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It is no secret that you are likely to easily get distracted when it is time to start studying. The scenario is not uncommon, as your exams approach, the tendency to get sidetracked increases.
However, here are six tips to help you with your distractions:
1. Put your phone on silent mode and place it at the other end of the room.
If you have a smartphone, you would know about the distractions that come along with it. Social media, games, the entire internet is on the tips on your fingers. It is not just smartphones, even non-smartphones can be distracting.
Keeping that in mind, we would recommend that as soon as your study sessions begins, you should put your phone on silent and place it far from you, preferably on the other side of the room.
This way, you would not be interrupted by phone calls or text messages as you try to study and you can always check your phone during your breaks. If you are being honest with yourself, you would admit that some phone calls and text require an immediate reply and therefore, it is perfectly understandable to get back to the person while you are on your break.
2. Turn off your Internet access.
You may want to use your computer for work but can easily find yourself scrolling through Facebook or YouTube instead. Your computer is constantly connected to the World Wide Web, you can remove the temptation by turning off your internet access before you start your study session.
If you require online resources then you should make a conscious decision to download all needed information before you start studying.
3. Take a deep breath when you’re about to get distracted.
Distractions often come in waves rather than altogether. The urge to watch TV or to check your phone will appear suddenly which can be overwhelming. However, the urge will only last for a short period and if you are able to resist the initial wave, you would be able to continue studying without worry.
You can fight off the urge by doing the following: Close your eyes. Breathe in for two seconds, then breathe out for two seconds. If the urge still persists, repeat until it goes away.
By using this method, you will spend between 4 to 8 seconds breathing deeply after which you will be able to get back to work.
4. Ask people to give you privacy.
We are sure at least one of the following has happened to you while studying:
- Your friend dropped by to chat
- Your younger sibling asked you to help with their homework
- Relatives came by for a visit
The list goes on.
We are not trying to say that relationships are not important as the quality of your relationships determine the quality of your life. However, when studying these interruptions can be especially disruptive.
Just before starting your study session, it would be wise to approach the people who are most likely to interrupt you and ask them to respectfully give you the space and privacy you require for the duration of your session.
5. Get eight hours of sleep every night.
As a student, this might seem like an almost impossible task. There is always so much to get done, homework, projects, extra-curricular activities, maintaining a social life and so on.
However, sleep is crucial if you would want to perform well academically. It is an established fact that sleep impacts your memory, ability to concentrate and overall brain function. In order words, if you are not getting enough sleep, you are not setting yourself up to succeed in your student life.
Here are some tips to help you sleep earlier:
- Have a nightly bedtime routine
- Relax at the end of the day by reading a book
- Try not to drink caffeine after 3pm
- Try going to bed on time every day
- Set a nightly alarm that will tell you when it is time to go to bed.
