How to Concentrate on Studies? | Know from the Experts!

How to Concentrate on Studies? [Practical Strategies]

The most common struggle faced by today's students is "How to Concentrate on Studies?". No matter how much one is interested in the subject or the course, at one point, they feel stuck. It is when they get distracted and keep wondering how to concentrate on studies. If you can also relate to this, then here are some effective strategies to help you with it:

Create a Proper Study Zone

A proper study zone is the key to maintain your focus in your work. Yes, have a dedicated space which is your go-to for every time you want to study. Moreover, it should be neat, organized, clean, and have good natural light. By doing this, you have a set space which sends signals to your brain that it's time to focus whenever you are in there.

Plan Your Study Sessions

The next crucial thing that can help improve your focus in education is planning your sessions. Yes, if you know what to study or learn, there is less scope for you to waste any time. So, it helps keep you focused for long. To do that, you need to do some homework and plan your sessions. All you need to do is check your work, set up a routine, and plan to get that done.

Focus on Active Learning

Now, learning must be fun if you want it to last longer. Sitting for hours staring at a screen can be straining. Moreover, sitting and reading can also make you drowsy. So, include active learning. It's as simple as walking while you learn, making flashcards, teaching someone what you read, and using mnemonics and tricks can keep your brain engaged and you awake.

Use Effective Techniques

It's easy to improve your study focus when you use effective techniques. There are proven scientific strategies that help you concentrate better. They are spaced repetition, chunking method, interleaving, the Feynman technique, and more. These simple yet effective techniques can level up your learning game.

Make Use of Technology

Technology can be your friend or foe, depending on how you choose to make the best of it. Yes, you can use a block app to improve your focus on study while turning off unnecessary notifications. You can use learning tricks and tips from online experts. You can also listen to podcasts or read professional blogs (like this one) to enhance your knowledge.

So, these practical ways answer your query, "How to concentrate on study or exam preparation. However, while you prepare to improve your concentration, it's also important to eliminate any distractions. Let's learn more about it in the next section.

Distractions: How to Identify & Manage Them?

When you want to study for exams or any other reason but find yourself doing something else, it's clear that you got distracted. It is doing something that you do not intend to do. So, it is way more important to redirect the question- "how to focus on studies" to "how to deal with distractions." But, before that, you first need to identify the type of distraction so that you can work on it accordingly:

Identifying the Distractions

The first step in eliminating distractions to focus your studies is to identify what they are. So, there are two types of distractions:

Internal Distractions

As the name suggests, these are the distractions that are caused inside you. So, the mental obstructions or physical reasons due to which you are unable to improve your study focus are known as internal distractions. They can be:

External Distractions

External distractions refer to environmental factors and surroundings that hinder your concentrate on studies. These distractions come in various forms, including:

These are the major types of distractions that make you wonder, "How to concentrate on studies?" Now, the concern is how to manage these distractions. So, check this out!

Managing the Distractions

If you are wondering, "how to focus on studies and manage distractions that come your way," then follow these simple techniques:

• Have control over overthinking and day-dreaming
• Maintain a comfortable study space free of clutter
• Avoid using the phone or put it with block app or no notifications
• Start with mental exercises to increase your study focus
• Keep a tab on food, water, rest, and exercise to not exhaust yourself

These are a few ways to manage distractions when you are planning to study. As mentioned, the study environment plays a crucial role in how you concentrate on studies. So, check out the next section for more details.

How to Create a Conducive Study Environment?

A good environment has a good impact, and you can focus on your studies. So, the main concern here is to create a conducive study environment. It is a space where you can be focused, motivated, and productive. So, to focus your studies, having a conducive study environment is important, and you can create it by following these steps:

Pick a Place

The first thing to do is, pick a place in your house and it should have good lighting and ventilation for positive vibes. Make sure it's away from bed, couch or door bell to avoid feeling lazy or to take frequent breaks.

Set up Study Desk

You won't feel the need to ask, How to concentrate on studies, if your desk is all set-up. Yes. So, you must have a comfortable, supportive chair and a good study lamp. Have all the essentials ready on the desk but keep it open and spacious so it's not cluttered.

Limit All Distractions

The next thing to do is minimize the distractions. Try to use a laptop or PC for research instead of mobile to avoid unnecessary notifications. Even if you have to, use block apps to focus. Use noise-cancellations or white noise to deal with music requirements.

Schedule Study Routine

After doing all these, you might still wonder, "How to focus on studies", if you don't have a study routine. So, if you do not have clarity on what to study or how to prepare, you might end up swimming across the ocean without any idea about the shore. So, have a clear study plan and targets that keep you motivated.

