Why I’m Able To Study 12 Hours with NO Breaks (How To Stay Productive)

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares personal strategies for maintaining focus and studying for extended periods, despite having ADHD. They recommend building up concentration gradually, using apps like Forest to avoid phone distractions and achieve a 'Flow State.' The speaker emphasizes the importance of uninterrupted study sessions and suggests taking 'Breathers'—short, less stimulating breaks without phones—to maintain concentration. They also critique the Pomodoro technique, preferring continuous focus over scheduled breaks.

Takeaways

• 📚 Start Small: The speaker emphasizes the importance of building up focus gradually, especially when studying for long periods.
• 🌳 Use Apps for Focus: The app 'Forest' is recommended to help maintain focus by discouraging phone usage during study sessions.
• 🚫 Avoid Distractions: The speaker has ADHD and finds that avoiding distractions is crucial for maintaining concentration.
• 🕒 Build Up Timer: Starting with a 30-minute focus timer and gradually increasing it can help build the ability to study for longer periods.
• 🌈 Reach Flow State: Achieving a 'Flow State' where one is fully immersed and possibly even finds enjoyment in the task is a goal.
• ⏱️ 20-Minute Rule: The speaker suggests starting with a 20-minute focus period to reach the Flow State without distractions.
• 🛑 Avoid Interruptions: Once in the Flow State, it's important not to interrupt the concentration with breaks.
• 🍅 Critique of Pomodoro: The speaker is not a fan of the Pomodoro technique due to its structured breaks which can disrupt concentration.
• 🏃‍♂️ Take Physical Breaks: Instead of using the phone, taking physical breaks like walking around can help reset focus.
• 📵 No Phone Policy: During breaks, the speaker avoids using the phone to prevent extended distractions.
• 👩‍⚕️ Practical Tips: The video offers practical tips for maintaining focus and studying effectively, even for those with ADHD.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker addresses in the video?

The speaker addresses the issue of losing focus and motivation during study sessions, particularly when taking short breaks that turn into long periods of distraction.

What is the speaker's professional background?

The speaker is a doctor who has graduated and shares strategies they used to study for up to 12 hours without breaks.

What is the first rule the speaker suggests for building focus?

The first rule is to build oneself up gradually, not expecting immediate results, and starting with small study sessions.

What app does the speaker recommend to help with focus and concentration?

The speaker recommends an app called 'Forest' to help maintain focus by discouraging phone usage during study sessions.

How does the 'Forest' app work to help with concentration?

The 'Forest' app sets a timer, and if the user goes on their phone within that time, an imaginary tree dies, which serves as a deterrent for phone usage.

What is the significance of the 'Flow State' mentioned by the speaker?

The 'Flow State' is a mental state where one is so immersed in a task that it becomes enjoyable and requires no distractions for at least 15 to 20 minutes to achieve.

Why does the speaker not prefer the Pomodoro method?

The speaker does not prefer the Pomodoro method because it involves breaking concentration with a 5-minute rest after every 20 minutes of work, which can disrupt the 'Flow State'.

What is the speaker's advice on how to handle breaks during study sessions?

The speaker advises that breaks should be less stimulating than studying, avoiding phones and opting for activities like walking around, stretching, or grabbing a snack without the phone.

What does the speaker mean by 'Breather' in the context of the video?

'Breather' refers to the time spent not studying, which should be less stimulating and more boring than the study session itself to encourage returning to study.

What alternative strategies does the speaker suggest if the 'Forest' app is not suitable?

The speaker suggests alternatives like using the timer on a phone, the 'Flora' app, or documenting time spent concentrating on pen and paper.

How does the speaker describe the transition from being a medical student to a doctor?

The speaker mentions that they are now a doctor and offers to share insights into their current life through a vlog, but the details of the transition are not covered in the script.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Strategies for Effective Study Habits

The speaker, a doctor, shares personal strategies for studying effectively, even for up to 12 hours without breaks. They discuss the importance of building up focus gradually, especially with ADHD, and using an app called Forest to avoid phone distractions. The app encourages concentration by penalizing the user with the death of an imaginary tree if they use their phone during a set timer. The speaker emphasizes the significance of achieving a 'Flow State,' a mental state where one becomes so immersed in a task that it becomes enjoyable. They suggest starting with a 20-minute timer to reach this state without interruptions. The speaker also critiques the Pomodoro technique, preferring longer, uninterrupted study sessions. Lastly, they advise against taking breaks that involve phones, recommending less stimulating activities instead to maintain focus and motivation.

