How to Deal With These 5 School and Study Distractions
These days, we have so much access to information that it's far too easy to get distracted.
Even so, social media is far from the only thing that keeps us distracted during the school year. Are the habits you practice in your day-to-day life conflicting with your study habits? Keep reading to learn more about some of the biggest school distractions, and how to set goals to finish your schoolwork so you can get back to all of that other good stuff.
1. Friendships
Maintaining relationships with the people you love is important, but you also need to draw a line that they don't keep you totally distracted when you're trying to focus on school. While some people can totally set up productive study sessions with friends, if your friends are often distracted or not as academically driven as you, you may find that it's best to set aside different chunks of time—one for studying and homework, and another for hanging out with friends. Communicate your priorities, and let them know you'll hang out with them once your important school work is done.
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2. Classroom Disturbances
Set yourself up for success by coming to class prepared for potential disturbances. For example, if you know that you'll be distracted by peers or teachers walking by the classroom window, pick a seat that doesn't give you a clear view of those windows. If you have assigned seating, make an effort to discuss this with your teacher. If your friends are always distracting you by talking in class or passing notes, have an honest discussion with them about the fact that it makes it hard for you to concentrate, and set aside time to talk to them after class. And, of course, if your phone is a problem, turn it off until the break.
3. Studying in Bed
Even though it may be super comfy, bed is not a great place to study. Since our brains associate beds with relaxation and rest, that can affect your study mindset and focus. While you're studying, you can become less productive and feel the urge to rest, resulting in unplanned naps. Even worse, studying in bed makes your brain connect the space to wakefulness, making it even harder to fall asleep restfully at night! Instead, try to create a space that is both comfortable and study-friendly. With fewer distractions, you'll likely achieve better results academically.
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4. Your Phone
Your phone is probably an obvious distraction, but it still bears repeating. With many of us learning digitally these days, it can be a big challenge to not surf the internet during class, or miss an entire class because you don't hear a word the teacher is saying as you scroll through Instagram. Setting time limits for problem applications can help decrease distractions. If you still have problems, try to keep your phone in a different room (or zipped up in a backpack) while you study. Keep a notepad handy for any questions you have that can be answered by your phone later, and see if that can help you stay on task and focus on the task at hand.
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5. In Your Head
While it's different for everyone, many people constantly struggle with the internal battle of many inner thoughts. When your mind is always racing, it's easy to be more distracted by your peers. Whether you're daydreaming during class, or stressing about the past or future, you won't be there in the present. Being mindful of your ever-thinking brain can be beneficial, allowing you to build up skills that will help you concentrate during school. If your head is entirely preventing you from focusing, you may even want to visit a doctor to see if you can learn more about the inner workings of your brain.
And if you've had a busy day recently, click HERE for some of our favorite ways to relieve stress.