Improve Your Concentration

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INFORMATION 
Many student have problems concentrating on their studies.  It is clear to most that success in college and life depends upon an ability to stay focused upon the tasks at hand until we reach our goals.  Just as in sports, not staying focused can lead to losing the game.

ADVICE 
First, try do discover why you are not able to concentrate as well as you need to. Consider the following possibilities:

• I am distracted by personal problems. Concerns with relationships, family, work, career decisions, or other personal problems are creating a lot of emotions and capture my attention so that I can't concentrate on my studies. If this is a problem, get some counseling (see below). Or, if you want to try to solve it yourself, take the SHAQ CARES assessment questionnaire and follow it's suggestions.

• I procrastinate about many things or have problems managing my time. Go to the procrastination  OR time management pages.

• I am bored with my classes.  I am taking required classes I'm not that interested in (and there are much more interesting things to do in my life).  Many college students feel that way (and many don't).  Some of the complete college with good grades and some don't.  Which do you want to be?  It is the ones who find a way to get their work done by making it a priority that succeed.  One thing that works for many students is to think of it as a job.  How much do you enjoy most jobs that you have had? You may not enjoy going to work, but you work 8-5 anyway so that you can be paid.  Try setting up a 40 hour (or whatever it takes) 8-5 (9-6 or whatever) schedule for school.  That means you are either in class or studying from 8-5 every day.  After 5 you are free to work, play, do errands or chores, or whatever you want.

• I don't know what I want to major in and have little motivation in my classes.  Make it a priority to choose a major and potential career.  Start now. Go to our career decision page.

• I just don't have much motivation for college.  Why are you in college? Is it to please someone else or yourself?  To find motivation, you must decide that you want to be in college for yourself so that it will make your life happier by learning, developing yourself, and being successful in the career that you want.  Perhaps you would benefit from seeing a counselor (see below).

What to do for distractions while studying:
If you are trying to study and find it hard to concentrate try the following.

• Do NOT just sit there going off on topics other than studying. You want the place you are studying to become conditioned only to concentrating on your studies--not to fantasizing or dealing with personal problems.

• Instead, make a decision to study or take a break. 

• If you know that the thoughts that are interfering with your study are too compelling to adequately study, then physically get up and leave the study environment and then really focus on solving whatever personal thoughts you are dealing with. 

• If you decide to keep studying, but fear losing some personal thought that popped into your mind, write it down and think about it later--after you have reached your study goals for the day.

• If your body gets too restless to concentrate, go for a brisk walk. Normally, take 5-minute walk breaks at least every hour (or whatever works for your body).

• If you feel your mind "filling up" with one subject until you start to get confused, then  1. Do a final overview of all you have studied for that session to help eliminate some confusion, then 2. Take a break (could be before the summary overview), and start on a new subject or activity that is quite different from the one you have been studying. 

• If you get tension headaches while studying, check your posture.  If your head is bent over that causes tension in your upper back and neck and causes tension headaches.  Try putting your books or writing at eye level and not holding them with your arms for support.

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INTERNET LINKS 

C=> Improve Concentration and Focus 
This section's focus in on improving your focus for any type of task--especially if worries or other problems are distracting you. Tom G. Stevens PhD, CAPS, CSULB
http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/h87focus.htm