Studying Is Over-Studying Detrimental to a Mathematician's Success?

[simplicity123]

I just feel that if I don't study that much I will not amount to anything. I used to study 10 hours a day two years ago and my grades jumped up a lot. Like I was getting 85-90% in subjects. However, friends on another forum and friends at uni said that I needed to balance life and I started to do less and less work.

Now I'm at the third year think extra work would pay off. Like doing calculus question over and over again won't pay off because calculus is a joke. But, if I spent four hours a day thinking of topology, then I think that would pay off.

I'm thinking that I would eventually end up like Grigori Perelma anyway.

Also, I can't seem to do Maths and everything else. It's like if I watch a TV program then suddenly Maths becomes tedious. But, if I'm stuck in a library and no distractions then I'm doing Maths. Hence, when go back to uni plan to not bring laptop and be in library most of the time. Without any laptop, can't watch TV, play games, go on the internet that much so I would have no distractions.

I read an interesting book. Called Mind of a mathematician. Had story of Andre Weil being locked in a prison, he had nothing to do and no distraction. The story was that in the prison he made his greatest discovery. Feel sort of like that.

 

[lisab]

There's nothing wrong with getting rid of distractions, for sure. But 15 hours a day of studying? That sounds like too much.

 

[simplicity123]

There's nothing wrong with getting rid of distractions, for sure. But 15 hours a day of studying? That sounds like too much.

I was under the impression that Grigori Perelman studied that much from his autobiography. Read that Ramanujan studied that much too. Andre Weils in his prison probably studied that much instead of going on holidays and reading Indian books.

Not saying I'm a genius, but I know that if I study 15 hours a day could do something as great as them.

 

[ZenOne]

No one can sustain that amount of studying for an extended period of time without losing touch with reality IMO.

It's too much. I can understand 10 when it comes to the last few weeks before finals but 15 hours EVERY DAY--no.

 

[simplicity123]

No one can sustain that amount of studying for an extended period of time without losing touch with reality IMO.

It's too much. I can understand 10 when it comes to the last few weeks before finals but 15 hours EVERY DAY--no.

I think that's the point. If I study that much then even when I sleep I will dreaming of Mathematics.

Well, I can physically do it and now I can mentally do it. Like last week I was studying algebra for 10+ hours.

 

[Pengwuino]

Why doesn't anyone ever point out the obvious with insane behavior such as this? You do realize you at some point will have to function in the real world with other people right? And let me just ask do you think it's beneficial or detrimental to cut yourself off from society and all normal human tasks for years at a time?

 

[WannabeNewton]

If I study that much then even when I sleep I will dreaming of Mathematics. Well, I can physically do it and now I can mentally do it. Like last week I was studying algebra for 10+ hours.

Repeat this to yourself and see how scary and insane it sounds. You're just going to overload your mind man. Its good to have a passion for learning but mental functionality should come before that. You can't just neglect your girlfriend, other friends, and/or family.

 

[mlearnx]

I'm afraid that your brain cannot perceive a big amount information during such a long period of study. Even 15 hours of continuous study is possible but still it is ineffective (IMHO).

 

[Stephen Tashi]

Why doesn't anyone ever point out the obvious with insane behavior such as this?

It might be "insane" behavior for a person with a normal psychology. A person with normal psychology would probably have to fight his natural urge to let his mind wander. However, for a person with Asperger's syndrome studying 15 hours a day might be natural behavior and not particularly demanding. There are very successful people who have Asperger's syndrome, for example Dr. Michael Burry. I think simplicity123 must consider whether he has normal psychology.

 

[dimensionless]

No one can sustain that amount of studying for an extended period of time without losing touch with reality IMO.

It's too much. I can understand 10 when it comes to the last few weeks before finals but 15 hours EVERY DAY--no.

I've known people who studied in the ball park of 112 hours per week (16 hours a day) for an entire semester. While they were out of touch with reality, I think they may have started off that way.

 

[simplicity123]

Why doesn't anyone ever point out the obvious with insane behavior such as this? You do realize you at some point will have to function in the real world with other people right? And let me just ask do you think it's beneficial or detrimental to cut yourself off from society and all normal human tasks for years at a time?

Well, I have to do normal task like cook, sleep and study(which, is basically work). I just think of it like Perelman he doesn't care about money, social status, gf and other stuff.

