Written by Patrick Brown

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Philippe Bout on Unsplash

As university students, most of us know how difficult it can be to maintain focus. Whether it be studying for an upcoming exam, writing an essay, or completing a challenging assignment, it is not always easy to stay focused for both long and short periods of time. In this article, I will outline some of the tips that I have found to be useful throughout my university years.

Time and Routine

Over the past few years, I have been able to pinpoint the time of the day during which I am most productive and focused as far as schoolwork goes. For me, this tends to be in the morning and evening, while less so in the afternoon. While I often have to do schoolwork in the afternoon, I use my mornings and evenings to focus on important tasks. Some students I know try to choose courses based on the time of day when they are more or less productive, such as taking afternoon classes to get more work done in the morning.

Along with timing, setting a routine can be beneficial for you. Not only will a consistent routine help you to learn when you are most productive, it will give you some momentum as you move throughout your day. Having a routine may help some people keep their day structured and allow them to stay focused on the important tasks for that day. A routine that includes consistent work/study times can help keep you focused on your tasks. From my perspective, having a somewhat structured routine can help lay the foundation for a productive day, at least for most people. This is something that has helped me over the years and could help others if they do not currently have one. If you have trouble implementing a routine, I recommend starting with one or two small things until they become habitual, such as when you wake up, when you exercise, or as small as having a cup of coffee every morning. Whatever helps you formulate a productive day.

If I have a busy day ahead, I often create a to-do list the night before, including my most important tasks as well as smaller things. This helps me figure out what is most important and when I can do certain things according to my schedule. Using calendar apps can help you construct your day. Time-management can be a difficult skill to master but improving it can make a huge difference in your studies.

Limiting Screen Time

This is easier said than done. However, there are some strategies to help minimize distractions from your phone. When I need to stay focused for an extended period, I often put my phone in another room or at least out of reach. This helps me focus by eliminating the regular distractions that my phone causes. I also turn off my notifications, especially for social media, which helps reduce the urge to check my phone regularly and stay focused during the day. From my experience, the less time you can spend on your phone, the weaker the urge to use it during the day. I also find that if I plan on getting a lot done in the morning, I don’t check my phone until I have completed a certain amount of work. This way, my mind is refreshed and clear without distraction, and it allows me to focus on my important task right away.

Location

Location is one factor that can make or break your level of focus. Firstly, having a designated study space, or multiple designated study spaces where you know you can focus well can be useful. This has helped me over the years. Understanding what environments bring you the most (or least) focus can help you determine where you should study; ask yourself if you focus better in isolation, around others, in silence, or with some noise/activity. Study location is very subjective, so figure out what environments help you best. I often rotate between my bedroom and the quiet floors of Patrick Power Library for my most focused work. Sometimes, changing scenery has helped me when I can’t focus in my usual spots; don’t be afraid to switch it up from time to time. I recommend checking out Julia Yurchesyn’s article if you’re looking for new spots to study around campus.

Exercise

Exercise has been shown in countless studies to increase cognitive performance, which includes increased attentional focus and concentration, among other mental benefits. I would recommend getting some sort of movement throughout the day, no matter how small. In my own experience, going for a run or lifting weights before doing schoolwork has increased my ability to concentrate on my tasks. Even on days when I do not have time to fit in a longer workout, just going for a ten-minute walk helps me regain focus and reduce any stress I may be feeling. Further tips for staying fit and consistent with exercise are highlighted in Rita Jabbour’s article.

Limit Stress/Burnout

With busy schedules and lots of assignments to get done, it is easy to become overwhelmed as a university student. Sometimes, the stress of having many assignments and deadlines can cause students to procrastinate and often leads to an inability to focus on what they need to get done. It is important to work hard; however, if you often feel you are pushing yourself to the point of feeling too burned out to work, this does more harm than good. As mentioned, going for a walk or exercising can help, but also make sure to have some downtime and relax on a regular basis. Doing things to limit your stress and avoid burnout will calm you down and help you focus during the times when you need to get work done. Balance is important, so make sure you’re having some fun too. SMU students who are struggling with stress can also refer to the Counselling Center, which offers resources intended to help students.

Self-motivation

Focusing on a task is much easier when you are strongly motivated. Improving your ability to self-motivate is a skill that can aid your academic achievement and productivity. There are many ways in which one can self-motivate; however, I believe that the most important thing is to establish goals for yourself. The goals can be broad, such as overall GPA, grade for a class, or specific such as a grade for a specific assignment or completing a portion of what you are working on in a specific time period. Having both broad and specific goals in place gives you things to work towards which can help motivate you to stay focused.

For a shorter-term strategy, you can work towards a reward. For example, buying a treat that you can only have once you complete a certain amount of work or watching TV only after studying for a certain amount of time. This takes some discipline and self-control, but it is something that I have used throughout university to keep me motivated.

Study Methods

There are various study methods out there that are meant to improve concentration in students. One of the most common methods is the Pomodoro method, which consists of four intervals of 25 minutes working and a 5-minute break. After four intervals, longer breaks of around 15-30 minutes are taken before continuing with the cycle again. This is one method that I’ve found to be very effective, especially for essay writing, but I recommend trying this and researching other methods to see which one works the best for you.

Final Thoughts

There are many strategies out there to help you improve your focus. Many methods can be specific and subjective, which is why it is important to learn what works best for you. These tips are not meant to be an end-all-be-all, and there are many more notable and niche strategies for focus that you can research and try for yourself. I hope some of these tips can be useful for students in figuring out what helps them stay focused, especially as we approach end-of-semester deadlines and exams.

Tips for Optimizing Your Studying