SARLA’S STUDY PATTERN
Sarla
often complained that she didn’t have sufficient time to do all her school
assignments, even though she studies three full hours for study every evening.
Her brother Sunil decided to check on how she spent her time and to record what
she did minute-by-minute, because when he had told her certain facts she
wouldn’t believe him. Now he would have proof. This is what he jotted down on a
sheet of paper on evening, while he observed Sarla quietly, from a distance.
7.30: Very
punctual. Sits at desk. Desk in a mess. Rearranges books, sorts out and files
papers.
7.43: Stretches
out her arms over head to relax. Turns pages of note-books to find out what
homework has to be done. Mutters something about how much home-work is to be
done everyday… how the teachers’ don’t have sense’ and how they could be a
little more understanding…
8.10: Picks
up English text-book and flops down on bed. Leafs through the book.
8.16: Goes
to the telephone and calls Vandana to check on the English assignment. Talks to
her for about seven minutes on what they are going to wear to school tomorrow.
8.30: Lies
down on bed; opens English books; begins reading.
8.44: Gets
up to turn the radio to different station so she worn's miss her favourite
programme while studying. Argues with mother (for nine minutes) who thinks the
radio ought to be turned off while Sarla studies. Sarla insists she can study
better to music.
8.55: Turns
down radio. Does some writing in a notebooks.
9.15: Notices
what time it is (as clock chimes) and grumbles about having to leave the
English assignment incomplete and tackle that awful Sanskrit assignment or it
will never be done.
9.25: Rushes
to answer the phone. Talks to Anuraddha who called to find out the maths
assignment: they compare notes on what they are going to wear tomorrow.
9.46: Does
her Sanskrit assignment.
9.57: Lays
book aside. Get bob pins and rollers from her dresser. props Sanskrit book up
beside the mirror, and begins to pin up her hair while keeping an eye on the
book.
10.10: Mother
comes to say that it is nearing bed-time. Sarla moans and says she is dog-tired
but has 'hours and hours' of studying yet to do... She says she feels she will
fail in maths since the assignments are impossibly long. and she has not had
any time even to look at her maths lesson. with so much
other studying to do.
10.20: Sarla
lays down her Sanskrit text, picks up her maths books, leafs through it for a
minute, grown, switches off the light, and goes to bed.
Countless surveys have shown that the above pattern is common to most students, especially those in college. Such frittering away of time is the major stumbling block to effective study. If you have a similar problem, try to solve it slowly and carefully with practice and determination.
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