HOW TO INCREASE CONCENTRATION IN STUDIES
When you start to study what you actually do – check your phone, scroll some social media platforms, start talking to your siblings or parents, start thinking about something different, chat with your friends, feel sleepy, and tired, and then when you start studying you are unable to study as smart and hard as you can and again on the name of break you do the above things again. During your study time, you take a break of 10 minutes but how the time flew while scrolling on your phone, you don’t know. Actually, you are losing your concentration very quickly.
If you feel like you are unable to concentrate on your studies and you are underperforming according to your capacity. You study for long hours sometimes but you are still unable to remember what you have studied and searching and looking for an answer for: How to increase concentration in studies? how to improve concentration? Then you have landed on the right article. And you don’t need to search anymore.
Don’t just open a book for long hours without any concentration and planning.
Learn to manage time if you are studying for one hour with good concentration you are studying better than when you study 6 hours without any concentration.
Increased concentration also helps you in increasing your memory power. You will not forget what you learned and music will not play in your mind while giving exams. It helps you very much in examinations.
Concentration is essential in every part of your life whether you are studying, playing games, doing some work, or even on the job. Without concentration, you will make mistakes, forget things, and will not be able to get 100 percent from whatever you are doing. You will be able to control many things if you learn how to control your mind. And if you cannot control your thoughts your thoughts will jump from one to another.
Concentration on one thing is always better than trying multitasking as it kills your efficiency, and performance and may even damage your brain.
The big question is how to increase concentration in studies? One can follow some techniques to focus on study. But before learning How we can improve concentration and memory in Studies we must look at some points why concentration is necessary.
You must have heard and if you haven’t you must read “the story of Arjun’s concentration of power in the Mahabharat. Arjun saw only the bird’s eye and hit it with his arrow. When his brothers saw trees, leaves, branches, and even the sky.”
Why is concentration necessary?
- Improves your ability to study
- You will not miss the important information.
- Helps you memorize things and Improves memory
- Allows you to better use the resources
- Increases your efficiency
- Approaches problems more efficiently
- Gives you control of your mind.
- Gives you inner peace.
- Reduces mistakes
- Reduces unwanted thoughts
- Faster results
- Makes your mind creative
- Helps in making decisions faster
- Increases learning capacity
- And much more.
Factors that truly have an effect on your concentration power
To deal with the problem of concentration and to improve concentration we
must first address the factors which are affecting our concentration. So, You
must focus on the following factors because they can affect your concentration
in studies or in any work.
1.
Bad environment
2. Lots of Distractions and Noise level
3. Poor/unhealthy
diet and nutrition
4.
Too much internet
5.
Lack of sleep
6. Hunger
7.
Dehydration
8.
Bad Company
9.
Poor time management
10.
Bad lighting
11.
Poor room temperature
12.
Trying to learn each and every word
13. Lack of knowledge of what to study
14. A messy workspace
15. Too much Social Media
16.
Excessive notifications
17.
Lack of physical activity
18. Hormonal changes
19.
Stress and worries
20. Unhelpful thoughts running in your mind
21.
Medical Problem
22.
Emotional Problem
23. psychological
problems
24. And many more
You can improve your concentration skills over time by doing follow the following effective tips on how to focus on your studies and how to improve memory and concentration while studying.
1. Give the least priority to entertainment: Today most common problem which is decreasing the concentration power of almost every student is the entertainment industry, partying out, playing games, watching reels, and scrolling on social media platforms which releases dopamine in your brain and gives you temporary happiness and students again run for the same thing as they are getting happiness in doing these things. But these things are affecting the concentrating power of the students to a great extent.
Avoid these distractions and concentrate on your studies. Enjoy the things to a limit but don’t ruin your important time on these.
2. Your Workplace Environment: The environment helps you most to increase concentration in studies. In a quiet room where there is no noise or very minimal. Your family members or friends are not disturbing you there. Your concentration will improve by itself. Your mind will be able to control the thoughts that are affecting you while studying and puts you in a mental environment to study. Lightning and Temperature play an important role in making the environment for your study.