Repeat this to yourself and see how scary and insane it sounds. You're just going to overload your mind man. Its good to have a passion for learning but mental functionality should come before that. You can't just neglect your girlfriend, other friends, and/or family.

Well, I don't think they are important. If I was going to die tomorrow I wouldn't be thinking of friends or family I would be thinking of QM or topology or RH.

I'm afraid that your brain cannot perceive a big amount information during such a long period of study. Even 15 hours of continuous study is possible but still it is ineffective (IMHO).

Well, I don't know about that. Most psychological studies are done on unnatural learning like word lists. Certainly, trying to memorize a word list for 15 hours is pointless. But, maths is a language it's like imagine speaking 15 hours in a different language.

 

[DrummingAtom]

No one can sustain that amount of studying for an extended period of time without losing touch with reality IMO.

Well, if that's the case, it only can only make the OP better at math because math is very out of touch with reality.

 

[ZenOne]

Law of diminishing returns:

The tendency for a continuing application of effort or skill toward a particular project or goal to decline in effectiveness after a certain level of result has been achieved.

 

[simplicity123]

It might be "insane" behavior for a person with a normal psychology. A person with normal psychology would probably have to fight his natural urge to let his mind wander. However, for a person with Asperger's syndrome studying 15 hours a day might be natural behavior and not particularly demanding. There are very successful people who have Asperger's syndrome, for example Dr. Michael Burry. I think simplicity123 must consider whether he has normal psychology.

I suffer pretty badly from OCD. So I'm not normal.

 

[simplicity123]

Law of diminishing returns:

The tendency for a continuing application of effort or skill toward a particular project or goal to decline in effectiveness after a certain level of result has been achieved.

I used to think that was true. But, Broodwar changed my views.


These are the two best Broodwar players today. However, both play 12+ hours a day. They live in team houses and have food cooked for them. All they do is jog for half an hour before they have dinner. But, like 12 hours a day and there hands are doing 400 actions per minute.

 

[Pengwuino]

Well, I have to do normal task like cook, sleep and study(which, is basically work). I just think of it like Perelman he doesn't care about money, social status, gf and other stuff.

That's not normal tasks, those are the tasks you need to stay alive. Normal tasks are having friends, having social contacts, learning how to interact with other people. Studying a field and having no friends and no job (remember you WILL have to interview for a job and exist in a workplace) is a pathetic life to any standard.

 

[ZenOne]

Video game players?

That's hardly equivalent to math or physics.

I love math, physics and engineering but I also love life--it inspires my love for such topics. If you don't live life it will drain your inspiration--IMO , of course.

 

[Choppy]

One might also draw into question exactly what you mean by 'studying' as well.

At some point, you need some real-world experience so you can know what problems are practical to work on and to give you a foundation for generating your own ideas. Some students will push themselves to the limits studying exactly what they're told to study and they'll get great marks doing so. But you need to learn how to explore things on your own and sometimes that means exploring things that are completely unrelated to what's covered in your classes. Students who don't do this can sometimes hit a brick wall once the get to their PhD or post-doctoral work because they cannot generate their own ideas.

By the context of your original post though, limiting distractions while you study is a good thing. Eventually you'll find your own balance of how much studying is right for you - the concern of course is that the road along the way can be bumpy.

 

[deluks917]

I study about 60 hours a week outside of class. I think 50-70 is reasonable. If you are taking 4 classes and study 60 hours that's only 15 hours per week which isn't a huge amount if they are difficult classes.

15 hours a day is too much unless you manage on very little sleep (3-4 hours). Your psychological health will suffer if you have no friends or time to relax. Look at Perelman, he had a breakdown and is no longer getting much math done.

 

[Anonymous217]

To be honest, nobody really studies 15 hours a day (productively, that is). I've always taken quite daring courseloads, but I always limit myself to 2-4 hours of work within one session. And I usually only commit about 1-2 sessions every weekday and about 2-3 (4 rarely) sessions on weekends.

There's really no point to studying if you're spending half an hour on definition-chasing problems or 5 hours to get through 10 pages of a text (and actually understanding it all instead of re-reading the lines over and over, hoping it eventually sinks in). Especially in more advanced topics/mathematics, there's a point in which you just have to keep seeing the material over and over again, and with time, you'll eventually understand it. It's not something that can be shot down necessarily with an intense 15 hour session.

