wikiHow to Focus on Studying

Two Parts:What should be doneWhat should not be doneCommunity Q&A

If you are finding it difficult to study, you may have to take a look at your study habits.
This wikiHow will give you some tips and advice on how to focus on studying.

Edit 10 Second Summary

1. Find a quiet, distraction-free place.
2. Have all of your study materials on hand.
3. Consider getting a study buddy.
4. Take short breaks often, and snack on granola bars, fruit, and water.
5. Limit your computer and smartphone use and avoid listening to music unless it helps
you study.
6. Don't stray off-topic or get discouraged.

Part1
Edit What should be done
1.
 1
Find a suitable studying environment. Your bedroom or classroom isn't always the
best possible place. Find a nice, quiet place with a large, comfortable chair, like your
sitting room, preferably without a television, a computer or a cell phone within your
reach. Don't over think about social media and try staying away from social media.
 The library is usually a nice place to study because it's quiet. Perhaps your parents'
office is another potential location, provided it's quiet and offers few distractions.
2.
 2
Collect revision materials before you begin studying. Do not plan to look for pens,
highlighters, rulers, etc, in the middle of studying. It can be really distracting at times, so
prepare everything you think you need.
3.
 3
Find a study partner. Pick someone who is sensible and focused like you are on the
same task. Don't always pick your best friend, as you may ruin both your concentrations
by chitchatting. Having a study partner is a great idea, as you can bounce ideas off
each other, and see things form a different perspective as yourself.
 Some people find study partners distracting. Chances are if you are an extrovert,
meaning you really like other people and love talking, a study partner probably won't be
the best option for you. If you are an introvert, meaning you generally keep to yourself
and are a bit shier, a study partner might work great for you. However, if you are
 studying with a very extroverted partner, they will most likely try to talk to you while you
are trying to study.
 Choose someone who is smarter than you. It sounds basic to say, but a lot of people
overlook this. If you want to learn, choose a study partner who is smart, dedicated, and
doesn't mind teaching. Your study sessions will be a whole lot better.
4.

4
Collect suitable revision snacks. No energy drinks or coffee, because sooner or later,
you will crash out. Granola bars, fruit, and water are good, because they are simple and
effective at releasing carbohydrates.
5.

5
Take short breaks. After 45 minutes of studying, take a 10 minute break and do
something different. Try to get back to your studying after the break; the break shouldn't
be longer than 20 minutes.
 Plan your breaks out with alarms. If your breaks are planned, you're less likely to miss
them in the first place, and more importantly, less likely to "accidentally" take more time
than is needed.
  Why take breaks? Your brain needs time to recharge after it processes a bunch of
information. In some studies, taking a break and walking around improved memory
recall and simple test scores in subjects.[1]
6.

6
Get Motivated. If you do your revision well and prepare for the exam, you will do fine.
Get to a point with your revision so you can enjoy the exam when it happens. Do not
think that the exam is a big deal, think of it as something to challenge your learning.
 Set a goal for yourself, even if it's a bit unrealistic. Push yourself to do better than what
you think you can do, and who knows, maybe you'll surprise yourself.
  Motivate yourself with a reward. This takes a bit of self-control, so ask someone in a
position of authority to help you out if you need help. Give yourself a reward if you study
well, feel prepared, and do well on the test.
 Tell yourself why studying is important. This is different for each person. Maybe you
care about getting that perfect 4.0. Maybe you really care about the subject material.
Maybe you made a bet with your dad and you can't stand losing. Whatever it is, remind
yourself of why you're working hard and tell yourself it's worth it.
7.

7
 Sit down and study. You have everything you need in front of you and there's nothing
left to procrastinate with. It's just you and the material. Well? What are you waiting for?
 Use flash cards and notes to your advantage. Flash cards are helpful for some people,
as they contain important information in very little space. Use them if you feel they are
helpful for you. Lay them out sequentially, or order them according to a different scheme
if you want to give them a little more meaning.
 Make use of mnemonic tools. "Mnemonic tools" is a fancy word for memorization. Make
some information into a funny song, or put the information into an acronym (remember
VIBGYOR?) to help you remember what you're trying to remember.
 Make sure you know the most important information first, and then move onto the rest.
Study and understand key concepts before you branch out. This will give you a basic
level of understanding to build on.
 Ask yourself why you are studying, what will be the benefit of studying and write it down
on a piece of paper. Every time you get distracted look at the paper and remind yourself
why studying is important for you.

Part2
Edit What should not be done
1.
 1
Don't panic! When you panic, you make mistakes, so keep calm throughout. If you
successfully planned your revision, you will have no need to panic when the exam
comes. Take a deep breath, tell yourself "I can do this," and calm down .
2.
 2
Minimize computer use. Especially the internet. You learn better when you write things
out yourself. Also refrain from using your cell phone as you will be replying to texts
every minute, which is very distracting.
 Turn your internet off if you know you'll be tempted. Turn your computer off or ask your
friend to hold onto it. Basically, try to ensure that you're not whiling away your time on
the Internet when you're supposed to be studying.
3.
 3
Don't listen to music unless it helps you study. Some people need music in order to
help them study, but try not to give your brain anything else to focus on while you're
studying. One more distraction, even if it's calming music, is another thing your brain
has to process in addition to the information you're trying to learn.
4.
 4
Don't stray off-topic. We all catch ourselves going off-topic from time to time.
Sometimes it's because the information we're supposed to learn is boring; sometimes
it's because the information we don't need to know is exciting. Whatever it is, wait until
after you've studied to really dig deeper and explore different subjects.
 Always ask yourself: How likely is it that this information will show up on my test? If
you're really focused, you can rank the information from the most likely to the least
likely, giving the most likely material the majority of your time and the least likely the rest
of it.
5.
5
Don't get discouraged. Studying for a test can be daunting, especially in the
beginning. Take things in manageable chunks and don't worry about getting things
perfect the first time around. Remember, you're here to learn, not necessarily ace a test.
Try to understand the "big picture" if you're having trouble understanding the concept.
This should make the details easier to understand.