Staying Focused: Minimizing Distractions While Studying

Studying is only effective if you actually retain the information. Reviewing flashcards or going over your notes won’t do you much good if you’re not paying attention to what you’re reading because you’re distracted by things around you. Your brain needs to be actively engaged to get the most out of your study sessions. Don’t let your time and energy go to waste. Here are some tips to minimize distractions and be more productive.

Choose a Quiet Space

Some people prefer to study in their room, a home office, the basement, or the backyard. Others go to the library or a bookstore. Find a space where you can concentrate without a lot of background noise. Wearing noise canceling headphones can help. If you’re someone who doesn’t like silence, try listening to white noise or calming instrumental music. You want your mind to be focused on your work, not on figuring out what your siblings are fighting about or what’s happening in the game on tv.

If the room has a window, make sure you’re not looking out on a busy street where there will be a lot of movement, people, cars, animals, and other things to distract you. You can try closing the blinds or sitting with your back to the window so you can still enjoy the natural light but have a different view.

Put Away Electronics

Listening to messages pop up on your phone or having social media apps just a click away can certainly be a distraction. Taking just a minute to see what your friends are up to can quickly turn into an hour lost. Silence your phone and close your laptop. If you need to be online, consider using website blockers to prevent you from wandering to other sites.

Set Goals

Decide what you want to accomplish during each study session. Break down larger topics into smaller chunks to work through one by one. Having a specific task to complete can help you stay on track. Once you finish, then give yourself a short break. It can be easier to focus knowing that you just have to make it through chapter three or the first 10 problems on a practice sheet.

Give Yourself Breaks

Spending three hours straight studying can cause you to burn out and become even more distracted. Schedule breaks to give your brain a break, stretch, and refocus. You can only process so much information at once, and when you just keep pushing, it’s harder to remember anything. A good place to start could be 25 minutes of studying followed by a five-minute break.

Do a Brain Dump

Are you getting distracted because your mind is racing with thoughts other than what you’re supposed to be learning? Write them down. Take a few minutes to jot down everything that you’re thinking about, worried about, or that is taking your attention away from studying. The act of just getting the thoughts out of your head and onto paper can be calming and improve your focus.

Work with a Tutor

A tutor can help you better manage your time, teach you more effective study strategies, clear up any questions or confusion about the content, and hold you accountable. They can keep you on task and make your studying more productive. Crafting Scholars develops customized learning plans aligned with your needs, goals, and learning style. Contact us today to learn more and reserve your spot!