I get distracted by the people around me
I am studying in Std X and preparing for the NEET examination. Being a NEET aspirant, I am working as hard as I can. But I get distracted by the people around me, i.e., my relatives and parents who are always there to demotivate me. I really do not want to pay attention but still whenever they do so it really hurts me a lot. And at this stage I really feel so depressed that even if I try to study, I cannot. Please help me.
Pihu
Dear Pihu,
You are feeling completely discouraged and hurt that your parents and relatives demotivate you in your efforts to prepare for both Class X and for NEET.
While I’m not sure what exactly they do, how about rising to the challenge thrown out by your parents and relatives? Instead of trying not to pay attention to what they say, thank them politely for their comments and firmly say that you want to study, and ask them to leave you alone while you do. After some repetitive requests they will begin to get the message. If possible, find a safe, peaceful place to go to with your books. If you prefer, find a study buddy. You can study individually but in the same space. You can take turns at going to each other’s places. Another person’s presence might make them stop distracting you.
Each time they demotivate you, increase your determination to succeed. A creative way to vent your frustration would be to draw a tree with branches and leaves on a chart and put it up on the wall. Else, draw it in a notebook. Each time you feel discouraged, colour in a leaf and write ‘I can do this’. If the leaves finish, draw a new tree. For each leaf you colour, put in 25-minutes of focused study. Good luck!
Nasreen Hashambhoy is a Counsellor, Life Coach and a Facilitator of training programmes for schools and corporates. Through a combination of coaching, counselling and facilitation techniques based on cognitive science and positive psychology, she helps clients achieve their true potential. She is the author of the series Values In Action published by Better Yourself Books.