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How do I start studying better and get better at focusing ?
I want to start studying more but I always get distracted so it’s hard to learn anything my friends always end up distracting me from studying and now I feel as if I’m just dumb
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Katherine’s Answer
Hi Jenny – It’s great you have identified that focusing can be a challenge for you. I’m not sure what grade you are in, but it’s possible the classes you are taking are not interesting to you. In high school and sometimes early college, that can be unavoidable. It might be worth taking some time to determine what your interests and strengths are. That can help put you on an education and career path that excites you.
If you are taking classes that interest you and still having trouble studying, you might try some tips and tricks to help you focus. I find that writing notes helps me stay focused. I took notes during lectures in school, and I still take notes during meetings at work for two reasons: to capture important information and action items and to stay engaged. Another tip that may help is to set up a dedicated study space in your home. Sometimes I work from home, and it’s always easier to focus when I sit at my desk that is set up with dual monitors, a comfortable chair and bright lighting. A final tip is to set up a goal/reward system for yourself. If a task feels overwhelming, break it down into parts and reward yourself for reaching each milestone. For example, in my current role, I spend a lot of time writing. Sometimes it can feel daunting to write 1,000 or so words in one sitting, so I break up the process into phases: conducting research, creating an outline, writing the introduction and conclusion and finishing the draft. While studying, you might reward yourself by spending some time with your friends only after you complete a milestone.
Lastly, it might help you to identify why you want to improve your study habits. Do you want to get into a certain college or trade school? Do you have your eye on an internship opportunity? If you have a career or life goal in mind, it may help you view studying in a more positive light. I hope this helps!
https://oxfordsummercourses.com/articles/how-to-stay-focused-while-studying/
If you are taking classes that interest you and still having trouble studying, you might try some tips and tricks to help you focus. I find that writing notes helps me stay focused. I took notes during lectures in school, and I still take notes during meetings at work for two reasons: to capture important information and action items and to stay engaged. Another tip that may help is to set up a dedicated study space in your home. Sometimes I work from home, and it’s always easier to focus when I sit at my desk that is set up with dual monitors, a comfortable chair and bright lighting. A final tip is to set up a goal/reward system for yourself. If a task feels overwhelming, break it down into parts and reward yourself for reaching each milestone. For example, in my current role, I spend a lot of time writing. Sometimes it can feel daunting to write 1,000 or so words in one sitting, so I break up the process into phases: conducting research, creating an outline, writing the introduction and conclusion and finishing the draft. While studying, you might reward yourself by spending some time with your friends only after you complete a milestone.
Lastly, it might help you to identify why you want to improve your study habits. Do you want to get into a certain college or trade school? Do you have your eye on an internship opportunity? If you have a career or life goal in mind, it may help you view studying in a more positive light. I hope this helps!
Katherine recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Nicolas’s Answer
Studying requires a train of thought that has to be provoked by what makes you feel most comfortable. Most people can't study stressed out and overwhelmed. If you study for hours, make sure to take breaks and remember that it is better to study for 15 minutes at a time than not at all. You might need your personal space that you go to. You might need a song that you listen to over and over again, or many songs that motivate you and chill you out. You might need to be away from home at a coffee shop or on your bed where there is comfortability. The point is we all study at different places, and in different ways, but it is most likely when we are relaxed. Know that when you study, it is crucial to know what the teacher is having on the test, so it starts in the classroom, asking questions and taking notes. When you figure out how easy it is to write a paper or pass a test simply by listening and asking clarifying questions, you won't hesitate to speak up. When I went to school I had some difficult tests that I took, and for me I rarely looked up from book. You can do this though through will power and determination. If you succeed on a couple and know what to expect then maybe you don't have to study as much. If you fail a couple, maybe you need to do things differently, but know that it is studying that will separate you from the average student.
Get notebooks
Make sure to download files
Study the material until you can make sense of it
Mark and highlight the text
Don't burnout
Nicolas recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, Nicolas!
Jenny
Updated
Monique’s Answer
Take time to study alone. Plan set times in which you will study and stick to the schedule.
Try:
Highlighting sections
Take notes
Read and record your notes and listen to them as some people are audio learners
Find pictures or graphs as some people are visual learners
Try to figure out what type of learner you are and then set up studying accordingly.
Try:
Highlighting sections
Take notes
Read and record your notes and listen to them as some people are audio learners
Find pictures or graphs as some people are visual learners
Try to figure out what type of learner you are and then set up studying accordingly.
Some things that have helped me to become a better studier:
Set a specific time everyday you plan to study. I would plan dates and times in my calendar to study. Usually Monday Wednesday Friday and one weekend day for about 30 minutes to an hour each day. Start small then increase the length of time you want to study.
Make flashcards for any concepts you are struggling with. Buy some index cards (colorful ones can be fun!) and start writing and studying them.
Watch youtube videos to go over subjects or get to get a different perspective.
Turn off your phone when studying or put it in airplane mode. you may even want to leave your phone in another room
Go to the library and study (also signup for a library card while you are there)
Hope these tips help and good luck to you
Jamie Turner