Our phones are constantly buzzing, tempting us towards the internet. Even when you manage to put your phone out of reach, the computer you use to write your essays can still beep and bloop its way through a steady stream of news, emails and notifications.
With so many things competing for our attention, it can be difficult to find some peace and focus when studying.
So, without any further onomatopoeic diversions, here are the Effective Learning Service’s top four tips for finding focus and minimising distractions. Try one or two and see if they work for you.
1. Drink more water
Yeah, this one’s everywhere.
Drink water. Sounds good. Will do. Thanks for the tip!
The thing is, it really can make a difference. Like all four of these tips, though, you have to actually do it.
The experts recommend around two litres of water a day, so try filling up a reusable two-litre bottle in the morning and keeping it nearby while you study. You can pour it into a smaller bottle if that’s easier, and refill it as needed.
Try to make it part of your daily routine, whether you’re studying at home or using the water taps on campus.
And remember to get up and move around regularly, too. If your bottle is still more than half full when you head off for that all-important mid-study stretch and daydream, it might be time to get your glug on.
PS. It might also be worth cutting back a little on caffeine and sugar. One cup less won’t hurt you, and it may help you avoid the late-afternoon headache and caffeine crash.
2. Try Next Move Cards
Gamification is a word that’s everywhere these days. Easy to say, harder to do. Actually, it’s not that easy to say either, now I think about it.
The idea is to add game-like elements to something you are doing. This can be a useful way to make good study habits more engaging.
The trouble is that some ‘gamify your focus’ apps can become distractions themselves. You open the app to help you focus and, before you know it, you’re back on your phone.
Instead, try making your own set of physical cards.
Fold a piece of paper a few times and tear or cut along the lines to create a small deck. If you find the idea useful, you can make a more permanent set using our templates. Contact ELS for a copy.
There are two ways you could use your cards.
Notice your distraction habits
Start by noting down some of the common distractions or procrastination habits you find yourself falling into.
You don’t have to change them straight away. First, just notice what tends to pull your attention away.
Then, turn these into "if...Then..." statements.
For example:
If I think of something I need to do this evening, then I will write it down and return to studying.
Or:
If I feel the need to check the news, then I will pause and remind myself that I have chosen this time to focus on my learning.
These statements can be practical or more reflective. The important thing is to find wording that works for you.
Build good study habits
You can also use your cards to record good habits you want to practise during a study session.
For example:
- Drink your bottle of water.
- Write one paragraph without checking your phone.
- Read and make notes on one page of an article.
See how many cards you can ‘play’ by the end of your study session. You can play the same card more than once.
If you enjoy the challenge, see whether you can beat your score next time.
3. Try 20 minute cycles
Whether you call it the Pomodoro Technique, timeboxing or something else, setting a fixed amount of time for a task can help you build your focus.
Think of it as a workout for your focus muscle. And yes, we know the brain is an organ, not a muscle. School of Health Sciences students, you can put the textbooks down now.
The Pomodoro Technique usually involves 25 minutes of focused work followed by a five-minute break. You then repeat the cycle.
You don’t have to follow that exact pattern, though. You could start with 20 minutes of focused study followed by 10 minutes of rest and see how you get on.
If you have an egg timer, you can use that to mark the time. If not, a stopwatch or another timer will do. A sundial might be taking things a little too far.
If you use your phone as a timer, remember that it can also bring plenty of other distractions with it. You could put it on Do Not Disturb or use a focus mode while you study.
And yes, I may have sounded a little down on productivity apps earlier (spoiler warning: I am), but there are some useful ones if you prefer using your phone for timing. For example, Forest combines timed study sessions with features designed to help you stay away from your phone while you work.
4. Use a ‘Save-For-Later’ and scratch pad
Not all distractions are digital, and not all of them can be avoided.
You might have caring responsibilities to think about, remember something you need to do for work, have an ‘aha’ moment about a completely different essay, or suddenly remember something that feels very important right now.
Instead of letting these thoughts bounce around your head while you’re trying to study, write them down.
Yes, physical paper. You may be noticing a theme.
Divide your page into two sections: 'Save-For-Later’ and ‘Scratch’.
Save-For-Later
Use this side for things that you need to come back to.
You can note:
What: What is distracting you?
How: What could you do about it?
When: When will you deal with it?
For example:
What: I think I misunderstood the essay question.
How: Re-read the assignment brief and write it out in my own words.
When: During the study session I have planned for Saturday.
You don’t need to have an answer for everything straight away. If your answer to ‘How?’ or ‘When?’ is ‘Dunno’, that’s fine. The important thing is to get the thought out of your head and onto paper so you can return to your work.
Scratch
The other side is for ‘scratching’.
Any random thoughts that pop into your head can go here. Once they’re on paper, you can cross them out or scribble over them and get back to what you were doing.
Sometimes, a thought that seemed important enough for the ‘Save-For-Later’ side turns out to be a scratch-and-forget job after all.
And there are few better feelings when you’re right on the edge of distraction than realising you didn’t actually need to deal with something immediately.
And finally… get the tunes on
If all else fails, try some sound.
Whether it’s white noise, an ‘Espresso Megamix’ or something completely different, sound can help create a barrier between you and the distractions around you. It can also become a familiar cue that tells your brain it’s time to focus.
Of course, what works will be different for everyone. You might prefer silence, background noise, instrumental music or your favourite playlist.
And those chunky headphones might even stop your study pal from asking you to watch that new TikTok.
No guarantees, though.
Finding focus doesn’t mean eliminating every distraction. It’s about finding strategies that make it easier for you to return your attention to what you’re working on.
Try one or two of these ideas during your next study session and see what works for you.
