Studying requires concentration

It’s a tiring activity, and that’s why we sometimes “study” in a more relaxed way, less intense but also less efficient.

This gives us a clear conscience, making us think that we put many hours on studying for the test, but what we really did was a waste of time.

In the end, we have to do the effort, so all we got with that “light” studying was an unnecessary use of more hours than we should have.

Many times, we waste time because we get distracted.

Without noticing, we start thinking about other things, we avoid the subject we need to study, and we completely lose focus.

Every time we get distracted, we should write down the cause (got a phone call, my mother wanted to talk to me, I went to look for my calculator, I wanted to see the sports section in the newspaper, etc.).

It’s easier to solve the causes of the distractions if we know them.

Other times, we waste time simply because we don’t know how to study:

We review the lessons we already mastered, over and over, and we forget to review other lessons we know nothing about.

It’s better to take a test having medium knowledge on everything than mastering some lessons and not knowing anything about the others.

We study uninteresting information, with an unnecessary level of detail. This information doesn’t give us much knowledge, and it’s a waste of time and effort.

We read a chapter, and we read it over and over without putting the least of effort to go deep into it (completing notes, understanding, writing diagrams, memorizing, repeating, etc.).

We study without a guide. We open the book and start memorizing from the first line, without having previously read the lesson to know what it is about and what structure it has, without having worked on it.

It’s a tiring activity, and that’s why we sometimes “study” in a more relaxed way, less intense but also less efficient.

This gives us a clear conscience, making us think that we put many hours on studying for the test, but what we really did was a waste of time.

In the end, we have to do the effort, so all we got with that “light” studying was an unnecessary use of more hours than we should have.

Many times, we waste time because we get distracted.

Without noticing, we start thinking about other things, we avoid the subject we need to study, and we completely lose focus.

Every time we get distracted, we should write down the cause (got a phone call, my mother wanted to talk to me, I went to look for my calculator, I wanted to see the sports section in the newspaper, etc.).

It’s easier to solve the causes of the distractions if we know them.

Other times, we waste time simply because we don’t know how to study:

We review the lessons we already mastered, over and over, and we forget to review other lessons we know nothing about.

It’s better to take a test having medium knowledge on everything than mastering some lessons and not knowing anything about the others.

We study uninteresting information, with an unnecessary level of detail. This information doesn’t give us much knowledge, and it’s a waste of time and effort.

We read a chapter, and we read it over and over without putting the least of effort to go deep into it (completing notes, understanding, writing diagrams, memorizing, repeating, etc.).

We study without a guide. We open the book and start memorizing from the first line, without having previously read the lesson to know what it is about and what structure it has, without having worked on it.

The place where you’re studying should be

FIXED: Use the same place whenever it’s possible, because this can help you create a study habit.

PERSONAL: It must belong to you, and it must be decorated according to your taste. You must consider that your study table, and the immediate space around your studying area, shouldn’t have anything that’s not specifically related to studying. This includes elements that can have a sentimental value (trophies, pictures, posters). You might have to share your room, but try to find a personal space in a corner. It’s important that you have your own furniture.

ISOLATED: it should let you focus, and for that, you should avoid:

◘ Conversations and telephone calls during study hours. If you share the room, try to study at different hours from your roommate, or make an agreement to keep quiet during the scheduled studying hours. The human voice is the main source of distraction when studying.

◘ Music. It’s not advisable to listen to it during activities that require great concentration. It could be a convenient method to drown out distracting noise from outside, but it would have to be background music with a low volume and without ads. If there’s no outdoors noise, it’s better to study without music on. Of course, TV is forbidden, because it stimulates both hearing and sight.

◘ Outside noises. Choose, if you can, a quiet room, away from the living room, the TV, etc.

 

ORGANIZED: It must be organized in such a way that each object has a specific place, and you can quickly find it whenever you need it. This will save you lots of time when looking for books, notes and material. Another important thing here is to have all the necessary material ready and at hand, so you can better face your study session. Of course, when it’s over, you must put everything back in its place.

 

ILLUMINATION: Natural lighting is better than artificial lighting. Light should come from the opposite side of your writing hand, so it doesn’t create distracting shadows. Artificial lighting must follow that rule as well. Try for it to be well-distributed, neither too intense nor too weak, and of course, that it’s not directed directly into the student’s eyes. An articulated lamp with a 60W blue light bulb and other environmental lamps that illuminate the rest of the room are the most appropriate sources of artificial lighting, because they don’t create too much contrast.

 

VENTILATION: It’s important to circulate the air in the room with some frequency, because if we don’t, we can suffer the effects of bad ventilation: headaches, dizziness, general discomfort, tiredness, sleepiness… this will cause you to have a lower intellectual performance. Going out to get some fresh air is not enough, because it doesn’t get rid of the effects of bad ventilation. It’s necessary to get a good supply of clean air, and this is where breaks can be useful.

 

TEMPERATURE: Even though it’s not easy to control this factor, especially in the summer, it’s convenient to know that research suggests the ideal temperature for mental activity is around 17 and 22 ºC. Anything above or below these numbers can produce undesirable effects, especially during long periods of time. Cold makes you restless and nervous; heat makes you sleepy and inactive. So, both temperatures make concentration harder. An important thing to consider is that the room should have a homogenous temperature.

 

FURNITURE: It would be ideal to have a study table, a chair, and a closet-shelving to put books, folders and stationary. However, a table with enough space to place all the material comfortably, and a chair with a straight back should be enough when studying.