Difficult getting work done

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I just started at university just over a month ago, studying Occupational therapy.
I wondered if anyone else experiences the same difficulty.

The first couple of weeks were the induction week and seminars on professional development, so it's only been the last couple of weeks that we've had actual work to do in between lectures, like completing workbooks and studying the topic covered in the previous lectures.

I had some issues with feeling very overwhelmed and chaotic with regard to knowing and being able to easily check when and where my lectures are but with the help of my personal tutor I now have my timetable written up for me to easily see in my diary. Despite the issues around my timetable etc. I'm finding the structure and routine of actually attending lectures to be positive and I feel more content and able to cope with my stresses on days I have to attend, despite the difficulties those days themselves can bring.

Looking back over the last couple of weeks, after the initial onslaught of the first few, I realised that I was struggling quite a bit with the time in between lectures where there is obviously less structure and instruction. I had a meeting with my appointed mentor today and she helped me to draw up a schedule for the time in between, for the week ahead which made me feel some relief and a bit less stressed about it. The trouble is, even with the schedule now in place and my stress of managing 'free time' and getting work done, I'm having a hard time actually pulling myself away from things that I'm quite into at the moment. I'd be worried about trying to actually speak to someone about it because I don't want them to think I'm a bad student, that I'm just not bothered about university or my chosen subject etc.

Basically the main things I'm interested in at the moment are body building and Aspergers (I think because I'm currently waiting for my assessment). I spend a great deal of my free time looking at particular websites, reading online articles, watching Youtube videos on both topics etc. With regard to body building specifically; looking up and researching different exercises. I don't think my actual gym work is excessive and I don't intend to turn into an extreme muscle woman but I am very focused on the work I do. I also spend the majority of my day in something I find very difficult to describe. I mentioned it in a previous post but I'll do my best to describe it here. Essentially, it's spending most of my day in 'my imagination'. I don't physically see or hear things but I physically interact with them in my imagination. So if I'm in the comfort of my own home, I can let it out and from the perspective of someone watching it looks like I'm talking to and interacting with thin air. I know the things I'm interacting with aren't there, I'm not deluded or psychotic but in my imagination 'I'm there' and it feels quite real. I like to spend a lot of time doing this. When there are people around or I'm out in public I obviously have to contain it a lot more and try to hide when it does slip out and I think someone might have seen. There are times when I'm completely engaged with something else that it does stop completely for a bit though.
So yeah, sorry I went on a bit there but basically, I'm just finding it very difficult to pull myself away from these things and actually get my work done! That's before I've even got to the issue having difficulties with getting my words out (mainly verbally but in writing also, this has taken me around 1 1/2 - 2 hours) and perfectionism!

Does anyone else struggle with the same thing??

I just figured that my original post was really long and went on a bit so I've picked out the main points in the hope it's easier for people to read and they might make it through the whole post and maybe reply!

So;
I just started at university just over a month ago, studying Occupational therapy.
I wondered if anyone else experiences the same difficulty.

The trouble is, even with a schedule (for the week ahead) now in place (with the support of my mentor) and my stress of managing 'free time' and getting work done, I'm having a hard time actually pulling myself away from things that I'm quite into at the moment.
That's before I've even got to the issue having difficulties with getting my words out (mainly verbally but in writing also, this has taken me around 1 1/2 - 2 hours) and perfectionism!
I'd be worried about trying to actually speak to someone about it because I don't want them to think I'm a bad student, that I'm just not bothered about university or my chosen subject etc.

Does anyone else struggle with the same thing??

I struggled when I first started going to college (university).

I think this is fairly universal, actually--feeling overwhelmed.

I know this sounds really simple: but the best solution is to really put emphasis on your studies over everything else until you "catch up." This is what I did. And it worked.

How do you mean; place an emphasis on your studies? and catch up in what respect? Sorry I don't mean to ask silly questions.

I mean I got away with it at school because I outside of lessons, I either did the majority of my homework at school in the lunch hour, where I hid from the masses in the safety of a room known as 'Homework Club', or at the other extreme, I spent hours in the evenings on top of that working excessively on it. I also got away with it in the first couple weeks of uni because as I said, there was barely any work in between lectures to be done.

