How to Concentrate on Study

Is this anything you’ve heard before? You know you have a huge exam coming up next week, so you know it’s time to study. You sit down at your study table and begin going over your notes. Your phone rings five minutes later. Lily, this is a text message from your cousin. She’s curious about…

 

Is this anything you’ve heard before?

You know you have a huge exam coming up next week, so you know it’s time to study.

You sit down at your study table and begin going over your notes.

Your phone rings five minutes later. Lily, this is a text message from your cousin. She’s curious about the family vacation you’re planning after your exam.

You check the clock after exchanging six text messages with Lily. 15 minutes have passed!

You put your phone down and resume reading your notes. You have an intense want to check your Facebook news feed 10 minutes later.

You intended to spend a few minutes on Facebook, but you wind up looking through three photo albums, commenting on four status updates, and viewing two videos.

“Life dilemma: Study for exam or check Facebook,” you decide to update your own status. Facebook triumphs.” This will take you another 20 minutes.

I’m sure you’ve experienced something similar. It happened to me while I was a student, and most of the students I deal with say it happens all the time.

But there is still hope. Simple tactics can help you win the battle against distractions.

Here are six pointers:

Turn off your phone and place it at the far end of the room.

If you own a smartphone, you are well aware of how distracting it can be. You have access to Facebook, Twitter, email, text messaging, and, yes, the entire Internet.

Even if you don’t have a smartphone, it can be highly distracting!

As a result, I recommend that you put your phone on silent mode and place it far away from you at the start of your study session. It should ideally be placed at the opposite end of the room.

This way, you won’t be distracted when studying by phone calls or text messages. When you take a break, you can always check your phone every 30 or 45 minutes.

If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that few text messages and phone conversations require an urgent answer, so it’s normal to get back to the other person when you’re taking a break.

Disconnect from the Internet.

You may intend to use your computer for business, but you may find yourself instead on Facebook or YouTube. (You understand what I mean.)

The World Wide Web is just a click away when you’re utilizing a computer. Don’t put your faith in yourself to resist that temptation. Before you begin your study session, turn off your Internet connection.

If you need to access specific web resources, download all of the essential material at the start of your session before disconnecting from the Internet.

The Internet is a tool that may both entertain and educate. You may efficiently harness the power of the Internet by turning off your Internet access when it’s time to focus.

Distractions hit you in waves. The want to watch TV or clean your room (I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels the need to clean my room when it’s time to work, right?) and check your phone attacks you unexpectedly—and it is frequently overwhelming.

When you’re about to become distracted, take a deep breath.

However, these powerful impulses only endure a short time. If you can withstand the initial wave, you’ll be able to continue studying instead of surrendering to temptation.

Here’s how to resist the impulse when it strikes: Shut your eyes. Inhale for two seconds, then exhale for two seconds. If the need persists, repeat until it passes.

You’ll spend four to eight seconds inhaling deeply using this simple technique before returning to work. If you don’t apply this strategy, you’ll most likely be sidetracked for 15 minutes or more.

Request privacy from others.

I’m sure you’ve had something similar happen to you previously when studying:

• Your mother stopped by to inquire about your day.
• Your friend came by to talk.
• Your younger brother requested assistance with his homework.
• Your sister approached you for advice.
• The list goes on and on.

Don’t get me wrong: I value relationships. In many ways, I feel that the quality of your connections defines the quality of your life.

Interruptions can be very disruptive when studying.

Just before you begin your study session, I recommend that you go up to the folks who are most likely to disrupt you and say something like this: “I have an exam coming up next week, therefore I need to focus. Would you please respect my privacy for the next two hours and refrain from interrupting unless absolutely necessary?”

When you make a concerted effort to request that others respect your privacy and commitment to academic performance, they are more likely to do so.

Get at least eight hours of sleep each night.

It appears nearly difficult to get adequate sleep as a student. There is always so much schoolwork to do, projects to work on, activities to participate in, friends to hang out with, and parties to attend.

Sleep appears little in comparison to all of these things!

However, sleep is essential if you want to do well in school. Sleep has been shown in studies to improve memory, focus, and brain function. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’re not setting yourself up for success in college.

You will be easily sidetracked if you are sleep-deprived.

Here are some tips to help you sleep earlier:

• Establish a nightly nighttime regimen.
• Relax at the end of the day by reading a book.
• After 3 p.m., avoid caffeine.
• Every day, go to bed at the same time.
• Set a nightly alarm to remind you when it’s time to sleep (this has been quite beneficial for me!)

To help you prioritize your chores, use a service like Asana.com.

(I guarantee Asana.com did not pay me to say this.)

Asana.com is a web-based platform that helps you to manage projects and prioritize tasks easily.

I began using Asana.com about a year ago and have found it to be really useful in organizing my life.

Students are frequently sidetracked when they consider all of the other things that must be completed. They begin to question whether they should be focusing on another task or studying for a different test instead. This prevents them from concentrating on the task at hand.

You can remain on top of all of your assignments, projects, and other commitments by using a platform like Asana.com. You’ll get the most out of every study session if you take a systematic approach to task management.

In conclusion…

Distractions abound in our increasingly connected world of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and high-speed Internet.

To keep on track, you’ll need to make a concerted effort. I hope these six suggestions help you on your path to becoming a happy and successful student!