How do you prevent nodding off while reading a long-winded and dense textbook?
404933
A) dont do it when you are tired. maybe you have ADD, and even if you don't you can go to a doctor and get medicated for it. Atteroll works quite well when studying for finals....
36353
I am an English Literature major, and I sometimes don't want to read, but the best way to pass your class is to just read the book. You never know, you might end up LOVING the book that you have to read. As you read, think of things from the book that might relate to you life. It makes the reading go faster!
407229
Turn off your computer and concentrate on your study ! immediately
819250
Get away from home if you want to study. Go to the library, or some other place you are not used to.\n\nAnd do not over read one subject!!!\nFirst do some algebra, for may be 20 minutes, read 2-3 topics of science, some geometry for 30 minutes or more , english and french in between, etc.....\n\nIf you feel you are reading between the lines, dont force, change subjects and read another!\n\n\nAND REMEMBER!!!\nIts not all about how long you read for, Its how much you remember or understand at the end of day!\n\nAll my life I have been reading for less time than others who read overnite and so on, but beaten all!\n\nIf something comes to mind wen reading, close the books and do something else for a couple minutes then get back to read. Otherwise you will read all the books and fail to understand a thing!\n\nGood Luck!@@
701870
Do you exercise and take enough breaks? Maybe that would help. When you are on your breaking point of studying, stop. Don't force yourself into staring into books when you are not into it. Quality time may help more than quantity.\n\nDrink enough water, and well.. take enough breaks.
376461
You can do the stop and think method.  As you read stop and think.  You can stop and ask yourself a questions about what you read, try to relate to the text, etc.
322465
No one ever wants to study.  Your best bet would be to study with a group, read out loud, or break it up and study for like 15 minutes and take a 5 minute break.  If you try to study for say an hour, you're not going to keep anything in your head because since you don't want to study, you won't be paying attention, and you'll only be wasting your time.
887264
First of all, take a deep breath.  Then, set your alarm clock and take a nap if you need one - even just for an hour or so, and then the studying you do after that will be much more effective.  When you wake up have a quick shower, and a snack - your brain needs both sleep and food to operate well.  If coffee works for you, continue with that and a small snack every hour or two.  \n\nTry to focus on the information you know is very important and will almost certainly be on the exam, because you won't be able to do everything.  Review your notes.  Do you know someone who is taking the same exam tomorrow that you could possibly study with for a few hours?  That might help.  And do get at least some sleep tonight - it will help you.  And remember that this too shall pass, and most likely everything will be fine!  Good luck with it!!
567683
Concentrating and Reading\n\nIt is often difficult to concentrate during your studies. Here are some techniques that many students have found helpful. \nAsking Yourself Questions \nGetting the Most from Your Reading \nRead the Ideas \nAsking Yourself Questions\nThe key to maintaining focus is to stop periodically and ask yourself questions, such as \nHow does this relate to what I already know? \nIf this is true, what else follows? \nWhat else could these facts mean? \nWhat assumptions are being made? \nWhat's the evidence for this? \nCan I think of a good example of this? \nWhat are the unique points of this? \nGetting the Most from Your Reading\nCheck off (with a light pencil mark) each paragraph that you completely understand. If you start to get lost in the reading, you will know exactly where: just after the last check! \nIf a section is too difficult for you, try reading in a whisper. Hearing what we read is like reading it a second time. \nSimilarly, it is good to stop regularly and summarize out loud what you have just read. \nTry to link new information with the information you already know. Ask yourself, ``How do I already know this?'' You can also ask yourself questions such as the focus questions above. Active linking creates powerful memories. \nTake a few seconds to visualize what you have just read. \nDon't forget to jot down key words and concepts. If you read, `rite, and recite (``3R''), you've got a better chance of retaining crucial information. \nAfter taking a short break from studying, and before you start up again, take a few minutes to review the information you have just learned. This will give you a sense of progress and motivate you to continue on. \nRead the Ideas\nWhen you are reading \nStop at the end of each \nParagraph \nPage \nMain Section \nClose your book \nRecall the ideas from memory \nRecite the ideas out loud in your own words \n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\naugustine@columbia.edu\nLast update: February 4, 1996
33564
I am the exact same way.  I just don't learn by reading.  It's not my learning style.  Just because you are in college doesn't mean you have to read all of the time.  You will just be wasting your time if you don't learn anything from it.  Instead seek out study sessions and extra help from your professor, or hands on activities to help you comprehend the material.  Use the book as more of a reference than your main source of learning.  There are three distinct learning styles people have.  Kinesthetic- learning by doing, Audible- learning by hearing, or Visual- learning by seeing or reading.  You clearly aren't a visual learner.  Find your learning style and stick to it.
425654
you must read every day. dont along time. just 1-2 hours but full concentrate. make your feel better with slow music or you can read in silence place. you can make point about your reading, what important - write that. Try to love/interest every book you want to read, it make you easy to remember.
698798
I have trouble sometimes, too. I usually make sure I'm in a quiet room where I know that I will not be interrupted, I clear my mind, and I read. It's better to take it paragraph by paragraph, and make sure you understand one paragraph before going on to the next. You should take notes and look up words you don't know the meaning of to get a better understanding of the book. \n\nGood Luck:)
73194
Get a good sleep/rest. Exercise and eat good. Know you own bodies peak alertness time of the day, and lowest/lagging time of the day. A good location in the house or at a library( somewhere that you can avoid distractions). Teaching tapes of a subject are good, even when you fall asleep listening to them. I would not suggest eating a big meal before study. I would not suggest studying while laying in bed or having inadequate lighting in your chosen space to study. After reading material for study purposes, go over your notes every day, as if you were summarizing it, to keep it fresh in your mind. \n  If it is a subject that you can apply to your life, or make a real case scenario out of it, then by all means do so. I would not try to experiment with any chemicals to "boost" concentration. That would be the start of a downhill tragedy. Group study is helpful for some if you have serious people in the study ( I would not recommend a boyfriend or girlfriend).No distractions!
685276
No P_A_R_T_Y   \nWhen you study take breaks. \nShort ones, but still a break.\nRead over things more than once. \n\nI would sit under a tree study Drug therapy, then put the books down and just look at the birds and squirrels for a few minutes.  Then read over it again.\nanother few minutes later I would ask myself questions about it.\n\nCRAMMING DOESNOT WORK  TRUST ME!!!  IT GET EVERYTHING ALL JUMBLED IN YOUR HEAD AND YOU ARE WORSE OFF...
647143
At least an hour before you plan to go to bed, do something relaxing...anything...take a bath, listen to soothing tunes, read a book that is not too engrossing. That should help you to nod off. Don't rely on sleeping pills. You just have to make yourself calm down.
276957
You need the sleep. Study right before bed and your mind will put it all into storage as you sleep. If you insist on staying awake your grade will be disappointing but try espresso or yellowjackets
40160
Read alot  and instead of becoming interesting become interested.\nThats the secret.\neat, sleep, talk, dream books!