 

[ZenOne]

I completely agree.

 

[chiro]

That's not normal tasks, those are the tasks you need to stay alive. Normal tasks are having friends, having social contacts, learning how to interact with other people. Studying a field and having no friends and no job (remember you WILL have to interview for a job and exist in a workplace) is a pathetic life to any standard.

So what about all those people with disabilities like severe autism? You think they live pathetic lives?

 

[Anonymous217]

^ Even in terms of academics, it's a mute point to cut off social contacts. Science is a collaborative effort and you'll need networking if you're ever going to get far into academics.

 

[smashbrohamme]

So what about all those people with disabilities like severe autism? You think they live pathetic lives?

technically they do live pathetic lives...it doesn't mean you can't feel sorry for them or you should cast them out of society.

but let's face it, their lives are horrible.

they will always have to rely on other people to take care of them, they can't ever do what they want because they never grow up technically.

and I am sure you can find one example out of a million that some person who has severe autism is working on their own or some bs, but let's face it..the average severe autism case is bounded to a care giver.

so please don't try to bring in an example with a remark that tries to make someone feel bad, when in reality we all know that remark is true.

 

[Pengwuino]

So what about all those people with disabilities like severe autism? You think they live pathetic lives?

I know people with autism that have social lives and jobs. Are you implying they are incapable of having this?

Also, your point is totally irrelevant and off-topic. The OP did not claim he had severe autism. He is making a choice as to how he lives his life and we are discussing possible consequences.

 

[chiro]

technically they do live pathetic lives...it doesn't mean you can't feel sorry for them or you should cast them out of society.

but let's face it, their lives are horrible.

they will always have to rely on other people to take care of them, they can't ever do what they want because they never grow up technically.

and I am sure you can find one example out of a million that some person who has severe autism is working on their own or some bs, but let's face it..the average severe autism case is bounded to a care giver.

so please don't try to bring in an example with a remark that tries to make someone feel bad, when in reality we all know that remark is true.

I'm not feeling bringing up to make someone feel bad, I'm just really shocked of what someone's idea of a "pathetic" life is.

Granted these people face a lot of struggles (as I have meant some of these people), but to class life as pathetic is really ignorant.

And people can have very "severe" personalities where they are very withdrawn from the rest of the world and still have something to offer.

 

[chiro]

I know people with autism that have social lives and jobs. Are you implying they are incapable of having this?

Also, your point is totally irrelevant and off-topic. The OP did not claim he had severe autism. He is making a choice as to how he lives his life and we are discussing possible consequences.

No not at all, like I said in the prior post, I'm replying to what you're idea of "pathetic" is.

 

[snowman]

I suffer pretty badly from OCD. So I'm not normal.

Ahaaah! that explains it. I'm also guessing your indian or azn and that you have a shytload of fam pressure on you??

 

[Angry Citizen]

Anyone who spends that much time studying has missed the point of studying. It's not about quantity, it's about quality. I bet I would be equally or more skilled studying fifteen hours a WEEK (more during exam time/final time) than you would be studying fifteen hours a DAY. Why? Because not only do you run into diminishing returns as mentioned earlier, but at some point you run into negative returns, where it becomes damaging to you to study and study and study with no breaks.

 

[Bourbaki1123]

Given the role of sleep in processing information you take in, it seems like the optimum approach is probably something along the lines of: study for 3-5 hours, and then take a nap, and then study 3-5 hours when you wake up and then go do something else, and quickly recap before going to bed, perhaps using anki style flashcards.

I don't think you will process the optimum amount of information properly if you're not breaking it up, and if you break it up then you can't fit in 15 hours unless it's the summer.

 

[Nano-Passion]

Repeat this to yourself and see how scary and insane it sounds. You're just going to overload your mind man. Its good to have a passion for learning but mental functionality should come before that. You can't just neglect your girlfriend, other friends, and/or family.

I see this a lot around the forum, but isn't this how a lot of the geniuses were made? Don't geniuses have a fixed obsession of learning certain topics say for example 10 hours a day.

Just a question though. Hope someone would clear that up. Definitely not recommending the original poster to study 15 hours a day.