As you have seen that a crowded and noisy environment decreases your quality to concentrate while studying to a great extent.
3. Minimize the distractions around you: Study with only the stuff which is required. Don’t collect too many books at a time. Don’t use your phone while studying unless you are searching or studying anything related to the topic you are studying at the moment on your phone. Remove all kinds of distractions from your workplace that you find are distracting you from concentration in your studies.
4. Keep all the required things handy: Keep all the things that are required for your smooth studying will reduce the distraction and time you search for the things such as a book, pen, notes, or water bottle.
It will save you time and concentration as you will need not to move from your place for the essential things.
5. Keep your table/workplace neat: Put only useful things according to the subject or topic you are going to study. A messy table/workplace doesn’t allow you to concentrate properly on your study.
6. Always have a plan before your start studying: without having proper planning of what you are going to study today and how you are going to study, or without any blueprint, will hamper your efficiency and you may start studying which is not that much required and you may miss some important topics. We all have the same amount of time. So, use it wiser. So, always make plans about what and how you are going to study for better concentration in your studies in a bounded manner and you will also finish your topic within your time limit.
Without having a plan daily, you cannot attain your goal. Make a realistic plan and stick to it. These are helpful tips to increase concentration.
7. Set study goals: Set a big milestone and divide it into different milestones. Stick to your plans. Change your plan only if you are doing it wrong or it is not working. It is always advisable to work smart and hard before making a plan and stick to it.
8. Pictorial representations: Visual images help in learning quickly. For Example, if you are studying Geography theory only, it will become tough for you to understand what it exactly means or how the plains, valleys, and mountain ridges look but if you watch their images you will be able to understand more clearly.
9. Focus on the important information: Don’t try to remember each and every word of your subject and topic unless it is required. Because it can distract your focus from studying what is more essential. Read the topic or chapter with the first reading as to get a common understanding of what the topic is trying to make you understand. The Second Reading must be more detailed and after completing the second reading revise it as many times as you think is required and by this way you will be able to understand more clearly and if you are understanding the topic your concentration on it will increase automatically.
Don’t give much time to unnecessary pieces of information. We all have 24 hours and there are numerous things to study and learn. So, find out what is required for you.
10. Sitting posture while studying: You must focus on posture while sitting. Search online for some best postures for study and switch between them sometimes for making the effect of tiredness as low as possible.
11. Schedule
your time for study: Some of you could be nocturnal, and others could be early
birds. Schedule your study time according to the best you can manage.
Studying at the same time will train your brain and will
trigger you to study at that time with increased concentration. Try to increase
this time by reducing the time you are spending on other things which don’t
help you in any way.
12. Short
breaks: Sitting and studying for long hours can cause tiredness and is not
healthy. It makes the brain tired and can drag your concentration away as the
brain is also a muscle like any other muscle it also needs time to refresh.
Utilize your time and brain in a healthy way to make your life progressive you
must take short breaks by going for a walk, and getting some fresh air. Enjoy
some healthy snacks to recharge your energy. It refreshes your brain, removes
tiredness, and improves productivity.
Taking small breaks in between studying or between topics is
healthy for your mind and body.
Try not to use your phone during break time as it will make your brain more tired and thus, you may lose your concentration.
13. Healthy Sleep: Healthy sleeping habits can increase concentration and memory power. If you are not sleeping enough, you are hurting your body and your mind.
Disadvantages of not getting a healthy sleep:
- Mode swings
- Lack of Energy
- More often sickness
- Unable to think clearly
- Lack of concentration
- Memory problems
- And a lot more
So it is always advisable to sleep between 7 to 9 hours a
day.
Don’t use your phone while you are in your bed to sleep and leave your bed as soon as you wake up after your good sleep.
