Studying is not always one of the best activities we need to do. Furthermore, our brain seems to be trained to boycott us: it cooperates in concentrating on a virtual game, for example, but is easily distracted when facing a study book for a proof.
The solution to this impasse may lie in the organization and elaboration of study strategies to train our brain to be faithful. A concentrated study can save time and generate more satisfactory and quality results, regardless of the number of hours of study per day. So we've listed ten tips that can help you stay focused. Test each one of them and see which ones suit you best.
1. read but write too
Studying only through reading is not so efficient. The student can easily get distracted through the pages. So write! Make outlines, transcribe important parts and organize summaries. Those who write can better assimilate the content and keep it in their minds for a longer period of time.
2. write by hand
With people fully adapted to computer keyboards, writing by hand can sound archaic or even generate a bit of laziness. However, studies show that while a person writes, a line of reasoning is formed and the attention on what is written is much greater than if he were typing.
3. ward off interference
Study time should be sacred, so move away from anything that might catch your attention and divert your focus. If possible, turn off or keep silent telephones, close internet pages unrelated to the study content, turn off the television. Just separate the study material and concentrate on it.
4. Mind Maps and Color Usage
In the topic about writing by hand, we report the importance of this practice, but it is not about writing every piece that is said to be important, because that way you would write another book, only a smaller one. The ideal is to use schemas, the so-called mental maps: succinct information that interrelate with others. And more: use colors. Colored arrows, words underlined in another tone, “attention boxes”, which attract the student's eye to some highlighted information.
5. study alone
Studying in a group may even seem interesting in terms of sharing knowledge, but, at first, it is better for the student to choose to carry out the activity alone. After all, with colleagues, the study can be blurred by parallel conversations, and the quality of learning, impaired. For teachers, it's a good idea to explain the material to yourself, as if you were teaching a class.
6. review the article
It's no use studying an entire schedule and only at the end of the review. The review process should be ongoing, so reread the material given in class on the same day. Also, set aside a day on the weekend to review the week's material and exercise. This practice makes your brain more accustomed to routine.
7. Organize the study place
Before starting the marathon, keep everything you need organized and separated: books, notebooks, pens, computer. Studying in a place where things are messed up can take your concentration off. The mere fact of having to look for a pen can already divert your attention to other things.
8. Make a study schedule and respect your time
It is extremely essential that the student prepares a study schedule and, mainly, that this schedule meets their study rhythm. Studying with time and content organization can be more efficient and generate good results. Randomized study causes deconcentration, since there is no routine, and the brain ends up seeing something different every day. Also, it is important to respect your study time. It's better for you to study three hours a day with a lot of concentration than six hours without proper attention.
9. be physically fine
Be physically fit when starting your studies. Eat and sleep well. Studying hungry or sleepy will not be helpful. It takes energy to have a good performance. Regular physical activity can also help during this period.
10. Create a "ritual" and envision the day's routine
Every day before you start studying, create a little ritual, whether it's bringing a pitcher of water to the table or organizing the books according to what you're going to study that day. Sit down, take a deep breath and think about all the content that should be seen, the sequence of studies, the exercises. That way, your brain will get used to the fact that from that moment on, there's no more games, it's time to study.
By Carolina Simiema
Brazil School Team
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/dicas-de-estudo/10-dicas-para-melhorar-concentracao-nos-estudos.htm