To OP: You will run into a lot of problems that way. Studying all day with no exercise isn't exactly smart for your health. You only have 9 hours left of the day which you need for sleep. You need time to take breaks or you won't retain the information as much, and you still need to eat, drink, rest, etc.

How long do you think you can sustain 15 hours a day of study? A professor of mine was a mathematician, he told me how he studied 18 hours a day this college summer and he was so out of touch with reality. He told me of the time he went to order grocery food and the lady asked him a question, he whispered, when she said she didn't hear him he raised his voice too much.

Its just an example that extended periods of isolation just isn't THAT great. I see the professor a lot and he sometimes seems really out of touch with reality, I remember speaking with him a couple of times and his mind was completely drifting off somewhere else. Granted though, he is actually my favorite math/physics professor.

 

[lisab]

I see this a lot around the forum, but isn't this how a lot of the geniuses were made? Don't geniuses have a fixed obsession of learning certain topics say for example 10 hours a day.

I bet many of us have known these kind of people, who are completely obsessed and study extremely long hours. But sometimes they are compelled to study by a certain "something" (autism? mental health issues? I don't know).

I don't think their obsession is particularly healthy, either - I've known people who neglect personal hygiene, for example, because they study compulsively.

My point is, I think that "something" - call it genius, I guess - comes first, the compulsive study is a result of that. I don't think someone can become that kind of genius simply by mimicking how they study, or any other compulsive thing they do.

 

[-Dragoon-]

That's not normal tasks, those are the tasks you need to stay alive. Normal tasks are having friends, having social contacts, learning how to interact with other people. Studying a field and having no friends and no job (remember you WILL have to interview for a job and exist in a workplace) is a pathetic life to any standard.

You're projecting your values. One can have social skills without ever having a friend. Some people prefer to study and keep to themselves rather than being social butterflies. Why is this so hard for some people to accept, especially on an educational forum?

 

[Nano-Passion]

I bet many of us have known these kind of people, who are completely obsessed and study extremely long hours. But sometimes they are compelled to study by a certain "something" (autism? mental health issues? I don't know).

I don't think their obsession is particularly healthy, either - I've known people who neglect personal hygiene, for example, because they study compulsively.

My point is, I think that "something" - call it genius, I guess - comes first, the compulsive study is a result of that. I don't think someone can become that kind of genius simply by mimicking how they study, or any other compulsive thing they do.

I agree. One should then do what makes them relatively comfortable. For the OP: If on a certain day you feel particularly passionate about a problem/concept, go ahead, spend as much time as you like. But never try and force yourself to study a certain amount in hopes of being a great mathematician/physicist. It doesn't work that way. If you attempt to do that you will quickly burn yourself out and hurt your education even more.

For an extended period of time I focused on physics and calculus from sleep and back nonstop. It was a sure way to burn myself out. If I had spent 6 hours a day then I would have gotten much more done. But instead I spent the last half of my summer staying away from calculus and physics as a break.

 

[Lavabug]

I've only hit the 15-hour mark on counted occasions, but I'd say 40% of that time wasn't productive (poor concentration from exhaustion, hitting a wall, etc.).

The ratio of productive:ineffective study time doesn't seem to improve for me unless I'm just studying for 1-2 hours, which is way too little anyway.

I agree with "quality over quantity for sure", but unless you're flawlessly efficient with your time, the more the merrier. Just don't pull 12-hour sessions regularly. Get your share of exercise, distractions/vacations, etc every now and then, because your health comes first.

 

[simplicity123]

Ahaaah! that explains it. I'm also guessing your indian or azn and that you have a shytload of fam pressure on you??

Incorrect. I don't get fam pressure. Just from an early age say like five always thought I would be a genius.

To OP: You will run into a lot of problems that way. Studying all day with no exercise isn't exactly smart for your health. You only have 9 hours left of the day which you need for sleep. You need time to take breaks or you won't retain the information as much, and you still need to eat, drink, rest, etc.

How long do you think you can sustain 15 hours a day of study? A professor of mine was a mathematician, he told me how he studied 18 hours a day this college summer and he was so out of touch with reality. He told me of the time he went to order grocery food and the lady asked him a question, he whispered, when she said she didn't hear him he raised his voice too much.

