Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Create an ideal work environment
• Method 3 of 4: Study efficiently
• Method 4 of 4: Pause

Unless you have a strong desire to learn certain information or develop a specific skill, it can be difficult to focus all your attention on one point. Television, smartphones, social media, friends and family can all distract you from your goal of doing well in school. Create an environment that helps you focus. Set up a schedule for maximizing your study time. Try out different study techniques and take breaks so that it doesn't get too much for you. Here are some of the best tricks scientists have come up with to help you focus better on your studies.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Create an ideal work environment

1. Avoid distractions. Choose the right place. In order to focus, you have to shut out those things that you know are going to distract you. Set up mobile devices. Turn off the TV. Close other pages in your web browser. Get away from people who make a lot of noise.
   • Sit upright in a chair at a desk. Don't lie on a bed or in a position that you know will lull you to sleep. Choose a space that is only used for studying. Soon your body will associate that space with that activity and it will be easier to focus on your studies.
   • Study in a brightly lit room. This will protect your eyes from too much effort when reading a book, notes or a computer screen. Bright lights also keep you from falling asleep.
   • You need a comfortable chair. There should be no strain on your back or neck. Pain is a terrible distraction.
2. Play some instrumental music. Some people can't stand silence. They need to have background noise to motivate themselves. Consider running classic softly in the background. For some people, music helps to concentrate. It doesn't help others. Try it out and see what you like best. A little noise in the background can make you forget that you are studying instead of wanting to go out and have fun.
   • Keep in mind that study music may not be the music you listen to in the car for fun. You want to fill the room with sound, but not to the point where it becomes distracting or exhausting. Experiment with different genres and find out what helps you focus.
3. Start prepared. Make sure you have all the materials needed to work. Let pencils, pens, markers, paper, textbooks, calculators, or whatever help you complete the task. Make the area neatly ordered. A tidy space also means less distraction. Your goal should be to arrange everything outside of studying before sitting down to focus. If not, you will find yourself getting up repeatedly to do something else. Having to stop and start over again and again takes more time than continuing to work.
4. Find a place where you are "not online for a while". One of the biggest complaints teachers have about their students is their inability to focus on a topic. Our constant use of social media and devices such as cell phones shreds our attention and makes it more difficult to focus.
   • Know what distracts you the most on a computer, if you must use one. There are website and software blockers such as SelfRestraint, SelfControl, and Think that can keep you away from the websites and software that are the hardest to resist.
   • Find a place where there is no internet or your mobile phone does not work. You can also choose to study in a place where people are not allowed to use cell phones, such as in a quiet part of a library.
   EXPERT TIP

   Learn when to say no. Often people find it difficult to concentrate on their studies because they think they have too many other commitments. If this also applies to you, then dare to say no.Just explain that you have to study and that you don't have the time or energy for anything else if you are helping someone.

5. Make a schedule. Aim to work for 30-60 minutes with a 5-10 minute break in between. It's a lot easier to push yourself through for a period of time when you know that a break is imminent. Your brain needs the break to recharge and process the information.
   • Make a schedule for yourself to study different topics. Studying the same for too long guarantees boredom. Know yourself. Are you easily bored? Then use your time strategically.
   • When are you most productive? If you have a lot of energy, the work becomes lighter. If you know you'll get tired at some point of the day, schedule tasks that require less attention.
   • Some people are early risers. They wake up early before most people even start their day. They take this quiet time to catch up with their studies. Other people are night owls. They thrive after everyone has gone to bed. The house is then quiet and they can concentrate more easily. Some people don't have the luxury of getting up early or staying up late. Maybe you are one of them. If so, find a time of day when you can spend effectively on your studies.
6. Make lists. Write down your study goals for each day. What do you want or need to achieve?
   • Make sure your goals are achievable. If you have to write 10 pages per week, schedule to write two pages per day for five days. The task will no longer seem daunting and too much. This works for any assignment, whether you need to read a book, study for a test, build something for science class, or whatever. Divide the assignment into manageable parts.

Method 3 of 4: Study efficiently

1. Vary your study techniques. Don't limit yourself to one study method, such as reading a textbook. Make study cards. Quiz yourself. Watch informational videos when available. Rewrite your notes. Variation ensures that you remain interested in your studies and that you use your time more efficiently.
   • Your brain can process information in different ways. By applying different study techniques, your brain can process the information in a different way, increasing the chance of remembering the information.
2. Make studying more active. To make your studies more effective and to concentrate, use active reading techniques. Read your textbook out loud. Write and read your notes. Your brain will process the information differently and it will help you focus on your task.
   • Involve others. One of the most effective ways to learn information is to try to explain it to someone else. Have a significant other, roommate, friend, or family member play the student. See if you can explain the difficult material to them.
3. Convert your notes into your own words. Studying has nothing to do with blunt stamping. It is about understanding the meaning of the study material. Try rewriting your class notes or homework in your own words.
4. Try the "five more" rule. Sometimes it is necessary to play psychological games with yourself to make sure you go to college. Tell yourself to do only five more things or go on for five more minutes before you stop. Once you are done with that, "you do another five" of one thing or another. Dividing tasks into smaller chunks makes it easier for people with shorter attention spans and keeps your brain fresher for longer.
5. Do the least pleasant tasks first. This sounds backwards, but doing the most difficult tasks first will make each subsequent activity seem easier. Don't let tough problems turn into a waste of time. Make sure you know quickly if you need extra help to learn something.

Method 4 of 4: Pause

1. Take breaks. Your brain is like a sponge, when you try to absorb a lot of information, information "leaks" out. Take breaks to give your thoughts some rest.
2. Reward yourself. Sometimes we need an incentive to keep going. If good grades aren't enough as a reward, create something else to keep you focused on your studies. Maybe some treats and some TV? Want to go shopping? A massage or a nap? What would make studying worthwhile for you?
3. Eat some treats. Nutrition is key to keeping you awake and motivated to keep studying. Have a snack on hand. Try to stick to something simple, like a handful of nuts, blueberries, or dark chocolate. Also keep water on hand - don't drink too much coffee, caffeinated tea, or other energy drinks (or you'll stay up all night). Eventually, you will build up a tolerance for it and you will have little or no benefit from it.
   • Eat superfood. Research has shown that blueberries, spinach, pumpkin, broccoli, dark chocolate and fish stimulate brain activity. Avoid junk and sweets with little to no nutritional value. Your body will use energy to break them down, but it is of no use. A healthy diet provides more energy and makes it easier for your mind to deal with challenges.
4. Get some exercise to let off some steam. Movement works wonders for the body and the brain. It helps with remembering, your state of mind, alertness and feeling. Do stretches that work out areas of your body that got stiff during your study session. Touch your toes. Train with light weights. Go jogging.
5. Take a nap. Sleep allows your brain to store information that you study. Without good sleep, all that studying would have been in vain. Plenty of sleep helps regulate your hormones, which keeps your mood in check.