14. Meditation:
We all have heard about the Benefits of Meditation and truly Meditation is the
best way to improve concentration power. Meditation helps you in relaxing your
mind, trains your brain to decrease unhelpful thoughts, and regularly enhances
your calmness. Only 5–10 min of meditation can help you in increasing
concentration and also makes you feel happy. Make a habit of meditation for
5-10 minutes at least and You can see a great difference in the concentration
level within a month. You can try the following Strategies to increase
concentration in your studies.
- Sit calmly and look at the flame of a candle for 10 minutes
- Don’t do multitasking.
- Practice deep Inhalation and exhalation.
- Sit quietly on a chair for 10 minutes.
- Concentrate on one task at a time
15. Focus on
what you eat: You must have heard that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body.
There is nothing better for concentration if you have a healthy mind and body.
What you put in your body has a direct relation to how your
body and mind are going to develop. Eat healthy rather than fast foods or any
unhealthy food.
Add nutritious meals to your diet, including nuts and fruits. You still can enjoy the food you like as a cheat meal but only sometimes as it also helps you to feel happy. Don’t fill your workplace or table with food as it may distract you from studying, as your half of the focus will shift to finishing the food rather than concentrating on your studies.
16. Exercise:
Regular Exercise helps you to be fit and this is very much required for your
brain to be healthy. You feel happy and confident. Exercise releases chemicals
in your brain that lift your mood. Make a routine of exercise either daily or 3
times a week. Exercise helps in reducing stress and anxiety, and helps in
increasing happiness, confidence, and self-esteem.
You don’t need to hit the gym. Exercise includes walking,
Yoga, Push-ups, Pull-ups, Squats, dancing, running, etc.
Follow the type of exercise that you can follow for a healthy lifestyle. You don’t need to overburden yourself.
17. Stop procrastination: If you postpone or delay your study time, you will not be able to concentrate well. Procrastination is a habit it develops itself over time when you listen to it. Stop as soon as you find this habit within you. Don’t postpone or delay work or study. It will also help in concentration in studies.
18. Search for a
study method that is effective and works for you: Every student learns
differently, studies differently, and understands differently. Searching and
implementing the study method which suits you and helps you to concentrate
while studying, and can surely make you sharper and increases your efficiency.
You must try different tricks and tips in order to search
for what works best for you.
Eg. What kind of notes making habit suits you?
Do you learn and memorize more from diagrams, drawings, or
maps?
Do you feel more involved in your study while giving mock
tests or playing quizzes before or after your study?
The sequence of topics or subjects by which your feel more involved in your study, decreases your level of distractions.
19. Be an active learner: Think about what you are learning. Make your perspectives. Ask yourself different questions instead of just reading and letting it go. Try to implement the good things you have studied. If the content was not enough for you for understanding, search for it. Discuss and explain the things you have studied with your teacher or other people but don’t decrease your study time while doing this.
20. Manage Worries: Most of people have some kind of worries in their mind either related to exams, job, family, etc. put some time aside for your worries. Don’t exhaust your much time worrying. As worrying all the time or at times when you’re working or studying, hampers your efficiency. Set a time for your worries which are important or on which you must take steps. If they are useless just postpone them, they will stop disturbing you frequently if you postpone them again and again. Your mind will understand that these are not essential and these worries will not disturb you again and again.
21. Motivation and Discipline: Motivation can come through your classmates or your friends who are good in academics or performs well in exams or in class. But Motivation can be for short time for some students so you need to make discipline for your studies.
22. Focus on the
people you spend your time with: The effect of your company can be seen on you.
It can greatly affect the way you think. If your mostly friends are kind of
party animals. Most of the time you will also think and spend your time doing
parties. If your friends watch and talk about new movies and series a lot you
will also start watching movies and series more. If your friends are focusing
on earning money you would probably also try to do that. In a simple word what
you give to your brain, your brain will change itself in that way. So, focus on
what you are letting your brain to eat.
If you are unable to keep up with the things mentioned above from tomorrow don’t think you can’t concentrate without the above-mentioned tips. Focus and determination play a very important role in this. Try not to force yourself but gradually try to implement all the habits over a period of time.
Also read: How to be happy
Mental illness and its symptoms