Its just an example that extended periods of isolation just isn't THAT great. I see the professor a lot and he sometimes seems really out of touch with reality, I remember speaking with him a couple of times and his mind was completely drifting off somewhere else. Granted though, he is actually my favorite math/physics professor.

I eat a lot and I actually sleep a lot. Trying to cut down the hours I sleep but finding it impossible.

I don't plan to become anti-social. Just plan to not have any fun and just studying. I plan to talk to the lecturers more than I do now. Also, I might set up study sessions or become a PASS tutor and help out first year student. Becoming anti-social will not make me smarter. Like would want to be more like Paul Erdos for the next couple of years.

I agree with "quality over quantity for sure", but unless you're flawlessly efficient with your time, the more the merrier. Just don't pull 12-hour sessions regularly. Get your share of exercise, distractions/vacations, etc every now and then, because your health comes first.

Firstly I suffer badly from so called health anxiety so what ever I do I would worry a lot about dying. But, why does health come first? at the end of the day I'm going to die. Could either die doing great stuff or die doing mediocre stuff. That's how I see it.

 

[hadsed]

But, why does health come first? at the end of the day I'm going to die. Could either die doing great stuff or die doing mediocre stuff. That's how I see it.

What difference does doing something great vs. mediocre have once you're dead? Yet this:

I don't plan to become anti-social. Just plan to not have any fun and just studying.

has a *HUGE* effect on you... while you're alive (that is, when you feel the consequences of it). You'll burn yourself out, unless it's coming from within yourself. Statements like the one directly above about not having any fun make me think that it's not coming from a deep passion of yours, or that at some point it won't anymore. I had this happen to me, and I was similar to you. I still love physics, but I took about a month or two (thankfully it happened right before summer break started) to read some philosophy and think about that stuff for a while.

You need to be careful, you don't realize that you could ruin your love for mathematics and/or physics if you push yourself too hard. After I was 'recovering' from burnout (I'd taken max loads of all maths and physics classes, plus doing research), it took me a while to get back into it. For some time I thought I'd lost it completely, and it was kind of weird and scary. When that happens, you tend to learn your lesson. If you're going to do 15 hours a day, at least build up to it that way you're able to assess yourself at each step, instead of jumping right in (and possibly drowning).

 

[Mororvia]

If you study 15 hours a day, how would you have any time for PhysicsForums?!

 

[Pengwuino]

You're projecting your values. One can have social skills without ever having a friend. Some people prefer to study and keep to themselves rather than being social butterflies. Why is this so hard for some people to accept, especially on an educational forum?

You, along with others in this thread, are COMPLETELY missing the point. Intentionally devoting all your time to some singular obsession is unacceptable. It is unhealthy; there are PLENTY of studies linking such behavior to depression and reduced life spans. I think the problem is most people that come onto the forum saying "Oh I want to study 58 hours a day 10 days a week! I figured out how to survive on peanuts alone!" have this unrealistic belief deep down that they'll become the next Einstein or Tesla or whatever. And you're basically sacrificing your own life for something, even if it were to happen, would be completely unenjoyable by the person with the obsession.

If this was someone saying he's going to study how to make the best soda 15 hours a day for the rest of his life, people would be saying they need to seek psychiatric help. Remember, just because someone may have an obsession with something you personally enjoy doesn't mean it can't be brought to unhealthy levels.

 

[micromass]

I'd say, if your finals are in three days, then studying 15 hours a day is acceptable. I wouldn't do it, but it's ok.
But studying 15 hours A DAY? That's seriously unhealthy and not productive at all! You're going to be burnt out in a matter of weeks!

I can't believe that people on this thread support this kind of behaviour...

 

[ZenOne]

Agreed Pengwuino...

 

[rootX]

I study more efficiently (more work in less time) when I am studying in a group so I rarely study alone. OP, something to consider ... Also, take care to distinguish between studying for 15 hours and staying in library for 15 hours.

Just do whatever you like, you will find your limits.

P.S. Grigori Perelma is crazy who is leeching off his mother IIRC, SRC: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686794/posts.

