You want to learn, you want to listen to the teachers and you want to absorb all the information that is given to you in class; but it's so … boring! It is not easy to focus on the lesson when your mind is distracted by other thoughts and commitments, but with some mental and physical tricks you can be able to be careful in class. It takes effort and determination, as with most things you do in school, but once you get used to it, you'll be glad you tried.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Keep your thoughts in check
Step 1. Remove distractions
The simplest thing you can do to be able to focus is to keep distractions away. There are so many things that can take your attention away from the lesson. Try to be more aware of what you are doing when you get distracted. Once you find out what it is, you can find a way to get rid of it.
- Distractions can be represented by a computer, cell phone or games that you carry around, or by what surrounds you, such as a friend, a classmate who bothers you or something you see happening outside the window.
- The best way to resolve this is to physically remove the distraction. For example, if you find a mate distracting you, try sitting somewhere else. The teacher will understand and will likely be more than willing to make you move.
Step 2. Focus on the present
You must try to prevent your thoughts from going out of the classroom. Don't daydream! Keep your mind here, in the present, and postpone thoughts about other things for later. It's not easy, but if you can, it will help you a lot.
- You may find yourself thinking about games, what you will do after school, your boyfriend or girlfriend (or the fact that you don't have it), your friends, your family … even things like books you like or places you would like to visit.
- You must learn to consciously redirect your attention. Recover and force yourself to focus on the lesson. Eventually it will become a habit and you will learn to be less distracted.
- This means that even if you start thinking about other school-related things, such as a class assignment you will need to do, you need to stop and focus instead on what is happening at that precise moment. While it is important to think about upcoming assignments in class, if you get distracted during the lesson you will not be able to learn what you are being taught at that time.
Step 3. Direct your attention when necessary
Pay attention to what goes on in your mind. If you find yourself thinking about things other than what's going on in class, then you need to make an effort to bring your attention back to the present. Try repeating the teacher's words in your mind, underlining the important parts.
You should try to train and improve your ability to concentrate. Try doing something difficult while listening to loud music. Concentration is a skill that, like all others, must be practiced and developed
Step 4. Talk to your teachers about the lessons
Everyone learns differently. The way your teacher teaches may not be ideal for you, or there may be ways to make the lesson even better. Talk to your teachers and ask if they have any tips to make the lessons truly fruitful.
- Learn about learning styles. There are people who learn best with images and others who do it with sounds; that is, they have different learning styles. There are many: ask your teacher to help you figure out which one helps you the most and how to integrate those lessons into the classroom.
- Try it with customized lessons and assignments. You can also ask the teacher to give you extra credit for assignments or projects that help you learn a lesson in the way that suits you best. If you are really willing to learn and are willing to work hard, your teacher is likely to be happy to help you find a solution.
Step 5. Find your motivation
If you are more motivated it will be easier for you to stay focused. Of course, your teacher or classmates won't motivate you - that's something you have to do yourself. It can be frustrating, but it will be worth it - you will get an education, with or without help from others. There are so many ways to make yourself motivated and eager to learn, and what you do depends on who you are.
You can look for an aspect of the topic that piques your interest. That way you might make the rest of the lesson more interesting, because you will feel like you are building the foundation for the things you want to learn. For example, maybe you don't really like history in general but you like medieval knights. Imagine that all the history you need to study has to do with medieval knights, and you will find that it will be easier to concentrate
Method 2 of 3: Change your actions
Step 1. Prepare before class
Sometimes, you need to be in the right mindset before you can focus. Try to take a look at your homework before class, read the textbook, re-read yesterday's notes. This will put your brain in "lesson mode" and you will be able to concentrate more easily.
Concentration also improves if you prepare everything you will need and if you keep your desk tidy. You'll be more focused if you don't have to borrow a pencil because yours is blunt
Step 2. Find a more suitable location
A change in the position or things around you can help you focus. It's not just a matter of freeing yourself from distractions, although that helps. Changing banks can help focus because it changes the things you can do. For example, if you sit at the first desk, be more careful because you know the teacher is seeing you. Sitting away from friends helps because it is harder for you to talk to them.
Step 3. Take an active part in the lesson
Participation can help you focus, because it keeps your mind engaged in what you do in class and prevents it from thinking about anything else. Do everything you can to participate, and you will benefit from it: ask questions, join a group to do a project, participate in discussions.
