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Studying to distraction
Are you finding it difficult to focus on exams? Does everything feel like a distraction from revision? Never fear, these top tips will help focus your mind and improve your concentration span.
- Remove distractions: Find a quiet, comfortable place to study, away from people or the TV. Noise, uncomfortable surroundings and interruptions from other people all affect your ability to concentrate.
- Find your best time of day: Do tasks that need most concentration at times when you are mentally and physically fresh. If you are tired and hungry, your ability to concentrate will be reduced.
- Set a goal: Decide on a goal for your study session. What do you want to achieve? Focus on this, rather than the long-term consequences of your work, like exams.
- Focus: Focus on the work in front of you and don't give in to distractions. For example, if you're listening to your teacher explain something, disregard everyone else in the room and focus completely on what they are saying. Again, this takes practice.
- Positive attitude: Tell yourself that whatever you do will be your absolute best. Don't say 'I can't do it' or 'it must be perfect'.
- Rest/Stretch time: Take short breaks, and get up and walk around. When we move, blood is pumped around the body and more oxygen is sent to the brain.
- Changing the subject: It's better not to concentrate on the same subject for too long. You will absorb more information if you change subject or topic every one to two hours.
- Reward yourself: Give yourself an incentive. By having something to look forward to when you finish your work, you are more likely to get stuck in.
