It feels much better to focus when studying as a student because it’s what every student wants.
But are you having trouble focusing while studying? Do you need full concentration while studying and you are getting any of that, here is an article to help that will help.
Generally, the human brain can’t process two or more pieces of information at the same. It will be impossible for any students to listen to a math teacher and a physics teacher at the same time and understand the topic of both classes.
You can only focus on one topic, one subject, or one teacher at a time.
To concentrate on studying properly, you need to let go of every distraction that may affect you. it’s not just students, everyone else out there has to deal with distractions affecting them in a negative way.
What we have discussed in this article is how to focus when studying, which I think most students are struggling with. We have also listed tips to help students concentrate while studying.
Why Is It Important to Focus When Studying?
Without concentration, it’s impossible to learn or understand a specific set of skills. It’s not just only humans who need to focus to learn.
The animals in the wild also need to concentrate to survive in the wild. Take a lion cub for example. They need to concentrate, watch, and learn from the lioness as she hunts for prey.
As a student, you need full concentration while studying, especially in subjects you think are difficult. Yes, schooling can be very stressful, but only if you create a balance will things be easier for you.
It’s important to concentrate while studying to better understand a topic or subject. When you want to study for a test, you need to focus and block out all distractions.
Perhaps what you are doing to focus when studying is enough and you need a few tips. Continue reading this guide to find out what we have for you.
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Make a Plan as a Student
As a student, you need to carefully plan your schedule. Know when essays are due and when you need to submit that history report.
Also, as an active student, you should know the week that exams are scheduled for and how to prepare yourself for them. Assignments and other school activities also need to be mapped out.
Find out what suits you and map out your work schedule when appropriate.
Ensure you create a target for yourself to achieve something great at the end of every week. Whether it’s writing, reading, researching, or revising, each week should be accounted for.
When you make the right plan, you will have everything ready just in time for the deadlines. Creating a wall calendar or having a diary is an excellent idea to note down important dates.
By doing so, you clearly know when to get started attending to school work.
Establish a Relaxed and Study Friendly Environment
When you are not in a relaxed environment, it will be difficult to understand whatever you are reading.
The library is not the only place where students can read and understand a topic. Most students do study in their rooms and they understand pretty well just like those going to the library.
During my time at the university, I spent more time reading in my room than I did in the school library. It’s a question of how conducive your environment is and how you plan to study.
If your roommate is a person who understands when you need total silence. Then you should have no problem studying in your room. Keep your desk and the entire room clean to ensure nothing is distracting you.
Take Regular Breaks
Taking regular breaks increases a student’s productivity, so this is something you should try out as a student. When you decide to break down your schoolwork into manageable pieces, it helps you focus when studying.
Here is something you should do when studying for long periods.
Try to take a 15-minute break for every 45 minutes you study. Sitting on your desk for hours without taking a break is not advisable.
The body needs to stretch after a long period of remaining stationary. So, feel free to get some fresh air outside, do some stretches, and allow your brain to process the information for the main time.
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Don’t Accommodate Distraction from Social Media
Unless you are doing online research about schoolwork, don’t get close to your phone while studying.
Keeping your phone close and checking it once any notification comes in is a big distraction. Your Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok notifications can wait until you are done with your schoolwork.
Let me just check my Instagram notifications for 30 seconds can lead to being on it for 10 minutes or more.
There is a time for everything and you should know when it’s time for study and leisure. Combining both is bad for you as a student.
When you need to study for a math test, the pictures on Instagram will not help you in any way. You need to prepare for your test and avoid any form of distraction.
Drink Plenty of Water and Make Sure You Have Enough Food to Eat
One of my friends back when we were in the university always told me to eat very well before we started studying.
During examination periods, most students are so tied to schoolwork that it affects their well-being. As a student, it’s important you consume the right food and stay hydrated while you study.
Drinking a good amount of water helps students concentrate. According to scientific reports, even a 5% water shortage in the body affects a person’s concentration by 25%.
The human body needs a sufficient amount of water to function effectively. Make sure you drink a large amount of water, especially if you are in an environment where the temperature is between 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.