Ask questions. Questions are a good way to participate. Raise your hand when you don't understand or if you want more information about something the teacher said. Paying attention to the topics you want to ask questions about will also help you
Step 4. Take notes
Taking notes will help you focus on what the teacher is saying, even if you think you don't need the notes to study. If, on the other hand, you will need the notes, then you have killed two birds with one stone! While the teacher speaks, you outline the more complicated topics with a few marginal notes. Before you know it you will be more focused.
If you don't know how to take notes, you can read the article How to take notes
Step 5. Do some more research
Sometimes you lose focus because you don't understand what the teacher is talking about, which is quite normal and understandable. If you do research to better understand the lessons, you should be able to pay attention more easily. However, learning even outside the classroom will compensate for not being able to concentrate in class. You can find information on any topic on the internet. You could also use wikiHow articles.
For example, if you have difficulty with math, try looking for online sites that can help you, such as Math Camp
Step 6. Try to have a routine
Not paying attention is a bad habit, and like all habits you can replace it with others. Try to create a system where you concentrate in the classroom, reserving that time only for school and learning, but also allow yourself moments of relaxation where you can have a lot of fun. If you stick to a routine and teach your mind what to focus on at various times of the day, you can train your brain to pay attention.
Method 3 of 3: Prepare the body
Step 1. Try to get enough sleep
Sleep is very important for being able to concentrate while you are in school. Whether you stay up late or don't sleep well, nothing will keep you focused throughout the day. Examine your nocturnal habits and see if you can change anything.
- Doctors recommend about 10 hours of sleep for kids under 12, and 8-9 hours for older kids. However, some need more hours and others less, so you'll need to figure out what's right for you.
- Remember that sleeping too much will also make you less efficient. If you increase your sleep hours and still feel tired in the middle of the day, you may actually be oversleeping.
Step 2. Eat properly
If you don't eat enough or deprive yourself of essential substances for too long, your brain will start to suffer. If you don't eat well or enough it will be difficult to concentrate, just like lack of adequate rest. Examine your eating habits and decide what you need to change.
- You need lots of vegetables, some fruit, whole grains and lots of lean proteins. They are good: cabbage, broccoli, spinach, apples, citrus fruits, bananas, brown rice, quinoa, oats, fish, skinned chicken and turkey.
- Avoid or limit caffeine. Caffeine helps some people focus, but other people become nervous and unable to focus for long. There is also the risk of having a collapse when the effect disappears.
Step 3. Drink lots of water
The body needs a lot of water in order to function well. If you don't drink enough you can end up with a headache and have trouble concentrating. The amount of water to drink varies from person to person, but one way to gauge if you are drinking enough is how your urine looks. If it is light you are drinking enough water, if it is dark you need to drink more.
It is best to only drink water. Fizzy drinks, commercial fruit juices, and milk are not okay, as the sugars they contain may worsen the concentration
Step 4. Exercise to relieve tension
Some people are very physical, and their bodies need a lot of activity to stay healthy. The concentration needed during classes can create tension in the body and mind. If you feel agitated in class, try physical activity between classes or during breaks; in this way the body and mind relax and you will be able to concentrate, and it could also be useful to give you a boost of energy if you feel a little tired.
Jump or jog in place. You can also run around the school or have a couple of shots with friends if you have time
Step 5. Practice paying attention
You have to practice being careful; that's how it works. The brain is like a muscle and it needs training to strengthen itself in those areas you want to work better. You will need to train yourself to pay attention if you want to improve your ability to concentrate.
Meditation is a good way to train. Sit down and try to clear your mind as you focus on one simple thing, like a sound or a sensation
Advice
- You will be able to concentrate better if you free your space of unnecessary things.
- Try to be interested in the topic the teacher is talking about. If the lesson is interesting it will be easier for you to pay attention.
- Taking notes, in addition to being very useful when it comes to reviewing, will make a boring lesson flow faster.
- Keep your body hydrated! Drinking more water prevents dehydration, cleanses the body, prevents overheating and obesity and helps you focus! Always carry a bottle of water with you.
- Doing a little activity in the morning will also help you feel awake and energized at school.
- If it's cool outside, ask your teacher if you can open the window. Fresh air will keep you awake.
- If you are allowed to chew gum during class, try chewing on a strong mint one - it might wake you up a little.
Warnings
- Keep in mind that if the lesson is boring you need to try even harder.
- Don't fall asleep in class - that would be bad for your preparation, and you could be punished with a note or even worse!
- Caffeine keeps you awake and active for a while, but then you may have a breakdown, so it's not always a good idea. Make sure you know what your reactions to caffeine are before drinking coffee at school.
