Top Tips to Help Students Stay Focused

Limiting distractions is key to building strong habits of work and study.

Distractions plague many students. Limiting your distractions and putting in preventative measures are necessary for securing success in studying; be strict with yourself in limiting distractions to increase performance. We all know in today's world, that a phone while necessary is the leading contributor to distraction—but with a few best practices in place, you can conquer distractions and study well.

Some helpful tips for staying focused:

• Give yourself short breaks to use your phone such as a 50 min : 10 min (study to phone break ratio). Set a timer!

• Ensure before you begin studying that your phone has been placed on mute and is turned upside down to avoid temptation to check notifications which rob your attention.

• Limit interruptions. For example, set your phone’s settings to “do not disturb” or “work mode” to let people know that you are unavailable. Secure a quiet study place if possible, with limited noise.

• Work on one task at any given time and give it your full attention until completion.

• Do not try to multi-task while studying. This leads to forgetfulness, fatigue and inefficiency.

• Lastly, set yourself a plan before studying, giving yourself a goal to achieve. You will be more likely to feel accomplished, and ultimately achieve success if you set a target ahead of time.

If you’re struggling to find discipline and accountability in study, our world-class tutors can help. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about Westbrook Tutoring.