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Do you struggle to stay focused while studying, especially as exams draw near? Balancing piles of coursework—hours of reading, writing, and memorizing. Seems like an unachievable task at hand for many of us!

However, the good news is it's possible to improve concentration and transform your study sessions from chaotic to productive. In this post, we are discussing 10 simple ways on how to improve concentration and focus to guide you stay focused, retain your concentration, and study smarter. Let’s dive in...

10 simple ways on how to improve concentration and focus while studying

Prioritise your tasks

Prioritising can help you develop a focus on doing the most important task. It's about labelling what's more important and what's not. When you have a planner or a to-do list focusing on the urgency of the assignments, your brain gets the signals for priority tasks.

Suppose you can't decide what's most important for you right now. Use a management tool like Eisenhower-Decision-Matrix to eliminate unnecessary tasks from your list of tasks and keep the focus only on what's important.

You can also try the Ivy Lee Method or Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule). These strategies are built to help improve concentration and channel your energy in the right direction.

Make a Study Routine

Creating and maintaining a study routine is an effective way to enhance your focus. It's about growing a habit. Fix out a specific time to study, just as you attend classes on time. Be consistent, and soon, your brain will be used to focusing on studying at your designated time.

Especially when we are nearing an exam, all-nighters seem like a solution to cover all the studies! However, lack of sleep may lead to sleep deprivation, which further leads to poor academic performance. A clear routine helps you be on time, lets you know what to focus on, and when to take rest.

Teach your brain

For many of us, it's not easy to focus and concentrate. But the good thing is, you can train your mind! Playing certain types of games, such as sudoku or chess, might help improve concentration.

You can also try out jigsaw puzzles or scrambles. Whatever you choose. Randomly playing around will not be effective. Spending at least 15 minutes a day can help improve your concentration level.

However, you may find results drastically. Over time, you can expect improved focus on studying. Nowadays, there are apps for cognitive training programmes containing exercises to improve concentration and overall brain functionality. We recommend taking up two or more ways and being consistent in efforts.

Have a sound sleep at night

Your sleeping pattern and habits play a role in your ability to focus and concentrate. Binge-watching episodes or scrolling through social media throughout the night may lead to sleep deprivation, and consequently, you will be the doozy head in the classroom.

Excessive sleep deprivation may have a lasting effect on your ability to maintain focus due to slowed brain reflexes.

Just sleeping through the night is not enough. Quality of sleep matters. By quality, we mean uninterrupted and sound sleep. According to a study, 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep is highly recommended for students.

How can you have a better sleep?

The following tips might help:

Keep the room at a comfortable temperature
Listen to soft music
Take a warm bath
Do some exercise
Try reading books

Take occasional breaks

Getting stuck under academic pressure might take a toll on you. Throughout student life, impeding assignments and semester finals are part and parcel of this phase of life.

Extensive indulgence in academic activity might cost us the ability to focus. A break now and then helps reboot and recharge our ability to develop the natural ways to increase focus and concentration.

When you first feel your concentration is dropping, consider a break. Go out for a walk, listen to music, or play games with friends to de-stress your mind. Come back with renewed motivation.

You may find instantaneous results! Often, the assignment deadline forces us to be glued to the table. However, hours of struggle may not seem as effective as taking a short break our minds need.

Set Goals & reward yourself

Although it may sound a bit cliche, goal-setting can help us achieve better concentration. Setting goals gives us clear-cut directions and defines what needs to be achieved. It helps us be motivated to reach the target. We become more focused. First, divide the tasks into several parts with achievable timelines and goals.

Here is how you can make it work: Write your tasks down on paper. Make sure your goals are specific and measurable. Such as-

6-8 PM (Monday to Friday)- Complete 1 chapter/day of a specific subject.

Make your personalised routine. Stick it somewhere in your room. When you are able to reach your goals, reward yourself by playing PlayStation for an hour or watching an episode of your favourite series!

Now, your routine will look like the following:

6-8 PM (Monday to Friday)- Complete 1 chapter/ day of an "X" subject. Afterwards, grab a coffee at your favorite cafe.

After achieving a major milestone, like a semester final, give yourself a bigger reward, like a pair of shoes you were wearing!

Eat balanced foods

Food is like fuel for the human brain to function! Not simply eating food is enough. You have to intake a balanced diet containing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein for optimum brain functionality.

Also, consider adding superfoods for the brain, like Blueberries, oily fish, leafy greens, nuts, or Avocados, to your diet. While you are taking up a healthy diet, try to avoid junk foods as much as possible.

Also, try depriving yourself of excessive sugar cravings and drinking ample amounts of water every day to make your brain work like a horse! While caffeine boosts your focus and concentration while studying, excessive intake might lead to energy crashes.

Exercise Regularly

Our physical health is intricately connected to the brain's functionality. Any activity that enhances our physical health also benefits our neuro functionalities. Physical exercise increases overall blood flow to our body, including the brain.

Regular exercise leads to improved functionalities, resulting in better focus and concentration due to an enhanced capacity to retain more information.

If you are not exercising at all, consider starting with basic exercises like speed walking. Routine activities like yoga, running, or weight training are also excellent options. If you are a pro, hit your university gym regularly.

Join university fitness classes (if available) or get a local gym membership if your budget allows.

Utilise the Pomodoro Technique

Many students find the Pomodoro technique effective for retaining focus while studying for a longer period. This technique can be helpful for continuing extensive studies.

The tactic is simple: Continue studying for a time, let's say 25 minutes, and then take a short break.

The duration of the breaks can be increased as you continue for a few cycles. These breaks will help you concentrate on your studies. In order to make this technique work, select a quiet place like a library or a private room without any interruptions.

While using Pomodoro, keep your social media and other app notifications in silent mode, and keep your phone away to keep the disturbances away.

Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Your study space has a great impact on your attention span. Beyond the seat and table, it's the surrounding environment where you study. To keep the environment free of distraction, choose a quiet and comfortable place.

Also, ensure that the workplace is clean and has ample lighting. A cosy and tidy space helps you stay focused.

One way of achieving this is by adapting to a minimalist approach—having fewer things around you (essentials only). Keep the door closed to avoid noise. If there are unavoidable noises around, you may try listening to soft music with a noise-cancelling mic. Remove any other distractions that might hinder your concentration during your studies.

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking may help you get more work done at a time; one task at a time enables you to focus better. Focusing on one task at a time also improves the work output. How can you do that?

Make a list of tasks at hand. Pick one task out of your list and work on it until it's done. By avoiding the urge to multitask, you will be able to invest more attention in your study. It will reflect on your grades and feedback.

You can use productivity apps like Notion, Trello, or Todoist to monitor tasks at hand and ensure you are avoiding taking up more than one work at a time. This disciplined approach helps you retain focus and perform better under pressure.

Conclusion

If you want to improve concentration and focus while studying, firstly, you have to accept that there are no shortcuts. You have to be patient and practice. We have shared the 10 natural ways to increase focus and concentration. I

If you follow these tips and keep practising over time, your attention span will develop and reflect positively on your grades. Try them out and see what works best for you.