How to Focus on Studying: Introduction
We've all been there: Sitting at a desk or table studying intently, and then�Wham!
Thoughts from all over the place invade our brains and we get distracted.
If it's not our thoughts, it's our roommates.
Or neighbors.
Or kids.
These study intruders take over, causing us to lose focus.
And focus, friends, is what you need to be able to study for any of the big tests, from
the LSAT and MCAT to the SAT and ACT to just your average test in school.
So how do you focus?
These six steps will show you how to regain focus if you get distracted, and how to set
yourself up for focus success before your study session ever begins.1.
Get Rid of Obvious Distractions
It's not smart to study with your cell phone on, even if it's set to vibrate.
As soon as you get a text, you're going to look.
You're human!
You can't focus on studying if you're chatting with someone else, too.
So the cell phone is off limits.
Turn off the computer, too, (unless you're prepping on it) and any music with vocals.
Study music should be lyric-free!
Post a sign on your door for people to stay away.
If you have kids, find a babysitter for an hour.
If you have roommates, head out of the house to the least popular spot in the library or
another good study spot.
For that one study session, make yourself inaccessible to people and other external
study distractions, so you don't lose focus when someone wants to chat.
Choose an Appropriate Time
If you're a morning person, choose the a.m. for your study session; if you're a night
owl, choose the evening.
You know yourself better than anyone else, so choose the time when you're at the height
of your brain power and the least tired.
It'll be much more difficult to focus if you're battling fatigue, too.
Get Rid of the Negativity
It's impossible to focus on studying if you have all sorts of negative ideas about studying.
If you're one of those people who say, "I hate studying!"
or "I'm too upset/tired/sick/whatever to study, then you must learn how
to flip those negative statements into positive ones, so you don't automatically shut down
when you open up your notes.
It's amazing how quickly studying can become an awful burden with just a poor frame of
mind.
Here are the top three negative statements people make about studying, and
a quick, easy way to fix each one of them.
Don't be afraid to ask for a little quiet if you're studying in a public place.
Here are
four polite ways to get people to pipe down when you're trying to study.
Use a good pen like the Pilot Dr. Grip.
Sometimes a leaky or uncomfortable pen can undermine your study session.
Wear comfortable, not cozy clothes.
Your mind will associate relaxing with sweatpants or pj's.
Choose something you'd wear to school or a movie.
Tell yourself something positive in case you
get distracted despite following the steps above: "I know I lost focus, but I'm going
to try again and make sure I'm successful this time."
Positive encouragement goes a long way even if
it's coming from you.
Drink your favorite beverage while studying as a reward for your ability to stay
focused.
Keep
it
non-alcoholic!