Because of my O-Levels, my mom is making me study long hours which she thinks its right and doesn’t like it when I only study for 2 hours.
My typical evening study after school is from 7.30 to 9.30, but my mom is forcing me to make me study either until 9.45 or 10.00. If I eat dinner earlier, I could start at 7.15, 7.00, 6.45 or even 6.30, but she is making me end at that 9.45/10.00 mark.
Just yesterday I started at 6.30, then my dad allowed me to take a short break before starting to study again, but I was starting to feel fatigue and could only end at 9.30.
Then after that my mom proceeded to scold me for not studying for long hours for 30 mins.
I’ve seen people tell me to use the pomodoro method, but whenever I study, my mom always peeks into my room once in a while to check if I’m not “sleeping” (since I sometimes fall asleep while studying). I think she will straight up disapprove of the pomodoro method, because in her beliefs, she think its good to study long hours since she told me she did that as a kid and thinks I should do the same.
Because my mom believes children should obey their parents and do what parents ask them to do, I can’t use the pomodoro method. In fact, I can’t use any study methods regarding time. Whenever I study for those long hours, I get burn out and can only memorise a few things.
What should I do.
Hi @undying_sun, it sounds like you’re really stuck between what your mom expects and what actually works best for you. On one hand, she believes in long, uninterrupted study hours because that’s how she did it, and she wants you to follow that. On the other hand, you’ve noticed that forcing yourself to sit for so long just leaves you burnt out and unable to retain much. That’s a really tough spot to be in, especially when she checks on you and doesn’t leave much room for flexibility.
You’re right that studying isn’t just about the number of hours but also about how effective those hours are. If you’re too fatigued to absorb information, then longer study sessions aren’t really helping.
Since your mom may not accept the Pomodoro method openly, one idea is to kinda “hide” small breaks within your study time. For example, maybe you could switch subjects every 30–45 minutes (it feels like “studying continuously,” but it’s actually giving your brain variety and rest).
This way, you’re still meeting her expectations of being at your desk, but you’re protecting yourself from total burnout.
You’ve shown a lot of self-awareness in noticing what actually works for your learning and that’s a strength. All the best for your O’lvls 
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Hello @undying_sun,
It sounds like youre feeling abit helpless & tired about your situation - especially hearing about your mom having a more ‘traditional’ thinking that studying longer = better results for O Levels.
Definitely, everyone has different study methods and studying long hours doesn’t work for everyone - especially for you right 
Have you tried talking to your parents about the pomodoro method? Maybe they will understand more if you showed them some evidence on how it works - especially since they may still be skeptical about it.
You are the one taking O Levels, and will know what’s best for you when it comes to studying.
If you need more help, feel free to talk it out to a third person (like your teacher or your dad) so your mom would better understand the situation you’re in. 
All the best! Hope you don’t push yourself too hard and take breaks in between 
Hey @undying_sun ,
It sounds like you’re in a tough position, in juggling between your mother’s expectations and what is best for you. I hear that your mother feels that studying longer hours means good grades as it worked for her. However, it seems that she does not understand that what works for her does not work for you, and she may not be open with other methods.
I think maybe you could try talking with her, together with your dad or a trusted adult, to explain how studying long hours make you feel and that it is counter productive for you. Additionally, reassure her that you do care about your O-Levels and that you’re putting your best effort to do well for it. Alternatively, you can try studying outside, like in a library or school, if it allows you to study better. Lastly, maybe you could convince her by asking her to try your study method, and show it through your grades, maybe from a school quiz or exam, that your method works better?
All the best for your O’levels and try to take breaks in between
Hi @undying_sun
It sounds like you’re caught in a tough situation, between choosing what is best for your own studies and your mum’s suggestions. I think everyone has their own ways of studying and you are completely valid for not wanting to use your mum’s method of studying.
Maybe instead of focusing on the time (which would only make you stressed out that you need to meet a certain number of hours), you could focus on one goal/target at a time. Like “tonight I will finish revising this chapter.” This way, you are making the work more manageable for yourself.
Another sneaky way is to take breaks without it looking like breaks. Like stretching while reviewing notes, reading your flashcards out loud while walking around, or summarising key points on a whiteboard/paper. This could help to reset your brain, giving it a much less heavy workload for a short while meeting your mum’s expectations of what studying is.
I want to suggest you to introduce your mum to the pomodoro method and tell her of your concerns. If you think she would not allow it, maybe you could do some research on the pomodoro method (finding its benefits and statistical data to support your argument) to convince your mum.
Good luck for your upcoming exams and feel free to reach out whenever you need. 
That sounds really tough—I can see why you’re feeling frustrated and drained. Studying for long hours without breaks can definitely cause burnout, and it makes sense you’re not retaining much when you’re exhausted. Everyone studies differently, and just because long hours worked for your mom doesn’t mean that’s automatically the best for you.
Since it’s hard to push back directly, maybe one approach is to adapt within her rules. For example, if she expects you to sit from 7:30–10:00, you could still build in tiny “micro-breaks” that don’t look like stopping—like getting up for water, stretching, or even switching subjects for variety. That way, you’re technically still “studying” but giving your brain a reset.
I know it’s hard when parents’ expectations feel rigid, but you’re not doing anything wrong—wanting to learn in a way that works for you is completely valid. You’re working hard, and it sounds like you care a lot about doing well, which already says a lot about your dedication.