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5 top tips to help you stay focused when studying

1. Set up a dedicated workspace

To study productively, whether you are on campus or off campus, it’s a good idea to set up a dedicated workspace, away from distractions.

If you’re studying on campus, try to choose a time when the Library or other study space is less busy, such as early in the morning or in the evening. Make sure that you keep the desk space clear and avoid cluttering the space with too many books or notepads.

If you’re working from home, try to create a space that’s separate from where you relax and if you’re sharing space with others, agree a time when you can each use the space to study. It might seem obvious, but carefully choosing where you work can make a big difference to your productivity.

2. Create a study plan

Creating a realistic study plan is important to help you prioritise your tasks. To make sure that your study plan is realistic you should consider:

• When you are most productive
• Which tasks are most important so that you can prioritise them
• What other commitments and responsibilities you have e.g. online classes, household chores, childcare, social activities.

An unrealistic study plan that doesn’t consider the other tasks in your daily routine will make you feel demotivated if you can’t stick to it and more likely to lose focus.

KnowHow have created useful study plan templates that you can download and use to help plan your revision.

3. Study Actively

Studying actively will help you to stay productive and focused when revising. Taking notes during online lectures or tutorials and using active study techniques such as mind maps, flash cards or post-it notes will help you to engage with large amounts of information.

Taking part in group discussions or other interactive activities set by your tutors will also help you to study more productively.

You may also find it useful to turn on your camera during online classes or ask questions to make sure that you are actively participating and engaging in sessions.

4. Break up tasks into manageable chunks

Breaking up your daily tasks into chunks can make them feel more manageable and help you to prioritise your workload. Make a daily To-Do list of tasks that you would like to achieve and try to schedule the most challenging or time-consuming tasks for the time of day when you work best.

5. Use techniques to stay focused

The Pomodoro technique is a useful method to help you stay focused when studying:

1. Choose a task you want to complete
2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on the task until the timer rings
3. Have a 5-minute break
4. Repeat 4 times
5. Have a 30-minute break

Find more useful techniques to help you stay focused when studying in KnowHow’s online tutorial.