How to Focus
By Cali Smith
@supercalifredge (606)
United States
April 8, 2016 1:17pm CST
I'm currently on spring break and so I'm trying to apply for as many scholarships for college as I can before my life becomes too busy again. I've researched and found a lot that I qualify for, so now I need to start writing the essays. Whenever I sit down to write the essays, however, I can't make myself focus for very long periods of time.
Do any of you have any tricks that help you stay focused when you need to write or work on something for a long period of time?
2 people like this
3 responses
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
8 Apr 16
I attended college as an adult, doing the continuing education program. Being older, I found that it was a little harder to concentrate. Therefore, to stay focused when studying for exams, for example, I locked myself in my room with NO distractions and just studied. I did that every night to make sure I knew the information I needed and eventually my mind got used to studying and it became easier and easier. Now, that's what worked for me. It might not work for you. We all need something a little different. But if it's important to you, you'll find your way. I wish you best of luck! :)
1 person likes this
@supercalifredge (606)
• United States
8 Apr 16
Thank you! I have to ask: did you take breaks while you studied? I'm an active person and sometimes I feel so jittery that I have to start moving around.
Also, did you ever use rewards or punishments to help you through studying? (ie. "When I finish reading this passage, I can go get a cookie")
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
8 Apr 16
@supercalifredge I did take a coffee break occasionally, but honestly, I didn't take a lot of breaks. As for rewards, the only time I gave myself a reward was after the exam, if my grades were really good. I bought myself something after my first A, and i still have that reward and I still remember the great feeling of a job well done. No punishments. Studying was tough enough! lol
@supercalifredge (606)
• United States
8 Apr 16
@CRK109 Good to know. Thank you!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
8 Apr 16
I have a trick that works for me, but might not work for you.
I always have the TV in the background. For some strange reason, the muffled sound at back helps me focus. Or if my mind gets a bit tired, I try and listen or discern what's happening on TV. It could just be commercials, so I would picture what it is showing by the sounds that I hear.
Or you could cut up the tasks into small bits of sections. And do something fun or mindless in-between. Just be careful to make sure that the breaks don't last too long though.
1 person likes this
@supercalifredge (606)
• United States
8 Apr 16
Many people have told me about the TV trick, but it unfortunately does not work for me- I become WAY too distracted. My mom likes to turn the TV on at night and I have to go somewhere else to work on homework.
I do need to break up my work time into section. My problem is that I usually take too long of breaks, like you stated.