Now I'm mixed with the real need to immerse myself in my interests and the anxiety of knowing I'm falling behind not getting work done :-/

Now you're in University--and things are different. No more Homework Club. No one getting on your butt about doing school work.

I bet this would only take a few weeks. But I would change my priorities a little bit for those few weeks. Concentrate on what I'm studying, to the exclusion of your other interests. It doesn't mean you can't pursue the other interests--it just means you would spend more time on what you're studying.

Being overwhelmed, frequently, is the product of people falling behind. That's what I mean by catching up. If you catch up, you'll feel less overwhelmed. That's been my experience.

I think you'll do much better once you've had a couple of classes under your belt.

You'll probably do even better in the Practicum.

Yeah I think I'll get there with it eventually (I hope, or more I have to) but it's just going to take a lot of work. Given that I'm hoping to be an Occupational Therapist, I'm trying to use my 'OT brain' to figure this out. I just need to 'bounce my ideas off someone' if that makes sense? So basically, my idea is that alongside the things written in my schedule, I could trying designating specific time, so that it's clear for me to see on my timetable, where I am free purely to pursue my interests, that I must get the necessary work done before I can do this.

I don't know how successful I'm going to be in implementing it upon myself but I'm hoping it will go some way to enabling me to be a more effective student.

If you are able to find a study partner, that would be the perfect person to "bounce your ideas off of."

The trick is: get through the required courses. It's going to be difficult--but it will get less difficult as time goes on.

Try not to get behind, though. Keep faithfully to the syllabus until you have this University thing down pat.

It will get easier after the required courses, because you'll be concentrating more on OT, since that is your major.

I'm not really sure about a study partner. I don't really know how to go about initiating that, I don't know if I'd be able to find someone on my course, plus I prefer to study on my own outside of lectures, especially as attending uni and my lectures means I'm 'all out' with people after.
I just meant to bounce my ideas of regarding how I might try to mitigate some of the issues I have. My personal tutor is aware of my difficulties, knows I'm waiting for my assessment (she told me her son has AS actually). I was able to be quite honest and email her about a couple of other issues I was trying to deal with, plus I have a mentor allocated to me but I was just worried about saying about the issue around getting my work done because I didn't want to make myself look like a rubbish student.
I think I just need to find 'my way' of doing things, it's just that really awkward, clunky phase of trying to figure things out and find your way that sucks.

I don't understand how it works where you are but here in the UK, on my course anyway, we only study OT, every module covers a different aspect of that. Basically there 6 modules each year, all on the various aspects, starting very basic in the first year and increasing in complexity and intensity each year, building to graduation where you are then (hopefully) a fully qualified OT and free to register and practice.

Thanks for responding to me by the way!

In the US, we have what's called the "core curriculum" within college/university.

No matter what, one frequently has to take a writing course, a course on something in the arts, a public speaking course, and some sort of mathematics course within one academic year. In practical terms, the first academic year consists of required courses.

After the first academic year, one usually takes courses within their major and electives.

I see, interesting. A more successful day so far today. I think because everything has gone to plan within my schedule, coupled with having work to do on a module I much prefer; anatomy and physiology, as opposed to the other more abstract module around the concepts of occupation etc.

I recommend that, just as you schedule classes and study time, that you also schedule time to do your research on your interests. That way, when the time comes, you can freely delve into those without being concerned about taking time away from your studies (as long as you stick to your schedule and study when you say you will.) I think you will find it easier to do your studies if you know you have promised yourself some "fun time."

Consider when you are the most alert during the day. When do you do your best work? Use that time for your studies. It won't matter if you pursue your interests when you are at a less-than-optimal mental capacity in a day. If you study at your prime time, you will get more done in less time than if you wait too long and do it after you have pursued your other interests.

Consider pursuing your interests as a reward for your hard work in school.

It is also important to avoid scheduling *to the minute.* Leave a few minutes of a gap time (not more than 15 minutes) to allow yourself to adjust to changes.

A timer is also a friend. Scheduling alarms on your phone to go off when it's time to switch activities, etc. may help you.

I get overwhelmed, too. Right now, I am overwhelmed and not making the best use of my time. I need to make a schedule for myself, too, but finding a significant amount of quiet time to do that has been tough. Once I do that, I will be better off because there will be an objective authority which will help me stay on track.

If you succeed in A & P, you've conquered at least 3/4's of the problems!