With social media, nice weather and a million different assignments to do, it’s impossible to stay focused while studying these days.
So here are 3 tips I use for staying focused while studying.
Time yourself
My favourite thing to do when I’m finding it impossible to focus is to set a timer. I’ll set a 10 minute timer and for those 10 minutes I’ll focus on the assignment I’m working on. Then, I’ll take a ten minute break to check my phone, make a cup of tea or have a snack. Then repeat the cycle again.
I use this method when my brains too stressed to focus for a long period of time. When you’ve got so many different thoughts running through to your head, sometimes 10 minutes is all you can manage. I find this is much more productive for me than just sitting in front of my screen for an hour stressing about how much I have to do but struggling to take action.
I found with this I can get at least 100 words per 10 minutes, which leads me to actually finish my work twice as fast.
Regular breaks
At this time of year, when the suns out and its warming up, sometimes all you want to do is go outside. So, when I find myself staring ou the window at the squirrels more than I’m looking at my laptop, I take that as a sign that I need a break.
Five to ten minutes spent outside soaking up some vitamin D works wonders for your productivity.
Its always good to move around and stretch your legs, even if you’re just pacing around the room. Let your eyes have a few minutes away from your screen.
Change your scenery
We all have our favourite study spots, but sometimes when I’ve been studying in the same plays for hours on end the routine can get to me.
I used to just stick to studying at my desk in my room. It used to be the best place for me to stay focused, but recently there’s been too many distractions.
So, I found a new favourite place and that’s really helped keep me motivated. Having a new separate place that I’ve only ever gone to to study has really helped my focus. My brain now associates this area with studying, so I’m not getting distracted by all the things I can do instead.
If I give myself an hour or two to study in this designated study area, I find I’m much more productive then working for five hours in my room.
These little things make all the difference, even if all they do is keep you focused for an extra five minutes. Its a busy time of year, there’s a lot of work to keep up with, all you can do is try your best!
Featured image credits: pexels.com
