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Discipline
After doing distance learning courses for the last 12 years (blimey, I've just realised that's how long it's been!), one thing I've learned that's crucial in my study arsenal is discipline.
Everything you do is from home, your studying, reading materials, essays, assignments, exam revision. You don't have the regular nudges from your fellow students or your tutors shuffling you along all the time. Everything's done at a distance, and it could be weeks between contact with any of your fellows.
And we all know how easily those distractions present themselves when you're trying to get anything done at home. The housework stares at you, tempting you, family and friends entice you away to the pub or to the cinema or just to watch something on the television.
It takes a lot of self discipline to say no to these things, and to spend the energy on getting some actual work done. And it can feel like a lonely place when you're at a low ebb, struggling with concepts or ideas and there's nobody immediate to talk to (but that's another post ... )
Discipline is what helps you to say no to the distractions and yes to the hard work ahead of us that we know will be worth it when we're finished.
Ah, yes, discipline, a lot of times, is linked to self-sacrifice, either for the future benefit of yourself or for the benefit of others.
ReplyDeleteThat's an enlightening way of looking at it Patrick, thank you for commenting.
DeleteIt is the hard part of art. We all need it though. I think some of it comes with age and some comes with the understanding that we are the keepers of our future.
ReplyDeleteI like that thought, being the keepers of our future. And you know what they say, the hardest things are usually the things that are most worth the effort.
DeleteThat's one of the things I really enjoyed about studying through the OU; I did have the discipline to study all by myself and make time to do what needed to be done. I couldn't believe the number of people who said that they couldn't study like that because they couldn't make the time. It doesn't come easily to lots of people!
ReplyDeleteThe hardest part I find about studying like this is the initial sitting down and getting the books open. Once I'm started I'm fine and can keep going for hours, children permitting, but it's always that first step ...
DeleteI have studied for 6 years all up, but none of it was external except one unit of study that I did in my postgrad diploma. It would be so much harder to have to do that all the time - to not have the regular classes to drag your butt out to, to help with the discipline and routine.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely the greatest challenge about the whole thing. It's nice having the flexibility to work around family and other commitments, but that in itself can cause the problems.
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