally, studying is always difficult to maintain unless i have some form of stimming tool on me at all times, and I'm curious if you know anything that could help make it easier?

[@enriquecguerra]

One question: Do you recommend hearing music while studying or doing homework?

[@Chaseosa]

Okay, but once you suggested a Space Jam / Cowboy Bebop mashup song I HAD to look it up.

[@Guilysh]

And guys like me (with ADHD) got a real torture session trying to get focused on the video and not in the special effects, lights blazing on and off, and the cats getting the best of us away... Real nice video but certainly not meant for people who get easily distracted. Such a shame...

[@determinators]

yeah lmao unfortuantely most of these types of videos are focused on people that *aren't* adhd, which is funny for those of us that are

[@alphabettical1]

I find it interesting how many comments are saying this. I have ADHD too, and was frustrated throughout the video, although understanding it's not meant for me.

[@kuntamdc]

Guilysh sorry guys like you lol

[@incognito602]

Guilysh I actually find it easier to pay attention to this then the notes my teachers assign I guess because they are faster paced and have constantly changing screens. If I read the comments while watching the video I’m able to absorb more of the information. But that’s just me obviously it is different for everyone.

[@breannamay8800]

Incognito Me too. It's fast paced and there are a lot of things going on, which holds my attention. Unfortunately the advice doesn't help me, but I couls watch the video just fine.

[@si_fu62]

Great! Thanks!

[@sophpet5934]

Him: The first thing you need to do is stop multitasking Me: *slowly puts down phone*

[@NiteSaiya]

Watched this during a break after 7 hours of calculus. Think I've got focus nailed. If only I could focus without going overboard and burning out...

[@ZorroLifeForever]

I kind of have this problem too! When I focus really intent on something, I don't eat, drink, or do anything but that thing because I'm afraid to break my concentration.

[@zacharythebeau163]

I have not watched cat videos the last for videos, multitask yes, but I listen to Crash Course at work because I find it interesting (I'm a nerd I like learning and anime) which is odd considering I make hard liquor. That being said I'm watching a series on study skills while not having anything to study for... You know because not in school and well in general

[@missmonke8706]

Learning and anime... Have you watched Assassination classroom?