05:02

👩‍⚕️ Life as a Doctor and Staying Connected

In the second paragraph, the speaker invites viewers to take a look at their life as a doctor through a vlog link provided. They express gratitude for the audience's engagement with the video, urging them to like, comment, and subscribe for more content. The speaker wishes the viewers a wonderful week and teases the next video, creating anticipation for future content.

Keywords

💡ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by difficulty in maintaining attention and focus. In the video, the speaker mentions having ADHD and how it impacts their ability to concentrate, making the strategies shared even more relevant as they address overcoming such challenges.

💡Forest app

The Forest app is a productivity tool that helps users stay focused by planting virtual trees that grow as long as the user stays off their phone. If the user exits the app, the tree dies. This app is used by the speaker to build focus and avoid distractions, illustrating the importance of using external tools to aid concentration.

💡Flow State

Flow State is a mental state in which a person is fully immersed and involved in the activity they are performing, often leading to enhanced performance and enjoyment. The speaker emphasizes achieving this state as crucial for prolonged study sessions, advocating for uninterrupted focus to reach this level of productivity.

💡Pomodoro Method

The Pomodoro Method is a time management technique that involves working for a set period (usually 25 minutes) followed by a short break. The speaker contrasts this method with their own approach, explaining that frequent breaks can disrupt their flow and lead to extended periods of distraction, particularly with phone usage.

💡Breather

A breather refers to a short break taken to rest and recharge. In the video, the speaker redefines breaks as 'breathers' to avoid the freedom associated with typical breaks, which can lead to distractions. Instead, breathers are structured to be less stimulating and more boring than studying to encourage a quick return to work.

💡Exam Season

Exam season is the period leading up to and including exams, characterized by intensive study and preparation. The speaker discusses their strategies for maintaining focus and productivity during this time, sharing personal experiences and tools that helped them successfully manage long study sessions.

💡Distractions

Distractions are interruptions that divert attention away from the task at hand. The speaker highlights common distractions like social media and emphasizes the importance of minimizing these interruptions to maintain focus and achieve a flow state, using tools like the Forest app to manage and reduce distractions.

💡Study Techniques

Study techniques are methods or strategies used to enhance learning and retention. The speaker shares various techniques they used to study effectively, including using focus apps, minimizing distractions, and structuring breaks, providing a practical guide for viewers to improve their own study habits.

💡Concentration

Concentration is the ability to focus one's attention on a task. The video emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining concentration through gradual practice, using tools and techniques like the Forest app, structured breaks, and avoiding distractions to enhance study sessions and achieve academic success.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the drive to achieve goals and complete tasks. The speaker addresses common issues with maintaining motivation during long study sessions and provides strategies to stay motivated, such as starting with short focus periods and gradually increasing them, and creating an environment that minimizes distractions.

Highlights

Importance of building up focus gradually rather than expecting instant results.

Use of the app 'Forest' to discourage phone usage by setting a timer and growing a virtual tree.

The app 'Forest' may not be suitable for everyone, but it helped the speaker to focus.

Gradual increase in focus time from 30 minutes to 3 hours using Forest during exam season.

The concept of 'Flow State' where one becomes deeply immersed and possibly even enjoys the task at hand.

Achieving Flow State requires 15 to 20 minutes of uninterrupted focus.

Dislike for the Pomodoro method due to its break structure that can disrupt Flow State.

The speaker's strategy of studying for 12 hours without a break is actually a half-lie.

Studying for 12 hours without moving from the desk is not possible or productive.

The importance of not interrupting the brain when it's in a flow state.

Defining breaks as 'Breather' and making them less stimulating than studying.

Avoiding phones during breaks to prevent distraction and maintain focus.

Recommendation to engage in less stimulating activities like walking around during breaks.

The speaker's personal experience of doing laps around the library during breaks.

The strategy of making non-studying activities boring to facilitate a return to focused studying.

Additional resources provided on avoiding phone distractions and the speaker's life as a doctor.

