Focusing can be hard. Sometimes the classes we have to take are not exactly what we are interested in, but we still have to get through them and learn the information. Here are some tips and tricks for focusing to help you get through those rough classes!
- How to know if you’re having trouble focusing
If you find it easy to stay alert, manage your time, and stay on task, you might not have a huge issue with focusing. If you find yourself daydreaming, getting distracted easily, or feeling like you just aren’t making progress when you sit down to do something, you might be having issues with your focus.
- Get organized
Set aside time to organize your tasks. Do you have four assignments, a project due next week, and two tests at the end of the week? Chances are, at some point in the semester your schedule will look like this. It’s important to take the time you need to write down in a planner, or just on a to do list, everything you need to accomplish throughout the week and when you’re going to get it done. Make sure to prioritize. I usually prioritize the assignments that need to be done first, and then I move on to the next due date. Consider color coding your due dates and assignments by classes. This can help you quickly understand what assignments are due for what classes when, when taking a look at your planner.
- Get rid of the distractions
Do you ever find yourself looking at your phone in the middle of trying to do your assignments? This might mean you need to turn off your phone, or put it in airplane mode while you try to finish assignments. Make sure that the time you set aside for your work is dedicated to your work. If you use your time to be on your phone, it might be discouraging when you’ve been trying to work for a few hours with little or nothing to show for it.
If this is hard to do in your room, it might be a good idea to study at a cafe or library. You could even move from your room to a living room or space in your house where there are less distractions.
- Schedule in breaks
Maybe some of us can work five hours straight with no breaks, but for most of us, it’s a bit unrealistic to try and focus on a task for that long. It’s important to schedule in breaks to eat, use the restroom, and just relax before doing some more work. However, you want to make sure that if you have more to do after a break you still get back on task. To do this you could use a timer for working times and break times. Try setting a timer for 50 minutes, and in that 50 minutes get as much done as you can. After that 50 minutes is up, set a timer for 10 minutes and take a break. You can repeat this until you get your assignment done, or when the time you’ve set aside to work is over.
(Peighton)
