THE FORUMS

A PM Thread that I thought might be relevant for myself in the future as a reminder as well as some of you reading. 

Posting w/o authors permission so keeping it annoymous.

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So months ago you mentioned that you never have issues with irrelevant thoughts coming up while you are grinding things out at work, which is something I want to cultivate. The reason I do not go out during midterm and exam weeks is because a night of reference experience turns into a bunch of mental masturbation that I try hard not to engage in while studying the next day. This makes my academic focus very unproductive. Before RSD I analyzed EVERYTHING. Now it’s all about weaning off this addiction like my mom weaned me off her….Anyways…Its been about a year making sure I do not think about sets after I approach, etc.

Outside of pick up, its hard to keep things out of my mind while studying. It might take me 4-5 hrs of the first part of my day before that flow state in school just comes. I spend A LOT of time on school. I meditate (not consistently lately), and eat well, exercise, etc. It all contributes and helps.

I was wondering if you had any suggestions on getting focused and productive in what we consider work on a daily basis. I know all this will come with time, but Im wondering if there is something else I could be doing to get more focused in what I do on a day to day basis so that I can become that much more focused and can finally pursue multiple goals at a time.

Anything helps man, Thanks!
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Honestly when I was killing school I was focused on killing school. When I was killing my biz I was focused on that. These days I've been focused on pickup.

I think I've been able to maintain working towards those other things in my life by being VERY SMART about what I choose to do, and not doing a lot.

So what I would say is that I would: 1) focus on the 80/20 of school. For you maybe it's getting good grades. That means focusing on knowing the questions that the teacher will ask for the test. Make up the test before you take it. I was very very very good at guessing the exact questions that would be on my tests which helped me earn a 3.9 + scholarship + honors in my major.

Same for business and same for pickup. Know what you need to work on, guess what the most important parts of your game is to handle, and then focus in.

Dont try to do too much. Use your WILLPOWER wisely. Do less, just do more important things. This is "playing smart".

This is a skill in itself.

In terms of how to let go of thinking about pickup: use CBT. So when you have that thought come up instead of focusing on it, recognize that its DONE, what is done is done, and that you want to gracefully use what's taken place as a lesson for the future. Think of the lesson, then imagine that past event disappearing literally like a cloud, visualize it if it helps. I frame stuff ALL THE TIME and so do you so take control of that shit and do yourself a good one.

I find that writing my FR helps me frame everything, even bad nights, as positives.

Mostly man just relax.

Make the school shit bite sized. Put yourself in a room with only that bite to do. Do it. Take a break. Dont try to do too much, just try to work better.

Hope some of this helped, feel free to ask more questions
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I really appreciate your feedback. I've read it a few times now. This upcoming quarter, I'm definitely going to try and apply studying smarter. Took me a few years to realize that it was not about making as much time as I could for school (though in that time I became super efficient at cleaning, cooking, etc, since I had to make more time). This is really about studying smart. Spending my time in an intelligent manner.

The reason academics mean so much is because if I cannot blow through this barrier then how will I blow through everything else I want to achieve in my life.

Hate putting pick up on the back burner by the way, but I know school is my top priority in order for me to stay in Seattle.

I'lll keep it all in mind. THanks man!
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I would also suggest you read the book called "The Dip" where Seth Godin suggests the notion that "quitting" can be a very smart move.

In your case man I don't think quitting school is a good idea but I wouldn't confine yourself to the notion that if you aren't cut out for academia you therefore cannot accomplish great things. I think that is simply not true.

If you really really want to be great you need to be passionate about something and be willing to slug through the bullshit. If you aren't, you should quit, or just get through as efficiently as possible.

I wouldn't hold yourself to the (limiting) belief that not being the best at school means you won't succeed. Success is bred by PASSION / VISION, WILLPOWER, and ACTION.