Are you one of those students who often complain about a lack of concentration? The following might help you to learn new techniques to improve your concentration.
Concentration means being able to apply all your senses to what you are doing.
Q: I sit for an hour reading my textbook and then I cannot remember what I have read.
A: At first you have a study method problem. You do not read a textbook, you study a textbook by using a study method where you study actively with all your senses, using pen and paper and memory skills.
Q: I love music and most of the time I cannot leave my music to start studying.
A: You have a discipline and a motivation problem. Use your music as a reward after you have studied a planned piece of work eg a chapter or completed an assignment.
Q: I have problems at home which distract me from my studies.
A: This is a common problem which many students have to face. Problems do not go away automatically. They must be solved or your attitude towards them has to be changed. Study the guidelines in the preconditions for concentration.
Plan to study in shorter sessions. No person can concentrate for too long. Use a weekly schedule (see time management).
Set clear objectives for each study period. Use your weekly schedule to plan for specific subjects and specific pieces of work to be done.
Use an effective study method. A study method will guide your study and force you to concentrate and apply the principles of effective studying.
Use your desire to learn and to better your position by studying. Have a positive attitude towards your studies, and work for success.
Not many people can concentrate when they are emotionally upset. The reasons for their emotional state could be domestic problems, financial problems, marital problems, illness, work-related problems, pressure from family, anxiety about failure, etc. Whatever the cause of the problems, you have to cope with them if you want to concentrate on your studies. Use the following guidelines in trying to cope with your problems:
Take a short break and try a brief energetic walk, a run around the block, a cup of tea or a short chat with a friend.
When you cannot get started.
There may be times when, despite your best efforts, you just cannot force yourself to commence your daily study session. When this happens, merely sit down at your desk for five minutes with the relevant study material in front of you. Nine times out of ten you will find that, by merely sitting down, you will have overcome your mental block to the work and can continue without further difficulty. During the five minutes, do some routine tasks, such as filing lecture notes, paging through the chapter and making a mind map.
When your mind just starts wandering.
When studying intensely, you occasionally become aware that you are distracted by something and feel impatient with your work. Set yourself another five minutes in which to work. If your impatience still persists, give in to it. Take a short break while you physically loosen up – stand up and stretch, walk around, and consciously relax. Leave your study spot for five minutes – get a drink, glance through the window, and organise your desk. Start again.
When you have been studying for a long time, your concentration is diminished and can’t be rejuvenated by a short break.
You need to recharge mentally. Remotivate yourself by reviewing the material you have just covered and try to get an overall picture of it. This often gives you a feeling of achievement as well as reminds you why you are studying a particular topic. Look ahead at what you intend to do next. Preview the rest of the book or chapter. Jot down ideas for the next section of an assignment. Switch to another subject and work on that until it becomes stale, then return to your first subject or go on to a third.
There is no point in believing you are studying when you are simply staring at the work on a page, when you repeatedly can’t find the words you want, or when your mind is far away.
As soon as you notice that your thoughts are wandering, say to yourself "STOP". This should make you notice that you’ve not been concentrating. You should then try to find out why you were not concentrating so that you can do something to rectify the situation.
If you find that negative thoughts interfere with your attention, identify exactly what they are and change them into positive thoughts. Let’s say you find yourself not concentrating, and thinking: "This work is so boring, I really don’t know why I waste time with it". Transform this negative thought into a positive one by saying to yourself: "This work can be interesting if I try to make it interesting. I’m going to make a conscious effort to make it lively and interesting".
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be more motivated and you’ll find it much easier to concentrate. It is important to note that during this study period you’ll be in constant conversation with yourself. This is a natural and important process, and by talking to yourself you ensure that your attention is focused on your studies.
Conclusion: practice becoming aware of and creating your own study patterns and discover the concentration techniques that you find most helpful. Being in control of when and how you study is crucial to learning independently.
Last modified: Mon Aug 07 11:35:47 SAST 2023