h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now, I love this time of year usually. There's something about the crisp air of late autumn that makes me feel really alive.

The thing that's p***ing me off at the moment is that I can't let myself enjoy any of it.

I thought the reading load for uni was bad enough last year, but right now I truly am like a drowning man. Or should say woman, I suppose - but it doesn't have quite the same ring to it for some reason. (See - at least I'm keeping my sense of humour).

Honestly though, it's coming up to 22:15 on Sunday night as I type this, and I still have two whole books to get through before 10am tomorrow morning.

I have been really good and haven't procrastinated all day - I have been diligently reading since I woke this morning, and still don't feel as though I have made the slightest dent in what I need to get through.

OK so I'm here in H2-land right now, but if I didn't break away from reading for 10 minutes or so every couple of hours I wouldn't take anything in anyway.

What *is* my problem? I've always been a really quick reader, and it's not even as though what I'm reading is complicated with loads of big words that I can't understand - and if there were it takes no time to look them up on OED online!

I think my problem is my notetaking technique, to be honest; and that I can't skim read very well. And I really don't know what I can do about that.

Well, I don't know what you can do before 10AM. Good luck!

One of the books that came with my Open Uni course is a book about studying, and that covers skim reading, and about learning to know when and how much you need to read. And note taking. I'm finding it really helpful, perhaps your course tutor could recommend something like that for you? Mine is called the 'Science Good Study Guide' (or s2g2 as I've been abbreviating it ) but obviously that's for a science course. There might be something similar for yours? Or just a book that would help. Yes, one more book, sorry.

The Openings courses are designed for people who haven't studied for a long time (ie us oldies!) so it's mainly teaching study techniques. Although you're kind of putting me off going on to further study.

There is deffo a skill to reading loads and loads..

I found that frequently a *lot* of what you read isn't really that relevent to your cirruculam. The talent I suppose is finding the bits to really read properly and which bits to skim over. Like Mina said there are lots of books that help to teach these skills.

Funnily enough, I found an old (well, from about 6 years ago) OU book about study techniques at the weekend; it had been lurking in a pile of stuff underneath the telephone table that I had to move when Boy Wonder knocked a glass of water over...

Flicked though it and it looks really useful; problem is I haven't had time to read it yet! << *seem to be suffering terminal mood-swings, too!*

Ideno - please don't be put off higher education by my whinging; despite all the frustrations (most of which I cause myself!) I wouldn't give up the experience for all the redbush tea in South Africa. And fitting in with the 'kids' on my course has reminded me that it's only the body getting old - the core that is really me is still as young, vital and as ever.

FB - you're spot on about the skill thing; and the 'loads of stuff you don't really need to read' thing! My difficulty is switching off when it comes to reading things that I have an inkling I won't need, since I find everything fascinating. Think I need to learn to be more ruthless.

Indeed.

I found that skimming is something that as you practice it it becomes easier and easier. I also found that taking newspapers every day helps.
In essence reading a newspaper is exactly the right thing, you skim over critically looking for what interests you.

It is always important to find a happy medium with study any how. All work no play makes jack a dull boy and all that. I know loads of people who spoke like you are now who sort of burned themselves out. sometimes it is better to be sharp but not know everything !

>> sometimes it is better to be sharp but not know everything ! <<

The very idea!! The whole point of gaining my degree is so I can justify myself to people who call me a know-all!

...................

Actually, that's not true; the point of gaining a degree is to prove to myself that I can do it, thereby curing myself of raging intellectual insecurity. Which is probably funnier and even more of a sad reason than the joking one above.

Perhaps that same intellectual insecurity is why I push myself so hard. Crikey - I'm getting far too introspective these days. <<(closest I can find to a psychoanalyst-smiley)