Comments on: The Grade Whisperer: Ron’s Feeble Focus http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/ Demystifying Sustainable Success Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:12:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Douglas http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-15331 Douglas Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:08:44 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-15331 I haven't searched your entire site yet, however do you have any tips on non-standard students? Such as parents. I have two boys and my wife works. So when I am not at school I am home watching my boys while doing my homework, talk about distracting. Plus its not like I can go hide because they are both under 5, dangerous if left alone. I haven’t searched your entire site yet, however do you have any tips on non-standard students? Such as parents. I have two boys and my wife works. So when I am not at school I am home watching my boys while doing my homework, talk about distracting. Plus its not like I can go hide because they are both under 5, dangerous if left alone.

]]> By: Parkaboy http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10532 Parkaboy Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:12:35 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10532 Rock and hard spot: while this may seem extreme, sometimes when I have online homework, I make use of a grease monkey script, called invisibility cloak that disables browsing to any website but my homework, more info can be found here, <a href="http://lifehacker.com/149252/invisibility-cloak-update" rel="nofollow"> Rock and hard spot: while this may seem extreme, sometimes when I have online homework, I make use of a grease monkey script, called invisibility cloak that disables browsing to any website but my homework, more info can be found here,

]]> By: Focus Study Tips http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10208 Focus Study Tips Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:06:41 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10208 Great approach you have given us for focusing better in our studies (and send my regard to Ron, too. I'm sure he is grateful for your help). I particularly agree with you on also taking note of the location a person should be studying or taking care of any part of their coursework to keep in focus. This is sadly one of the reasons why people seem to lose focus. Most of us have this misconception that to focus is to stick one's nose on anything and that's just it. They fail to realise that in focusing, your have to take care of other aspects, like defining what makes you focus, avoiding distractions and to take each task one at a time, and not gobble it all as a whole, which only causes more stress. If you are in a distraction-prone venue, of course you can't focus. <a href="http://www.faststudyskills.com" rel="nofollow">-Focus Study Tips</a> Great approach you have given us for focusing better in our studies (and send my regard to Ron, too. I’m sure he is grateful for your help). I particularly agree with you on also taking note of the location a person should be studying or taking care of any part of their coursework to keep in focus. This is sadly one of the reasons why people seem to lose focus. Most of us have this misconception that to focus is to stick one’s nose on anything and that’s just it. They fail to realise that in focusing, your have to take care of other aspects, like defining what makes you focus, avoiding distractions and to take each task one at a time, and not gobble it all as a whole, which only causes more stress. If you are in a distraction-prone venue, of course you can’t focus.

-Focus Study Tips

]]> By: Nolan http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10060 Nolan Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:25:50 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-10060 I recently discovered the beauty of printing out my WebAssign homeworks and doing them on paper before I entered them in online. I found that I had plenty of room to do my work on paper, got distracted less, and got more of the problems right the first time. The same goes for any online readings or research articles. I get much more understanding from being able to take them off-line, highlight them, make comments, etc. all away from an electronic device! I recently discovered the beauty of printing out my WebAssign homeworks and doing them on paper before I entered them in online. I found that I had plenty of room to do my work on paper, got distracted less, and got more of the problems right the first time. The same goes for any online readings or research articles. I get much more understanding from being able to take them off-line, highlight them, make comments, etc. all away from an electronic device!

]]> By: Ilham http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9853 Ilham Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:22:31 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9853 Hi there Cal, Thanks a lot for this post. This was exactly the same problem I was having, I can continue at times but mostly it is difficult to continue or even begin. I will set into motion some of these ideas right away. Hi there Cal,

Thanks a lot for this post. This was exactly the same problem I was having, I can continue at times but mostly it is difficult to continue or even begin. I will set into motion some of these ideas right away.

]]> By: Jim http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9837 Jim Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:30:33 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9837 I read in your read book that if you're working hard, then you're doing something wrong. Doesn't that apply all the time? I guess hard work is sometimes necessary after all. I read in your read book that if you’re working hard, then you’re doing something wrong. Doesn’t that apply all the time? I guess hard work is sometimes necessary after all.

]]> By: Connie http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9828 Connie Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:37:32 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9828 I like the idea of having more specific work tasks, but what about computer science courses that require a lot of programming? how can you account for last minute bugs? sometimes I'm able to finish very fast, and sometimes it just takes forever. I like the idea of having more specific work tasks, but what about computer science courses that require a lot of programming? how can you account for last minute bugs? sometimes I’m able to finish very fast, and sometimes it just takes forever.

]]> By: Weyana http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9827 Weyana Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:18:01 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9827 Just wanted to make the suggestion that these same techniques are great for any type of work that needs to be done. When I started working from home, I followed the location rule and set up multiple accounts on my computer, restricting one from games and such because I knew my willpower was lacking. ;) (This worked well until Vista came out and I got a new laptop, because then I had to make both accounts admins just so I could FUNCTION on the work account, so I have slid a bit with my 'no surfing/facebooking' rule.) Just wanted to make the suggestion that these same techniques are great for any type of work that needs to be done. When I started working from home, I followed the location rule and set up multiple accounts on my computer, restricting one from games and such because I knew my willpower was lacking. ;) (This worked well until Vista came out and I got a new laptop, because then I had to make both accounts admins just so I could FUNCTION on the work account, so I have slid a bit with my ‘no surfing/facebooking’ rule.)

]]> By: Study Hacks http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9820 Study Hacks Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:19:18 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9820 <blockquote>Being reasonable is, for me, the single most important aspect of this. </blockquote> I really agree. It feels good during the height of scheduling to envision getting everything done in a short amount of time, but when that fails to happen it creates all sorts of havoc. <blockquote>Mastering chemistry courses are currently wreaking havoc on my scholastic life, as the beautiful shiny inter tubes is simply one click away at all times</blockquote> Maintain the location rule. Go somewhere that is set aside entirely for chemistry work and follow the rule that in that location there is no random web surfing.

Being reasonable is, for me, the single most important aspect of this.

I really agree. It feels good during the height of scheduling to envision getting everything done in a short amount of time, but when that fails to happen it creates all sorts of havoc.

Mastering chemistry courses are currently wreaking havoc on my scholastic life, as the beautiful shiny inter tubes is simply one click away at all times

Maintain the location rule. Go somewhere that is set aside entirely for chemistry work and follow the rule that in that location there is no random web surfing.

]]> By: Jason http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9819 Jason Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:40:00 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/10/09/the-grade-whisperer-rons-feeble-focus/#comment-9819 Hello, Found your blog with some searching. I have a college blog as well. We need to stick together. Let's exchange links. Let me know if this is possible. Sincerely, Jason COLLEGEtickr.com Hello,

Found your blog with some searching. I have a college blog as well. We need to stick together. Let’s exchange links. Let me know if this is possible.

Sincerely,
Jason
COLLEGEtickr.com

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