Make It Purposeful

The final and important step is to understand the purpose and make the space serve the purpose. You want to use it as a study space, so, have what all you need during your study. Keep it lively and personalized so that you feel you want to spend time there. Make it organized and well-set to avoid unnecessary interruptions during the study.

So, these are a few steps to set a conducive study environment which answers your query on, "How to concentrate on studies." Now, other than the environment, the thing that plays a crucial role is, your time management techniques. Yes, no matter how good the space is, if you are not good with time, you end up messing things. So, here are some effective techniques to help you.

5+ Time Management Techniques for Effective Studying

The best answer to "How to focus on studies" is by taking care of your time. Everyone has the same 24 hours, but some end up being productive while others do nothing. So, to focus and study well, you need to work on how you manage your time. So, here are some effective time management techniques:

Pomodoro Technique

This was developed by Francesco Cirillo in 1980s. For this, you need to choose a task, set a timer for 25-45 minutes and work without distractions till the alarm goes off. After that, take a short break of 5-10 minutes. Repeat this and after 4 Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break for 15-30 minutes.

Eisenhower Technique

This is a decision-making and prioritization tool. It was developed by Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to this, you categorize the tasks in hand into 4 types -

• Urgent and Important - You can do it now
• Important but Not Urgent - You can schedule this
• Urgent but Not Important - You can delegate it
• Neither Urgent Nor Important - You can eliminate this

If you cannot apply this directly to your study, you can use this to unload your other works that are not mandatory to be done by you.

80/20 Rule

This is also known as the Pareto principle. It suggests that your 80% results are based on the 20% of the efforts. Here, you have to check for the topics that are 20% and can get you 80% results. So, choosing such topics will help get you better scores with less effort. So, focus on them.

Time Blocking Method

This is a structured time management approach. It is used to block a certain time for a specific task. This can be done by first listing all the tasks, then setting their priority, and then setting specific times for each of them. This way, you have dedicated time for all, and you can focus better on each task at hand without worrying about anything else.

Feynman Technique

Richard Feynman introduced this technique, which involves selecting a concept and breaking it down into simpler terms. So, for this, you have to choose a topic, study it, and explain it as if to a 5-year-old. Then, re-visit the topic to check if there are any gaps and make the necessary revisions to ensure it's easy to explain. This gives you good conceptual clarity and easy memory retention.

SMART Goal Setting

This approach is used to set goals that are SMART, which has the acronym- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. So, when your goal meets these criteria, you have a clear direction. You also have the motivation as there are no vague targets, and you channel your energy accordingly. This helps you track your progress and improve where and when required.

These are some time management techniques that can explain how to focus on studies. However, if you are still stuck or need any help to deal with distractions, you can always reach out to our experts.

Conclusion

In this blog,  you’ve looked into how to concentrate on your studies. You understood the techniques and tips that can help you focus better. You also read about identifying and managing distractions and using time management techniques for productive study. However, if you feel you want to know more or need any professional help, you can count on our experts. They will help you fulfill your dreams.

Helpful Links

• How to Study Abroad?

• How to Prepare for IELTS at Home?

• TOEFL Preparation: Tips, Strategies and Authentic Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are Some Distractions That Hinder Concentration?

There can be many distractions that hinder your concentration, and some of them are listed below

• Stress, Anxiety, and Overthinking
• Hunger or Dehydration
• Multitasking or Overload
• Social Media or Notifications
• Frequent Interruptions

2. How to Eliminate Digital Distractions While Studying?

Here are a few ways to eliminate digital distractions:

• Use website blocker
• Use app limiters
• Switch off your phone
• Switch to DND mode
• Keep the phone away

3. How Do the Lifestyle Factors Influence One’s Concentration?

There are scientifically proven ways that say that lifestyle factors influence one’s concentration, such as:

• Lack of sleep causes mental fog

• Poor diet causes frequent hunger

• High in sugar foods cause energy dips
• Dehydration reduces mental clarity
• Sitting for long hours causes mental fatigue

4. What Active Learning Strategies Can Help Focus During Study?

Here are a few active learning strategies that can help you focus while studying:

• Summarization of what you read
• Using the Feynman technique and clarifying the concept
• Interleaving study patterns to stay active between different subjects

5. How to Set Up a Study Space for Better Concentration?

Here is a step-by-step process to set up a study space:

• Choose a quiet place
• Check lighting and ventilation
• Set up desk and chair
• Have all required items handy
• Make it purpose and personalize