It’s probably easy to remember a time when you sat down to do your homework and you had a million other things on your mind besides homework. You may think about a comment someone made to you earlier, a test you didn’t do so well on, an overdue bill you need to pay, or a child that needs more attention. Focus is a challenge when you have 99 problems and your homework is one of them.
Distractions hurt you
Distractions can hurt you by interfering with your ambitions. They can keep you from accomplishing something important that can improve your life, if you let them. Don’t let distractions keep you from making the life changing progress you need to make.
So, how do you tackle distractions? The main thing is to learn how to ignore distractions so that you can focus. It can be a challenge in the beginning, but it will get easier with time. Here’s how to do it.
Remove the obvious distractions
Take care of your basic needs first. Do you feel hungry? Eat something. Thirsty? Drink some water. Need to take a bathroom break? Do it now. Otherwise, you will most likely be thinking about those things the entire time.
You might also need to remove other items or people that might be distracting you. Is the music too loud, too low, etc.? Make adjustments so that it isn’t a distraction for you.
Are the kids making too much noise? Respectfully let them know you need to study, give them something quiet to play with, or ask a family member, friend, or someone you trust to take care of them while you work.
For Grad Solutions students, you can take your children to The HUB so they can play in a safe space while you get work done. You may also qualify for childcare assistance from the Arizona DES Child Care program.
Set your goal
Before you start studying or working, give yourself a specific goal with a timeframe for getting it done. Your goal should include a specific subject or assignment and a timeframe. You want to give yourself enough time to get it done but not too much time. Parkinson’s law says that “work tends to expand to fill the time we have available for its completion.” Here are a few examples of a study period goal you can set:
Work for one hour on Math
Spend one hour writing English essay
Complete Geometry assignment by 7 PM
Now that you have a specific goal, you can focus on it like a laser on it so you can get it done. The Pomodoro Technique, mentioned in our last blog, is another method many people use to set a timeframe for work, and get it done.
Be like a Jedi
You might not feel like a Jedi, but the power to kick distractions and focus is in your hands. As ridiculous as it sounds, there are mind games you can play to help you focus your mind.
In his book “Mind Hacking”, Sir John Hargrave suggests some games you can play that help you build your concentration. For more on this, take a look at the chapter from his book called Developing Jedi-like Concentration.
If you’re in a difficult situation, mastering your thoughts will bring calmness and clarity into your life. These will help you make fast progress toward your goals. When you learn to take control of your thoughts and concentrate better, you will have more productive study time.
Sources
7 Proven Strategies for Overcoming Distractions by Deep Patel for Entrepreneur Magazine
Easily Distracted Anxiety Symptoms by Jim Folk for AnxietyCentre
Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation
Mind Hacking by Sir John Hargrave