How To Fight Off Intrusive Thoughts When You're Studying

About this video

• Video Title: How To Fight Off Intrusive Thoughts When You're Studying
• Channel: Matthew Smith
• Speakers: Matthew Smith
• Duration: 00:07:17

Overview

This video explains why students struggle to focus due to intrusive thoughts and offers solutions. The speaker, Matthew Smith, shares his personal experiences and introduces concepts like the "stream of consciousness" and the "ego" as root causes. He then provides practical strategies, including reducing social media consumption and externalizing thoughts through journaling or prayer.

Key takeaways

• Stream of Consciousness: The mind is always active, generating a constant flow of thoughts that can become overwhelming if dwelled upon, leading to a spiral out of control.
• The Ego's Influence: Intrusive thoughts are often linked to an "ego" or inner voice that doesn't appear without reason and can be triggered by external factors like social media.
• Social Media's Impact: Social media, particularly Instagram, can train the ego by promoting unconscious judgment of others, contributing to negative thought patterns.
• Solution 1: Delete Social Media: Removing social media from your phone can significantly reduce the influence of the ego and stop the cycle of judgment, leading to less distraction.
• Solution 2: Externalize Your Thoughts: Writing down intrusive thoughts in a journal or through prayer can help process and gain perspective on them, allowing for mental relief and clarity.