Can You Concentrate?

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!!