 

[simplicity123]

has a *HUGE* effect on you... while you're alive (that is, when you feel the consequences of it). You'll burn yourself out, unless it's coming from within yourself. Statements like the one directly above about not having any fun make me think that it's not coming from a deep passion of yours, or that at some point it won't anymore. I had this happen to me, and I was similar to you. I still love physics, but I took about a month or two (thankfully it happened right before summer break started) to read some philosophy and think about that stuff for a while.

I have been thinking about stuff for the past half a year. I did some stuff I'm not proud off and failed to be logical. I suppose I'm heavily influenced by Buddhism, but there is a concept of Enlightenment. In strong way I see knowledge as Enlightenment and studying as meditation. Some Buddhist monks meditate 15 hours a day.

You need to be careful, you don't realize that you could ruin your love for mathematics and/or physics if you push yourself too hard. After I was 'recovering' from burnout (I'd taken max loads of all maths and physics classes, plus doing research), it took me a while to get back into it. For some time I thought I'd lost it completely, and it was kind of weird and scary. When that happens, you tend to learn your lesson. If you're going to do 15 hours a day, at least build up to it that way you're able to assess yourself at each step, instead of jumping right in (and possibly drowning).

I don't know. It's sort of like genetics to me. Like I failed Physics(literally got ungraded in Alevels) hence doing Maths, however when I failed it and was depressed the first thing I did was buy a lot of chess books and tried to become a grand master. I'm crap at chess so I never could improve at it.

Don't think failure is part of my genes. Even at my worst moment my brain is thinking of how to go forward.

If you study 15 hours a day, how would you have any time for PhysicsForums?!

I actually came here for advice on PhD. Plus how to study Algebraic geometry and algebraic topology. I plan to get rid of laptop in a week or so.

You, along with others in this thread, are COMPLETELY missing the point. Intentionally devoting all your time to some singular obsession is unacceptable. It is unhealthy; there are PLENTY of studies linking such behavior to depression and reduced life spans. I think the problem is most people that come onto the forum saying "Oh I want to study 58 hours a day 10 days a week! I figured out how to survive on peanuts alone!" have this unrealistic belief deep down that they'll become the next Einstein or Tesla or whatever. And you're basically sacrificing your own life for something, even if it were to happen, would be completely unenjoyable by the person with the obsession.

A lot is probably genetics. From the age of 7 I thought I was going to become next Einstein. Can't really turn that off like if I had no OCD would probably be a lot different. Personally the stress of trying to balance life is greater than if I did Maths. Like I worry a lot about my niece and if I got a gf I would have to deal with stuff like getting cheated on.

I just want life to be simple. But, life is complex and illogical. Episode of heroes. The guy is just using his super powers to save people. I want my future to be just doing Maths like GH Hardy.

If this was someone saying he's going to study how to make the best soda 15 hours a day for the rest of his life, people would be saying they need to seek psychiatric help. Remember, just because someone may have an obsession with something you personally enjoy doesn't mean it can't be brought to unhealthy levels.

Well, soda isn't helpful. In a way if I posted saying I'm going to study 15 hours a day to cure cancer. I bet you would be saying different stuff, especially if one of your family member suffered from it.

I'd say, if your finals are in three days, then studying 15 hours a day is acceptable. I wouldn't do it, but it's ok.
But studying 15 hours A DAY? That's seriously unhealthy and not productive at all! You're going to be burnt out in a matter of weeks!

I can't believe that people on this thread support this kind of behaviour...

Personally when I do burn out I got plans to use it Also, think switching thinking modes will stop that. Let's say I burn out and can no longer write, then I will start to draw pictures. Even burnt out I must be able to do something.

 

[Pengwuino]

A lot is probably genetics. From the age of 7 I thought I was going to become next Einstein. Can't really turn that off like if I had no OCD would probably be a lot different. Personally the stress of trying to balance life is greater than if I did Maths. Like I worry a lot about my niece and if I got a gf I would have to deal with stuff like getting cheated on.

One of the things about having OCD is learning to deal with it. You don't sound like you're dealing with it properly. It's can be a quirk and it can also be a destructive personality disorder.

Well, soda isn't helpful. In a way if I posted saying I'm going to study 15 hours a day to cure cancer. I bet you would be saying different stuff, especially if one of your family member suffered from it.

I have had multiple family members who have died of cancer and have cancer right now. Don't give me that wanna-be self-righteous bs. And trust me, the real life importance of current mathematical research doesn't hold a candle to the research behind cancer treatment.

