Tackling the Thoughts That Stop You From Studying

Sometimes, we get caught up in the minor issues of our lives, mistakenly perceiving them as more significant than they truly are. It’s easy to get so immersed in studying for a test like the Board of Certification (BOC) exam that it starts to feel like the only thing that matters. This intense focus can be either pleasant or unpleasant.

When the task at hand lacks urgency or importance, and you feel successful and absorbed in your work, it can be an awesome, even energetic experience. However, things can take a different turn if you find the task too difficult. You might hit a roadblock, feel stuck, and begin to doubt your capabilities. If this self-doubt is coupled with the belief that you must complete the task, you’ll inevitably stress yourself out. The problem is, we often don’t realize we are having these thoughts.

Examining Common Thoughts

“I can’t do this” — PROBABLY NOT ENTIRELY TRUE…

The most accurate version might be, “I’m finding this very difficult and I might not be able to do it with my current time and energy,” or “This is so hard that I’m not enjoying it anymore and I feel like giving up.”

“I have to do this” — FALSE

While it’s never entirely true that you have to do something, it might be important…