Assignment: Time Control and Concentration 5 of 5: Concentration

Study Skills 101
2022-07-17T21:03:51Z

Due: Aug 1, 2022 by 11:59pm

Concentration

A monthly calendar, a weekly study schedule, and a "To Do" list are essential to organizing your study time. Unfortunately, all your effort in creating them is useless if you waste the study time you have set aside. You will learn very little if you do not master the art of concentrating on your work.

The skill of concentration somewhat resembles a beating heart: When it works, we take it for granted and are hardly aware of it; any malfunction, however, is painfully apparent. For example, you probably find it very easy to concentrate on something you are highly interested in - a television show, a particular magazine, or an elaborate meal you are preparing for friends. On the other hand, concentration may seem impossible when studying a biology chapter or trying to figure out a set of math problems.

Why People Can't Concentrate

1.) You equate studying with punishment. If you have a history of doing poorly in school, you may naturally have an adverse reaction when you try to study.

2.) You put everything off until the last minute. Trying to study ten hours for an exam tomorrow or starting at nine in the morning to write a paper due by three o'clock in the afternoon is like trying to work with a gun at your head.

3.) You don't feel comfortable or settled. You're dying of thirst, the chair is sending shooting pains up your spine, and your head is pounding. Your body feels so exhausted that it seems impossible to remain upright any longer. At the same time, dozens of other thoughts may crowd into your mind: next weekend's trip, the argument you had with your mother, the dirty laundry piling up in your closet. Such physical and mental distractions will soon overwhelm any amount of concentration you may have been able to achieve.

Ways to Concentrate

When you can't concentrate, you can take either of the two courses. You can give in to defeat or decide that you will do everything you can to aid concentration. Here are practical hints that will help you fix your attention on the studying you have to do.

Hint 1: Work on having a positive attitude. A rare student will rarely have a deep interest in every one of their college courses. Decide you will do the studying because, someday, your degree will benefit your life.

Hint 2: Prepare to work by setting specific study goals. Go over your assignments and jot down a list of practical goals for the study time. This technique helps you get organized and breaks your enormous study task into manageable units.

Hint 3: Keep track of your lapses of concentration. When you start studying, jot down the time at the bottom of your "to-do" list of study items. When you find yourself losing interest or thinking about something else, jot the time on that same piece of paper. Catching yourself like this can help train your mind to concentrate for longer and longer periods.

Hint 4: Create a good study environment. Choose a room that is, first of all, quiet and well-lighted. To avoid glare, ensure the light comes from above or over your should, not from in front of you. Also, you should have more than one light source in the room. Second, you should have a comfortable place to sit. Do not try to study in a completely relaxed position. A light muscular tension promotes the concentration needed to study. So sit on an upright chair or sit in cross-legged positions on your bed with a pillow behind you. Make sure you have all the materials: ballpoint pens, highlighter pens, pencils, loose-leaf or typing paper, and a small memo pad. Ideally, you should have a computer and calculator as well. Finally, avoid interruptions. Tell family and friends you will call them after you finish studying. Preparing an exemplary environment ensures you achieve a high concentration level. If you do not have a room where you can study, use a secluded spot in the library or student center or find another quiet place where you can work.

Hint 5: Stay in good physical condition. You do not want to be prey to quick fatigue or frequent bouts of sickness. It is important to eat nourishing meals, starting with breakfast; it is your most important meal of the day. Also, try to get an average of eight hours of sleep a night, and exercise regularly. Do not hesitate to take a fifteen- to thirty-minute nap during the day.

Hint 6: Vary your study activities. Study sessions need not be four-hour marathons devoted to one subject. Don't waste your time staring unproductively when you cannot concentrate anymore. Switch over to another subject. The change in subject matter and assignment types can taste mental strain by stimulating a different part of your brain.

Hint 7: Practice the study skills you learn.

Hint 8: Use outside help when needed. Some people find that studying with a friend or friends helps concentration. Others, however, find it more of a distraction. Use the technique of team study only if you think it will be of real value to you. Also, find out if your school has a tutoring service. Also, learn the office hours of your instructors.

