How to Get & Stay Focused While Studying
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Getting in the mood to study is hard enough, but actually staying focused? That’s difficult. Luckily for you, I’ve been there, and I’ve learned how to overcome both of these issues. Read on to figure out how you, too, can maintain focus through your entire study session.
1.) Create a designated (and aesthetic) study space.
Your study space needs to be its own. You need a place that allows your mind to associate that place with studying. This means you cannot sit in your bed! Your mind has already made the connection: bed = sleep. Instead, find a corner of your apartment, a desk, a table- and specifically designate that area to your study sessions. And make. It. Cute. Get a cute lamp, a comfy chair, and even desk decorations. You could opt for a little plant, or a pretty organizer to keep all of your pens and highlighters.
2.) Put your phone away.
I don’t mean on silent, do not disturb, or even just off. I mean completely out of reach. We all know that we have an addiction to these tiny little light boxes, so seriously set it aside. You’ll mindlessly reach for it, hop on Instagram, and realize 30 minutes later that you have yet to start studying. Put your phone in another room, on your bed, or in a drawer somewhere. Out of sight, out of mind.
3.) Take breaks!
Yep! To work hard and stay focused, you have to take breaks. I really love using the Pomodoro method, which basically has alternating periods of work and rest (ex. 30 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest). After a few sessions, you’ll get a longer break to let your mind refresh and reset. You can simply look up “Pomodoro timer” on the internet and find lots of good pre-made timers! During your break, try not to get on your phone. If you must, then do so. However, it’s much better to do something good for you. Drink water, make some tea, grab a healthy snack, or get in a quick 5-minute stretching sesh. This way, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to start learning.
4.) Prioritize your tasks.
Prioritize your work. What is going to take the most brain power? I like to start with my hardest tasks first so that I don’t run out of energy before I get to them. What needs to get done, and what can wait? What do I know already, and what do I really need to work on? Sometimes, I find that it’s easy to want to study the things I already know because it’s easier! But that’s pretty silly, isn’t it? So now, I make myself a list with three categories: “Know”, “Need to practice”, and “Don’t know.” That way I can begin with the things I’m the worst at and start moving things up the list.
5.) Make a schedule.
Designate a chunk of your day to studying, and write it down. It’s important to have a set time to study instead of doing a little bit here and there and not really paying attention to what you’re working on. When setting this schedule, make sure that you take into account what times of day you feel the most productive. If you know you’re a night owl, don’t set your study time for 5 am, and vice versa. Pay attention to your body’s cues of when it feels the best throughout the day so that you can get the most from your studying.
I hope that these 5 simple study tips will really help you to focus better throughout your study sessions. It may take some time, but you’ll get the hang of it. Soon, I may be creating some downloadable study planners, so stay tuned!
