Studying is something that most students don’t look forward to, even though it’s essential to academic success. That’s why many are turning to online tutors – learning with someone else can help to improve focus and boost retention. By contrast, staying focused while studying alone is easier said than done. Here are some tried and tested tips to maintain full attention during study time.
1. Goodnight Books, I’ll See You In The Morning
Evidence suggests that your ability to retain information or tackle intense questions is severely affected when you don’t get a good night’s sleep. While you insist on cramming in last-minute information in the wee hours of the morning, know that your tired brain is preventing you from remembering as much as you could if you got good rest.
Long-term sleep deprivation actually hinders your ability to perform well on tasks requiring strict attention and vigilance.
The solution? Set your study hours wisely. You alone know until what time you’re able to maintain your focus. So, if your brain only functions well until 11 pm, know that getting rest thereafter is your best way of ensuring that you retain what you’re studying.
It’s also vital to ensure you get a full night’s rest (about 8 hours) before any big exam so that your brain can perform to the best of its ability.
2. Make Your Revision Relevant
People learn best when the content they’re studying is relevant. If you can relate to what you study, you’ll automatically retain more information.
3. Eliminate All Distractions
The fact that you need to focus will cause all sorts of things to distract you. The smallest of sounds may demand all of your attention. The most insignificant of messages may seem intriguing.
The answer is to study in a space free of distractions. This may mean turning off your wi-fi or hiding your mobile phone in a different room. While you might think that the internet can improve your ability to research information, studies conducted on university students prove that there is no direct correlation between improved performance and internet usage.
So, study from your books and put all else away.
4. Structure Your Learning Into Manageable Chunks
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when the exam timetable makes an appearance. A lot of people respond by planning their own personal study timetable that entails squeezing in too much content into one day.
You need to remember that studying takes time. You can’t expect to succeed if you devote 8 hours to studying without a lengthy break.
Rather, plan to study for shorter periods of time with a very short break in between. Setting study sessions of 30 minutes at a time can be highly beneficial. Take a 4 to 5-minute break in between each 30-minute session.
5. Listen To Music While You Study
Listening to music while studying is a form of multitasking, so it should translate to a lack of focus, right? Well, recent research shows that listening to music while studying can actually improve performance. The reason music may help is because it’s soothing and relaxing.
While studying without stress and anxiety does help you retain information better, loud music may have an adverse effect. So, select wisely when choosing your study music playlist.
6. Meditate
As the exam approaches, remember to meditate. Meditation provides you with the mindfulness needed to study effectively. Students who meditate before lectures often retain more information.
With these tips, you can and will stay focused while studying.
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