Tips for Improving Concentration

Here are some useful tips that will certainly improve your concentration power.

Take care of yourself. Insufficient sleep, lack of exercise and poor eating habits interfere with concentration.

Your study area should be free from distractions. If you do become distracted, take time to analyze what is distracting you.

Make sure your study area is comfortable, but not so comfortable that you doze off. Beds and easy chairs are not recommended for study.

Time how long you can concentrate and schedule your study sessions for that length of time. Usually study session should last no longer than 50 minutes.

If your concentration time is very short, set a timer for 1 or 2 minutes longer than you usually concentrate and gradually increase the time to at least 20 minutes. Don’t try to increase too quickly or you will defeat the purpose.

Take a 5 or 10 minute break after every study session and then study a different, non-similar subject.

Focus-use the Be Here Now technique to get the most out of classes and studying. Be here now means staying focused on what you are doing, while you are doing it. If you are not practicing the principle of “Be here now” while studying or doing homework you are not getting the fullest benefit from your study sessions.

Learn actively. It is easier to focus when you highlight, draw diagrams, read out loud, make summary notes, turn headings into questions and try to answer them or use recitation after reading a section.

Break homework tasks down into small, manageable chunks and work on one chunk at a time.

If you frequently find yourself daydreaming or getting distracted, use the Thought Stopping Technique or the Checkmark Technique (mentioned below).

If your motivation is low or you are worrying excessively, deal with those issues before trying to study.

Checkmark Technique: Put a piece of scrap paper near your study area. Every time your mind wanders, make a checkmark on the scrap of paper. Next time you sit down to study, set the goal of getting fewer checkmarks. Your mind is competitive and will try to “win” by helping you to focus longer in order to decrease checkmarks.

Thought Stopping Technique: Every time you will find your mind wandering, yell “Stop” in your head and then go back to studying. To make this even more effective, put an elastic band around your wrist and give yourself a little ping with the elastic band while you are yelling, “stop” in your head. Your mind will automatically tries to avoid the negative word as well as the pain.

Happy Learning !

myCBSEguide team