What can I do to stay focused and awake while I’m studying MCAT?
Nutmeg: A good stay-awake method my sister taught me was strong gum (like Dentyne Ice or such–strong mint or cinnamon gum). Also works well for long drives. Additionally, there’s a dietary supplement called DMAE (dimethyl amino ethanol) which I heard Dr Perricone talk about in his lecture dealie that he gives during PBS fund raisers. He said that it was used to help ADHD kids once upon a time, and suggested that it helped attention. I used it, and while I didn’t perform any manner of controlled study, I’m pleased with the results, so why the hell not give it a try?
QofQuimica: It’s kind of crazy, but I find that chewing mint-flavored gum works for me, too. I’m not sure if it’s the actual mint itself that keeps you awake, or just that you’re doing something "physical," but it helps. Plus as a bonus your breath will smell nice.
Another good strategy is not to sit for hours at a time with no break. I think a break of a few minutes about once per hour is in order. Get up, stretch, walk around a little, get yourself a drink, that kind of thing. Having a few minutes to clear your mind every now and then will help stop you from getting fatigued. Also, figure out what kind of biorhythm you have (morning person or night person) and do the bulk of your studying then. I always found that I studied best in the morning for long periods, but I can read for a little while (maybe an hour or so) at night before going to bed. But I know some people like to stay up studying till the wee hours. If that’s you, then go with it.
I don’t advocate using DMAE or any other drugs; the potential benefit is not worth the potential risks IMHO. I would suggest that you try not to get yourself addicted to caffeine or other chemical aids to stay awake if you can avoid it. You do build up a tolerance to these things, and then it’s a pain to go through withdrawal. I’ve quit caffeine several times myself.
jmugele: I’d try mixing it up, and like I say to my kids when they’re cleaning, make a game of it. If I’m reading something for a few hours, then I’ll take a break and take a mini-practice test or do flash cards or switch subjects. I also liked to track my scores on various sections and overall and chart my progress (huge nerd, right here). But it kept me interested.
