Studying + drinking

I sometimes find that 1 drink will actually help me focus while I'm reading or studying. Has anybody else come to that conclusion?

The argument that 'alcohol makes me mentally sharper' can  something of a slippery slope..... be careful.   Alcohol does have stimulant properties but also impairs judgement. 

Yes, if the drink is Tea or Coffee.  Alcohol?  Definitely not!

It doesn't help me read or study, but it can help me get over that "I don't know where to start" feeling when writing a paper. I just have to be sure to edit the paper really well :-)

Omg yes! I find it chills me out enough so I can actually face opening the book (I often can't do that sober I just break down) but no where near even tipsy so I can still concentrate and understand.

Woah that looks so bad written down! But no I hate studying. And I've just started a university course....

oy

In terms of quantity, I'd say its never more than 1 drink per two hours. And never more than 2 drinks per any given day. And only sometimes.

Funny because I too have used it to try to get motivated about things. Such as a major house cleaning right before company. I would scrub the walls, the tubs, the floors etc., etc., etc....

There are two major problems with this, and btw I am currently trying not to drink at all. But for me I began to associate certain behavior with certain actions, so lets say my house needs a good scrub down or my sister calls and wants to chat for 2 hours about nothing, those actions would drive me to almost feel like I had to have a drink in my hand to do those things. And rather you actually stop at that one drink or continue until you pass out you are still setting patterns for the future.

And trust me nobody loves a good glass of wine or an ice cold beer more than me but I also recently learned that just ONE lil beer per night can add up to 10-15 lbs per yr. And that doesn't even include the after drinking munchies, the hangover binge days, missing your work out the next day ...etc., etc., etc...

I say if you can help it "just say NO." But if it's a must a glass of wine is better than a glass of beer.

Thanks for posting this. Just typing all that out has helped to remind me why I will not drink today, although each and everyday is a new struggle. :)

Best wishes!!

"I sometimes find that 1 drink will actually help me focus while I'm reading or studying. Has anybody else come to that conclusion?"

Never! It just made me want more alcohol!! 

A classmate of mine insists that the only way he retains information is to drink while studying. Then a professor for another class stated something to the effect of needing to re-create the same state of mind you were in studying in order to do well on any tests on that material. I think it's more than a slippery slope and probably not a good idea.

Yeah, I've found that one drink helps me when I'm drawing or painting. More than that will distract me though.

Original Post by maryfway:

I sometimes find that 1 drink will actually help me focus while I'm reading or studying. Has anybody else come to that conclusion?

 When I was in college, 1 drink while studying allowed me to focus and get my priorities straight which always ended up with me closing the books and heading out to a club for more drinks.

So yah, I was incapable of studying and drinking. Incapable of doing anything else besides drinking when drinking..although it did and still does make me think I should be one of the pro's on Dancing with the Stars.  :p  [Along with suddenly having urges to talk to old bf's from 15 years ago!  Ahhhh...liquor...

Original Post by lbh:

A classmate of mine insists that the only way he retains information is to drink while studying. Then a professor for another class stated something to the effect of needing to re-create the same state of mind you were in studying in order to do well on any tests on that material. I think it's more than a slippery slope and probably not a good idea.

Your professor was right. Most normal amounts of a drug (caffeine, alcohol) will cause learning disassociation. This means that the state of mind you were in when drinking learns what you studied, but your non-drinking state of mind doesn't. Of course, if you drink while studying and before test-taking, then everything will be fine.. In theory.

I find that having a beer or wine while doing homework or grading or whatever actually makes what I'm doing enjoyable enough so that I stop procrastinating and just get it done.

Which reminds me, I have a 12-pack of Killians and a homework set due tomorrow.  Ready go!