Do you have
trouble getting back into your work after you’ve been interrupted?
Do you find
that even though you schedule study time, you don’t actually accomplish very
much?
Do you text or
use social media when you are doing your assignments?
Do you find
that when you finish reading your textbook assignment, you don’t really
remember what you read?
Do you
daydream a lot when listening to lectures or doing homework?
If you
answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may have problems concentrating!
Concentration
is important in anything you do, including your schoolwork! Being distracted
can interfere with your ability to focus on tasks at hand. Difficulty with
concentration is a very common problem for college students.
Strategies for
improving concentration
- Develop a positive attitude toward your work. If you see the relevance, value and importance of a task, and believe that you can achieve it, your concentration will improve.
- Create interest in the task. Low interest in something causes you to have a more difficult time concentrating. Find ways to make the material more interesting, like playing a study game, taking notes, or writing down questions for yourself.
- Goal-setting strategies. Know what you want to accomplish when you begin an assignment—it will help you stay focused and keep track of your progress.
- Practice good time management. Use to-do lists and calendars to stay on task. If you know when your assignment is due and how long it will take to complete it, you won’t worry as much as the deadline approaches.
- Improve your study space. Since the semester is more than half over, it may be difficult to switch seats if you are distracted in class. Try to avoid studying in bed or in front of your noisy roommates. Both Ruddock and Maple East have study rooms that you can use while you study.
- Eliminate multitasking. Sometimes, working on two or more things at once can negatively affect your concentration. Try turning off your TV, computer, phone, and music to improve your concentration.
Improving your
concentration has a lot of benefits. You will use your time better and get more
done during your study time. When you are deep in concentration, you will
understand more of what you are working on, which will help you prepare for
tests and quizzes.
If you have
any questions, remember that you can always stop by the ASM office! We are here
to help you!!
