My Study Habits With Chronic Pain
Ever since I was diagnosed with New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH), I have struggled with focusing during school. Focusing for a long period of time would increase my pain, and it took hours for my headache to come back to my baseline pain level. It has been a challenge for me, especially with online school, because you have to pay attention and sit in one place for hours. Over the past few years, I have built my study habits to focus with chronic pain and want to share some tips!
1. 50-10 rule
I use the 50-10 rule when I study and have been doing this more frequently especially with online school. I set a timer for 50 minutes and put my phone across the room. For that time period, I have a specific subject or study plan and get as much done in 50 minutes. When the timer goes off, I take a 10 minute break and get up from my desk and walk around, get a snack, or go on my phone. This technique has been very helpful because it helps break up my period of focus and makes it less likely that my headache will spike. It took me a while to focus for 50 minutes straight, so I recommend starting with 15-20 minutes and working your way up to 50 minutes.
2. 20-20-20 rule
The 20-20-20 rule is a technique I used in school frequently and continue to use during online school. For this rule, every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break and look at something that is 20 feet away. When I was in school, I would not need to use this rule as much because I could walk to each class and have a longer break then. However, because of distance learning, I make sure that I use this technique as it helps break up my period of focus and can also help prevent eye strain, especcially since I am on my computer for over 5 hours a day.
3. Create a study schedule
Ever since I started high school I have been making schedules for everything. It helps me stay organized and creates a structure to my day or time I set for studying. For example, if I am studying or completing homework from 3-5 pm, I will specifically outline at what time I do what subjects and when I can take breaks. This maximizes my productivity and keeps a structure to my time so I am less likely to be distracted.
4- Treat yourself!
Studying, especially with chronic pain, is a hard task to do. I remember when I first had my headache, it was impossible for me to sit through an entire class and concentrate. You should reward yourself for getting through a study session or finishing your homework. This can also increase motivation as you have something to look forward to. It does not have to be something big; for example, I tell myself that if I have a productive study session and finish my work I can have ice cream or my favorite snack. Rewarding myself gives me a reason to stay motivated to finish my work and I recommend that you try this!
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