I would never be so selfish as to demand anyone spend such ridiculous amounts of time trying to cure something that even effects me. Ironically, one of the things people who have dealt with cancer tend to learn is how to appreciate the one life they've been given and the people around them.

 

[Bourbaki1123]

You, along with others in this thread, are COMPLETELY missing the point. Intentionally devoting all your time to some singular obsession is unacceptable. It is unhealthy; there are PLENTY of studies linking such behavior to depression and reduced life spans.

Actually, could you link to these? I'm not sure how they would be tagged, I tried a few google scholar searches but came up empty handed. The search is muddled up by the comorbidity of OCD and depression (which coincidentally is relevant to your point; if this sort of depression is unavoidable for the OCD sufferer, then channeling repetitive behavior into something constructive is good; conversely, it might worsen depression).Anyway, I think we're being a bit vague here; it's probably good to clear this up a bit.

When you're talking about studying 15 hours a day, this conjures up the image of someone sitting for 15 hours with a stack of books, taking notes out of them for 15 hours straight.

Obviously this isn't what you mean, and if it is it doesn't matter because it isn't what you're going to do. You have to take bathroom breaks and eat. In any event, it isn't rational to try to fast all day or to not take breaks. You have to take breaks if you want to optimize your absorption. Preferably a mid-day nap on top of this.

Another option, as was mentioned, is that you actually mean that you're going to the library for 15 hours and will study for the majority of the time you are there, but you will take breaks. That seems more reasonable, though 15 hours at the library still seems a bit extreme.

A further question is; are you going to take a pause to think about the material you have just read and draw out the implications, or are you just going to remember it for a while and use it for a couple of problems and then forget it?

I'm someone who spends the bulk of my time on self improvement. I study math several hours a day (not counting the gaps), I also read articles from other disciplines and I write quite a bit in order to consolidate my thoughts. I practice my music (I'm very proficient at guitar, I practiced 5-8 hours a day for 3 years during high school when I thought I was going to go to music school) and play Go and work out some.

This, to me, feels perfectly balanced. I feel the best when I'm working towards some goal, be it improving to some level of proficiency or solving a problem or writing an article. I am usually working on something, and I am (on average) awake at least 15 hours a day. I think that one can improve most efficiently by improving across multiple areas, this diversifies your day and allows different modes of thinking to come into play.

I also would like to say that I can be very obsessive about my interests at times, even to the point of neglecting my classes in order to study a subject. There have been times when I would feel nothing but anxiety and think of nothing other than the topic whenever I would have to go do something else. I would always enjoy learning about the subject though, so it wasn't as though I felt like I was cutting out fun stuff.

 

[Bourbaki1123]

And trust me, the real life importance of current mathematical research doesn't hold a candle to the research behind cancer treatment.

This reminds me of the assertion (which was given in jest, but I think has a great deal of truth to it) that if Ed Witten had AIDS we would already have a cure. I really enjoy pure mathematics research, but I know in my heart of hearts that it is one of the least socially useful things I could be doing. I try (within fairly narrow bounds, admittedly) to balance it out with learning biology and neuroscience, which are significantly more relevant (aging research in particular is an interest of mine, and I wish I knew significantly more about the mechanics of the theories), in the hopes that I can eventually do some kind of useful applied work that ends up making some kind of difference.

There really isn't any room for self-righteousness in mathematics or theoretical physics.

 

[Intervenient]

I'm going to be blunt: if you think you will actually benefit from 15 hours a day of studying, you're not a genius.

 

[ZenOne]

Good point Intervenient.

In response to rootX--I completely disagree with group study; it is hard enough to dedicate yourself to solid study time, getting a GROUP to truly, efficiently study is an even larger problem IMO. Also, I find group study actually mixes me up for the most part--I know that a lot of people swear by it and I have no problems doing group work but I would NEVER depend on a group to help me understand key concepts; if I do not truly understand the concepts it's my a** on the chopping block. If one wants to supplement with group work--more power to them, however, one must be reasonably efficient in terms of self-study to survive.

 

[joshmadakor]

My my, look at all of these opinions flying around.

 

[Bourbaki1123]

I'm going to be blunt: if you think you will actually benefit from 15 hours a day of studying, you're not a genius.

How witty.