Eat healthy fruits and nuts during your study, and don’t forget to take a glass of water every couple of hours.
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Remain Focused on Your Priorities
Every student needs motivation no doubt, but only you can be the greatest motivation to yourself.
If you fail to meet your expectations, you will have to live with the regrets yourself and no one else. Knowing who you are and where you come from is essential.
Why do I need to succeed and what is my priority?
When you ask yourself these simple questions, perhaps you will come up with an answer on why you should stay focused on your priority.
The dream is to succeed regardless of whatever challenge is in front of you. If you are determined to succeed and you know what your priorities are, then there should be no second option.
Learn How to Say No
There will always be social activities in school for students to attend. It’s not a bad idea to hang out with friends or attend parties. But, you have to create and know your limit.
If you decide to go out every day with friends, bear in mind that there will be consequences. If you dine out more often on weekdays, try reducing it to once per week.
This will not only help you save time, but it will also help you save some money. The time you spend at the cinema watching a movie would be more useful if you were studying.
Maybe you have a friend who always wants some company when going to the mall. If that friend tells you to accompany him or her to the mall, your reply should be “I am busy at the moment, maybe later”.
Other Tips to Help You Focus When Studying
Here are other tips to help you focus while studying as a student.
#1. Put Only the Materials You Need for Your Current Task on the Desk
According to researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, the human brain can process information more effectively when in an uncluttered environment.
As a student, you need to bring out only the items you need to finish the task at hand.
Let’s you have a math assignment to attend to, you need a pen, a calculator, and any other math apparatus. To make things easier for yourself, create a list of every item you need during your study session.
Make sure your study environment is clean and only bring out those items you need to finish a particular task.
#2. Prepare Your Brain by Doing Deep Breathing Exercises before Every Study Session
Doing deep breathing exercises will help you focus more while studying. According to researchers at Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, doing this exercise helps your body’s production of noradrenaline.
Noradrenaline serves as a neurotransmitter that affects your level of concentration.
How can you practice this deep breathing exercise to get results?
- Firstly, you need to close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose for about four seconds
- Once you feel that you have enough air in your lungs, hold your breath for about two seconds
- Lastly, gently exhale through your nose for four seconds
Try out this exercise three times before you start each study session to have a new experience.
Also Read: Mental Health Tips For Students
#3. Studying in Bed is bad for you
Sitting or lying in bed while studying is not acceptable in any way. Believe me, you will not achieve anything good if you are a student who stays in bed to study.
It’s impossible to study effectively in a place of relaxation. If you must study in your room, do it sitting upright on a desk and not on the bed.
#4. Keep All Your Digital Devices in another Room
We already talked about keeping your smartphone away from your study desk, unless you need it to conduct online research.
I know most students have several electronic gadgets. Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, iPad, or laptop, if it’s not helping with the task at hand, keep it in another room.
Avoid the temptation of keeping your electronic gadgets in the same room where you want to study. Keeping your gadgets in a separate room will help you study without getting distracted.
#5. Write Down Why You Want to Study
To stay focused and committed to your schoolwork, you need to list the reasons why you want to study hard.
Write down motivational words to encourage yourself to work hard.
Here are a few motivational words you can list. Tell yourself;
- “I want to be a more knowledgeable person regardless of any challenge”
- “I want to nurture the character of always doing my best”
- “I want to become a self-driven person”
#6. Keep Records of All the Task You Have Completed
As a student, you need to keep a record of all the tasks you have completed every day.
You need to do this because of two reasons:
- It allows you to keep track of your performance if you are meeting the objectives in each study session. If by any chance you are meeting the objectives, perhaps you underestimated the time needed to complete the task.
- It’s important to see how you are making progress within a specific time. There may be a little progress and the best way to know if you are in the right direction is to keep track of the task completed.
Conclusion
As a student, you need full concentration to understand the topic taught in class. Distractions are in different forms and they affect your ability to focus when studying.
With these tips listed in this article, you will be able to schedule a study plan for yourself.
