It can be hard to stay focused when studying. From the itch to check Instagram to staying comfortable in your chair, there can be lots of distractions keeping you from getting the job done.
Luckily, there are plenty of tools and tricks out there that can help you stay focused and study hard. Here are of some of these methods, as suggested by Freedom in their article:
Find a suitable environment
Some people find it easiest to study in complete silence, while others might like a bit of background noise. Try some different places around the house, or even in your favourite coffee shop, to see what works best for you.
Regardless, there are some things that you need to have no matter where you are:
Plenty of space and a flat surface for all your materials and tools
An outlet to charge your devices – there’s nothing worse than your battery going flat in the middle of writing an assignment when you haven’t saved for a while!
A comfortable chair or standing position
Create a study ritual
Help yourself get into the mindset of study by creating a little ritual for yourself that you follow every day. Maybe you can clean your desk before you start, or go for a short walk. Having this ritual can help prepare your mind for the study to come.
Block distracting websites and apps
We’re all guilty of being distracted by our Facebook or Instagram feeds when we’re supposed to be doing something else. But if it’s becoming a bad habit, it might be time to step it up and block those websites and delete the apps from your phone. It might be tough, but it will do wonders for your study!
Divide up and space out study sessions
Got lots of study to get through? It can seem daunting when you add it all up together. Make it less scary by dividing up your time into smaller, more manageable blocks, instead of trying to cram everything in at once.
Use the Pomodoro Technique
Check out our blog for more information about the Pomodoro Technique.
Find the best tools
There are tons of apps and websites out there designed to help you get the most out of your study sessions. From helping you get organised, to helping you focus, to build good habits, there’s something for everyone. See Freedom’s full blog for some suggestions.
Focus on skills, not grades
Learning is a skill that will last you a lifetime. Remember that while it might be important to do well on your exams and assignments, it’s not the be all and end all. Building valuable study skills is important too – and feeling like you’re accomplishing something just by learning can be very motivating.
Schedule downtime
You don’t have to be a study machine 24/7 – in fact, trying to cram everything in non-stop will probably be more harmful than good. Make sure you have some time to relax, unwind and take care of yourself as well. It will improve your learning in the long run.
Exercise
Studying can involve a lot of sitting, and it’s important that you get up and move. Even if it’s just getting up from your chair every 30 minutes to have a stretch and walk to the fridge, something is better than nothing. Exercise doesn’t just benefit your body – it can help reduce stress and anxiety and help you to focus better as well.
Write reviews and adapt
Tried something that you found just wasn’t working? That’s okay! Adapting to your changing schedule and needs is important, so make a list of tips and techniques you found worked wonders, and things that didn’t work so well. Review your list over time to see if things need a bit of a shake-up.
You can read more about how to stay focused on Freedom’s full blog here: https://freedom.to/blog/how-to-stay-focused-studying/