“Did you know Concentrating during studies can be a struggle for some people? Here’s all you need to know on how to cope with the probable issues!” Concentration is the ability to maintain your focus on your goals without any distractions. Students mainly face the problem of distraction in their studies during exams. They cannot memorize the course properly and face difficulties while learning.  The exam pressure and less time for preparation take a toll on their mental health, and they can't focus properly.

The biggest distractions in this era of technology are social media and mobile phones. Students waste most of their time by staying active on social media and regret it later while facing failure. In the following article, I have listed some parameters to consider while studying and retaining your concentration.

10 Best methods to increase your concentration on studying

1. Looking for an optical study environment

Choosing the best-focused environment is essential to minimizing boredom. Students should keep themselves away from noisy places. Noise makes a person frustrated, and the brain can’t focus properly. So, create a comfortable study place and make your mind at peace, as the brain works better in silence and becomes more productive.

Also, comfortable surroundings will help you stay focused and improve your motivation. Instrumental music can help you focus on your studies. Stay away from loud music. Put on some peaceful music and begin.

2. Improve visual intelligence

Visual-spatial intelligence helps overcome learning difficulties in reading and comprehension. Visual learning is based on the idea that the human brain manipulates visuals faster than words. It helps in building visual thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and better understanding.  So, improving visual skills helps you concentrate for long hours and makes learning easy and quick. Students can stay focused and attentive.

3. Practice mindfulness and meditation

Meditation helps you acquire the right state of mind and improve your mental fitness. Once the mind is relaxed, you can focus properly and increase your attention span. Research shows that long-duration meditation sessions have a positive impact on concentration levels and cognitive performance.

Breathing meditation helps the brain function correctly and raises positive social behavior in every aspect of life. It helps relieve anxiety and depression and improve overall psychological well-being. Kids cannot meditate but can do activities like mandala meditation and creative visualization, which are close to meditation.

4. Take a regular break and connect with nature.

Students cannot sit endlessly for 5 to 6 hours to study, as it makes them lethargic and exhausted. So, taking a break before moving on to the next chapter is important, as it gives your mind time to relax. These short breaks, by connecting with nature, make the time spent studying more effective and productive.

The natural environment helps reduce anxiety and depression and makes you sleep better. Exposure to nature generates positive emotions, such as calmness and joy, and makes you feel better emotionally and physically.

5. Improve listening skills

Studying is not just a visual process. Listening is also an active part of the study process today. Students with strong listening skills retain more knowledge and are more likely to feel prepared. Listening not only improves your chance of being a successful student, but it also helps you build good relationships with other students. Listening skills can improve reading, communication, and academic performance. So, improving listening skills will help with concentration.

6. Eat healthy and have a good sleep

Good food plays a role in your attentiveness. The more you binge on sweets and ice cream, the more fidgety your mind will be. So, a healthy diet makes you stay active in your daily routine and keeps your mind fresh.

Avoid junk food, as it makes you feel lazy and lethargic. Incorporate a protein diet into your breakfast, as it helps to increase brain functioning and cognitive power. Also, students should sleep on time at night and wake up early in the morning, as the morning hours are best for recalling concepts. Make a balance; do not oversleep or undersleep.

7. Exercise before studying

Practicing just a 20-minute exercise before studying helps to concentrate for long hours and improve your learning focus. Brain gym activities boost mental energy, keep stress away, and maintain a positive mindset. Exercise can not only help you concentrate and remember information better, but it can also help you cope with the pressure of exams. Research shows that exercise improves mood, emotions, and sleep memory and relieves tension in the body.

8. Stay away from social media

Unplug all unnecessary electronics that you don’t need, especially cell phones, and music devices before studying, as they divert your mind and disturb your focus. Students study with one eye on the book and the other on their phones. So close all social media sites while preparing for exams to remove all distractions. Distraction by social media results in poor academic performance and lower self-esteem among students.

9. Create a study schedule

Setting a timetable is a great way to track your progress toward your tasks. Write down what you want to accomplish the night before and make a precise schedule. This will help focus your brain when tackling the stuff.  Break large tasks into small ones, and take a break when you feel your concentration has decreased.

Schedule regular breaks that allow you to relax. Try switching to other tasks you love to do, as it helps you stay alert and productive for a longer period of time. Setting a timetable also helps in keeping a record of all the tasks you have completed, and you should be able to remain focused with a sense of accomplishment.

10. Clear the study place

Research shows that “A cluttered place develops a cluttered mind”. Clear away materials you don’t need to study and keep your study space organized, as a messy study space can have a negative effect on your learning ability.

Having materials around you contributes to distractions and creates feelings of stress and anxiety. Keep only study material within reach, and store everything else in your study space. A neat and tidy place can help you feel calm and trigger motivation to study.

The bottom line

It is not at all necessary to study in any particular way, so the best way is to find your own effective way of studying. Above all, your health is more important than anything else. Self-care must always come first.