How to Focus on Studies: 7 Tips for Students

Having trouble focusing on your studies? It’s not uncommon to find yourself with so many things vying for your attention that you can’t concentrate on the task at hand—and that’s really bad if you’re a student and have lots of homework to get done. But there are ways to combat this problem, and we’ve collected seven tips to help you focus on your studies and avoid distractions.

Tip 1 - Exercise

If you're feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, working out can help. Exercising, particularly at higher intensities, boosts endorphins (chemicals that promote a positive mood), increases oxygen and blood flow throughout your body, and gets you away from your work or studies. You don't have to be a gym rat - brisk walking, jogging or running is enough. The important thing is just getting active! Remember though, too much exercise may make you feel worse because of stress hormones. So aim for about 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each day.

Tip 2 - Eat Healthy

Food is fuel. And much like a car, if you put good fuel in your body (for example, veggies) you will run smoothly and efficiently; if you put junk in your body (like soda or candy), your engine will not be able to function properly. When it comes time to study, make sure you have eaten something within an hour of sitting down at your desk—this helps keep your brain powered and able to concentrate. Oh, and don’t forget about breakfast! A healthy meal first thing in the morning will help get your mind off any mid-morning cravings that might otherwise distract you from studying.

Tip 3 - Practice Time Management

Time management is a skill that you can learn. Just like any other skill, it can be developed over time and with effort. Time management is an essential part of studying efficiently. If you are not practicing time management, then you’re probably spending too much time each day studying. In that case, try some of these tips below! Tip 4 - Avoid Procrastination: Procrastination is one of your biggest enemies when it comes to studying. It takes away from valuable study time and makes you feel guilty about what you haven’t accomplished yet. To avoid procrastination, break down your tasks into smaller pieces so they don't seem as overwhelming or intimidating. Also, set aside specific times during your day to work on different assignments or projects so they get done in a timely manner without feeling rushed or stressed out. You may even want to take breaks between assignments in order to stay focused throughout your study session instead of burning out quickly.

Tip 4 - Meditate

If you’re struggling with focusing on your studies, meditation may be a good way to get those creative juices flowing. Research has shown that students who meditate are better able to focus, control their emotions and perform analytical tasks. Meditation is also a great way to reduce stress levels, which can interfere with academic performance. In addition, research has shown that meditation increases grey matter in areas of your brain responsible for learning and sensory processing. The practice also alters patterns of neural activity in regions associated with attention and emotional regulation. For these reasons, it's worth giving meditation a try if you're having trouble staying focused during study sessions.

Tip 5 - Sleep

Many students make their biggest mistake here. Either they don’t get enough sleep and end up tired, stressed, cranky and with low attention span - or they have too much time in bed which actually makes it harder to fall asleep as you start thinking about getting up, work tomorrow etc. So sleep is all about getting a good balance! Aim for 8 hours of sleep a night but be aware that some nights are better than others and so your might need a bit more or less. If you feel like you need more then try to stay awake until at least 10pm before going to bed, if possible. If not then go to bed earlier. If you find yourself waking early then try not to check your phone right away (unless there is an emergency) and instead try reading something relaxing until it feels like its time to get up. Do what works best for you and focus on getting quality sleep each night. This will help improve concentration during classes as well as helping reduce stress levels when things aren't going well (which happens from time-to-time).

Tip 6 - Take Breaks

Don’t focus continuously for more than two hours. Take at least a 15-minute break after every 2 hours of studying. By working in intervals and taking breaks you’ll be more productive, focused and reduce your chances of burnout. Breaks also help improve memory retention, so it’s a good idea to take notes during each break or right after a session to keep facts fresh in your mind. If you can, walk outside for some fresh air; even just five minutes away from a screen will make a difference. If that isn’t possible, listen to music with upbeat tempo as it helps put your brain into accelerated learning mode. Listening to classical music can have a calming effect if you find yourself feeling too stressed out while studying. In fact, listening to classical music while learning has been shown to increase verbal recall by up to 65%. Tip 5 - Stay Organized: A messy desk doesn't just make things harder for you—it makes them harder for everyone else who needs access! A cluttered workspace leads not only to stress but decreased productivity because important documents are hard to find when they're needed most.

Tip 7 - Try New Things

Studying can often become tedious and repetitive, so it’s important to mix things up a bit. Put your books away from time-to-time and try something new. If you can’t get out of studying for an exam, at least switch off between subjects by doing some homework in one subject, then switching to another. Why not go outside and take a quick break? Just like you would after physical exercise, taking a mental break will help improve your concentration levels when you come back inside. Plus, fresh air is always good!

Summary

The ability to focus is not something that we’re born with. In fact, it’s something we all have to develop. And when you spend an enormous amount of time focused on studies and homework, being able to focus can mean not only a more productive work life but also a healthier social life. Having trouble focusing? Try some of these tips! It doesn't matter if you're studying or working out; our minds get tired just like our bodies do. When your mind gets tired, so does your body. It's easy to lose track of time when you're deep in thought. Use timers on your phone or computer to remind yourself how long you've been focused on one task and use those reminders as a way to step away from what you're doing every now and then—and maybe even reward yourself by taking a short break. Remember, however, that breaks should be short—even if they don't feel like it at first! Over-focus is another problem students face while trying to learn new material.