Access the Time Management Discussion Here

Access the Associated Rubric Here

References

Langan, J. (1989). Reading and study skills (pp. 133–152). Mcgraw-Hill. (Original work published 1978)

Concentration

A monthly calendar, a weekly study schedule, and a "To Do" list are essential to organizing your study time. Unfortunately, all your effort in creating them is useless if you waste the study time you have set aside. You will learn very little if you do not master the art of concentrating on your work.

The skill of concentration somewhat resembles a beating heart: When it works, we take it for granted and are hardly aware of it; any malfunction, however, is painfully apparent. For example, you probably find it very easy to concentrate on something you are highly interested in - a television show, a particular magazine, or an elaborate meal you are preparing for friends. On the other hand, concentration may seem impossible when studying a biology chapter or trying to figure out a set of math problems.

Why People Can't Concentrate

1.) You equate studying with punishment. If you have a history of doing poorly in school, you may naturally have an adverse reaction when you try to study.

2.) You put everything off until the last minute. Trying to study ten hours for an exam tomorrow or starting at nine in the morning to write a paper due by three o'clock in the afternoon is like trying to work with a gun at your head.

3.) You don't feel comfortable or settled. You're dying of thirst, the chair is sending shooting pains up your spine, and your head is pounding. Your body feels so exhausted that it seems impossible to remain upright any longer. At the same time, dozens of other thoughts may crowd into your mind: next weekend's trip, the argument you had with your mother, the dirty laundry piling up in your closet. Such physical and mental distractions will soon overwhelm any amount of concentration you may have been able to achieve.

Ways to Concentrate

When you can't concentrate, you can take either of the two courses. You can give in to defeat or decide that you will do everything you can to aid concentration. Here are practical hints that will help you fix your attention on the studying you have to do.

Hint 1: Work on having a positive attitude. A rare student will rarely have a deep interest in every one of their college courses. Decide you will do the studying because, someday, your degree will benefit your life.

Hint 2: Prepare to work by setting specific study goals. Go over your assignments and jot down a list of practical goals for the study time. This technique helps you get organized and breaks your enormous study task into manageable units.

Hint 3: Keep track of your lapses of concentration. When you start studying, jot down the time at the bottom of your "to-do" list of study items. When you find yourself losing interest or thinking about something else, jot the time on that same piece of paper. Catching yourself like this can help train your mind to concentrate for longer and longer periods.

Hint 4: Create a good study environment. Choose a room that is, first of all, quiet and well-lighted. To avoid glare, ensure the light comes from above or over your should, not from in front of you. Also, you should have more than one light source in the room. Second, you should have a comfortable place to sit. Do not try to study in a completely relaxed position. A light muscular tension promotes the concentration needed to study. So sit on an upright chair or sit in cross-legged positions on your bed with a pillow behind you. Make sure you have all the materials: ballpoint pens, highlighter pens, pencils, loose-leaf or typing paper, and a small memo pad. Ideally, you should have a computer and calculator as well. Finally, avoid interruptions. Tell family and friends you will call them after you finish studying. Preparing an exemplary environment ensures you achieve a high concentration level. If you do not have a room where you can study, use a secluded spot in the library or student center or find another quiet place where you can work.

Hint 5: Stay in good physical condition. You do not want to be prey to quick fatigue or frequent bouts of sickness. It is important to eat nourishing meals, starting with breakfast; it is your most important meal of the day. Also, try to get an average of eight hours of sleep a night, and exercise regularly. Do not hesitate to take a fifteen- to thirty-minute nap during the day.

Hint 6: Vary your study activities. Study sessions need not be four-hour marathons devoted to one subject. Don't waste your time staring unproductively when you cannot concentrate anymore. Switch over to another subject. The change in subject matter and assignment types can taste mental strain by stimulating a different part of your brain.

Hint 7: Practice the study skills you learn.

Hint 8: Use outside help when needed. Some people find that studying with a friend or friends helps concentration. Others, however, find it more of a distraction. Use the technique of team study only if you think it will be of real value to you. Also, find out if your school has a tutoring service. Also, learn the office hours of your instructors.

Access the Time Management Discussion Here

Access the Associated Rubric Here

References

Langan, J. (1989). Reading and study skills (pp. 133–152). Mcgraw-Hill. (Original work published 1978)