Ask the Eagle
Dear Ask the Eagle,
I’m having a really hard time focusing… what can I do have a fresh memory and focus in class and outside of class?
—Disconnected From Reality
Dear Disconnected,
It is not uncommon to find oneself drifting off into space during class or when work begins to build up. In fact, it seems that as deadlines draw nearer, the will to get work done runs farther away. So what can you do to stay focused?
First, I want to address time inside the classroom. While in class, you must do your best to stay attentive. I know that it is sometimes hard to focus when your teacher’s boring voice seems to drone on and on with useless information, but when you consider all the money you pay to attend these classes, it is better to make it worthwhile. Here are a few tips to make it a bit easier.
Get a good night’s rest the day before. We have all experienced late night study sessions that provide us with little or no time to sleep, but for the most part, you should be able to get to bed on time. If you are having trouble in this area set a bedtime and hold yourself to it. It may seem childish, but you’ll be surprised at how much it helps.
Wake up with time to spare. If you wake up three minutes before class and scurry to class, it probably won’t be too long before your head is on your desk and you are dreaming again. If you give yourself time to get out of bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, etc., you will be much more likely to pay attention in class.
Take notes. Your professor may not be covering the most important information, but if you listen closely enough to take down the most important parts of their speech, you may be able to get something out of class.
Try to show genuine interest in the class. This is maybe the hardest of all the above points, but if you have a true, vested interest in the class, you will want to attend class meetings and maybe even enjoy some of the material you learn.
Next, I will cover outside the classroom. Outside of class, teachers expect you to spend your free time writing papers, answering questions, and meeting deadlines. With all the monotony of busy work and all the stress of large projects, how can you escape drifting off?
Start early. If you know a deadline is sneaking up on you, do not put it off. If you wait until the last minute, odds are that temptation to stop working will be greater than your desire to finish the project and you will do a slipshod job.
Provide study breaks. If you lock yourself in your room and throw away the key, you will lose any desire to work on the project and will find any excuse to abandon your work. However, if you plan every hour or so to take a break from work and do something fun, it will make working much more enjoyable and stress free.
Invite friends to your study time. Whether you are working on the same project or not, sometimes it is just easier to work when you know someone else is working hard too. I do not always recommend this method because sometimes this leads to even more distractions, but if you all recognize that this is a time for studying, it makes for a nice, quiet place to get work done. Also, having a friend close by can help the study breaks be more fun!
– The Crested Eagle