Transcripts

we've all been there you schedule in a

15 minute break you grab a coffee a

snack you check YouTube then Instagram

then Tik Tok and suddenly your 15minute

break has turned into 2 hours and you

have absolutely no motivation to sit

back down at your desk I have been there

but it does not have to be like that

these were the strategies that I use to

study for up to 12 hours with no breaks

and graduate as a doctor rule number one

the most important is to build yourself

up do not expect it to happen overnight

I have diagnosed ADHD and focus

evidently does not come easily to me but

the best thing that I did every single

exam season was to start off small I am

a religious user of an app called forest

forest is not for everyone basically you

set a timer on your phone so that if you

go on your phone within that timer a

tree dies not a real tree an imaginary

tree and for some reason that stops me

going on my phone I understand for a lot

of people the thought of an imaginary

true d is not enough motivation to stop

them from going on their phone and I I

understand so it doesn't have to be

Forest but for me at the beginning of

exam season I would set my Forest timer

to 30 minutes and then by the end of

exam season I would consistently be

setting 3our timers and not going on my

phone in that time and honestly I reckon

I could have done six seven or eight but

3 hours is the maximum timer that you

can set on Forest other apps you could

use include Flora the timer on your

phone or even just a documentation pen

to paper of the amount of time that you

are able to concentrate without losing

focus if you want any hope in Hell of

being able to study for 12 hours with no

break this is the most important thing

that you have to make a nonnegotiable

and that is to not interrupt your brain

when it is trying to get you into a flow

State Flow State my lovely lot is this

incredible place that your mind can take

you to where you are so immersed in a

task the task May begin to become dare I

say enjoyable even studying even

something as arduous as flash cards even

if you are fully present and fully

concentrating on that task you may be

transported off to the mystical lands of

Flow State but there is a taxk to go to

the mystical lands of Flow State and

that task is 15 to 20 minutes no

distractions whatsoever this is why I

start off my Forest timer on 20 minutes

because a lot of the time when I start

off at 20 minutes by the time I get to

the 20 minutes I'm in Flow State I'm

immersed in my task and actually often I

can continue on for longer than I

intended if I find I've made it to Flow

State I will just continue this is why

I'm not that fond of the paduro method

if you're not familiar with the Pomodoro

if you're not familiar with the Pomodoro

method I believe it's 20 minutes of

working 5 minutes rest I might have the

time slightly off but for me when I've

worked hard at not getting distracted

and concent in so that I can get myself

to a place of flow I don't want to then

break it up with a 5 minute scroll on my

phone that then inevitably turns into an

hour and a half and finally the punch

line obviously this video is all about

how I'm able to study for 12 hours

without a break and what if I told you

that is a half lie I do not stare at my

laptop for 12 hours without moving it

from my desk it is not possible to study

for 12 hours without moving from your

desk and maintain consistent

concentration throughout that time how

many many of us are actually able to

stick to a scheduled break this is why

when I'm studying I try not to refer to

them as breaks because a break to me

means freedom to do whatever the hell

you please no no no no no if I'm

studying if I'm trying to get the most

out of my day I have quite specific

rules for the periods of time where I am

not studying what are these rules I hear

you ask well the Breather aka the time

that I'm spending not studying needs to

be less stimul ating AKA more boring

than actually studying that means no

phones so when I start to notice I'm

making silly mistakes or my brain is

getting tired I won't go on my phone I

will get up and I will probably just go

for a wander around the library or

wherever I'm studying and a lot of the

time I look a little bit silly when it

was med school exam season I would

frequently be seen doing laps around the

library but because I didn't have my

phone and actually walking laps around

the library is pretty boring it made it

so much EAS easier to come back and sit

back down at my desk because honestly

answering practice questions was a lot

more interesting you don't have to walk

around the library you can stretch you

can grab a coffee grab a snack but

whatever you do you're not allowed to

bring your phone with you if like me

often going on your phone is your

biggest enemy when it comes to trying to

get anything done or studying then I

would recommend this video that I'm

going to put here where I talk about how

going on your phone can sometimes end up

in this pseudo Flow State which is the

danger zone for going on your phone and

staying on it too long or if you want to

see a little bit about what life looks

like for me now that I'm a doctor and

not a medical student I will pop a vlog

here if you found this video useful then

please don't forget to like comment

subscribe I hope you have a wonderful

wonderful wonderful week and I will see

you in the next video