Different strokes for different folks
John would be able to concentrate on his assignments while listening to Drake. I rather not listen to music while writing an essay, but it was my habit to hear a series of tunes for inspiration. My housemates kept on calling me an old foggy. (My favorites? George Duke, Paul McCartney, and Simon and Garfunkel.) For some reason, the unconscious part of my brain would fancy these old songs. It put me in a good mood, which would help me handle the coursework. As for the loud music, it would distract me. I noticed this wasn't the case with my coursemates, as the high volume would keep their heads from looking for fun. And it wasn't hard to find someone who wanted a midweek booze.
My old man had a huge collection of vinyl records, which he played every Saturday. It was a curiosity to a young mind until I started experimenting with other genres. It was hard to tell if my preference for old music had sentimental reasons behind it. I might have a change of heart if I was unable to beat the deadline. John once considered video game soundtrack, which was an incredulous idea. I could understand the competitive side of it, but creativity would demand unlimited time. And it would be a perpetual issue in the university.
I tried running, which might help me in dealing with the pressure of the coursework. It was a strange feeling at first, as it reminded me of the long-distance runner in a Tony Richardson film. I must get used to the solitude, as my housemates didn't fancy waking up after sunrise. (They rather go to the gym later.) I must admit that it made me calmer, which helped me during those stressful moments. If I could only eat fewer chips.
Does speed reading work?
John claimed that speed reading helped him in preparing for an examination. I had my doubts, as reading wasn't different from eating. I tend to go backward whenever there was something about a chapter (or a page) that I didn't understand. I would suspect that my eyes could pick a word or sentences that piqued my curiosity. I wouldn't know the meaning until I read it again. Slowly. There were times when it could consume my time. In such a case, I would skip some pages. It would work if I opt for general ideas, but it could be a hit-or-miss at times.
If I was unable to imagine, then I would struggle to write my assignment. I often thought of my holiday in Switzerland, where I keenly observed the farmers who lived far from the big cities. They might be the most fortunate ones, as they were often greeted with a stunning view of the Alps every morning. They might have been curious about the life in the metropolis, while they dealt with the silence. It could be unnerving after some time. This would be the part where a little music would lighten up the place. Beethoven would be an ideal choice, but I was thinking of an upbeat tune. In this case, visualization won't be good enough.
