Online learning can require even more motivation to focus on studying than doing it when you are at school or college. There are no teachers to nag you to revise or do your homework. It is 100% your responsibility to purchase classes or arrange live tutoring calls when you are an e-learner.
The amount of time you spend studying is for your own benefit and is not motivated by grades or tests. At the same time, learning and studying can be hard. It can be monotonous, challenging and frustrating.
But you can stay focused and achieve your goals, whatever they may be.
Check out the list of 13 proven study tips on how to focus on studying you can use today to get the most of your learning time.
Organize your study time for better focus
If you study multiple subjects online, you should vary them when it comes to studying. For example if you study chemistry, sewing and history, it is better to split your revision time so that you go over all of them in one day, rather than dedicating a day to each.
By dividing your study time in this way, there will be less interference in your memory.
This means that you are less likely to confuse similar concepts or forget them altogether.
Set goals for better work systematization
This is a very useful skill to acquire, particularly for employment and for self-motivated lifelong learning. Start small and set goals that are realistically achievable for yourself and your learning journey.
Incorporate your classes and study time into your schedule and make sure you devote the required time to them.
Once you achieve the smaller goals, you can use the confidence boost to start thinking about taking on some bigger ones.
Choose a quiet location
Anywhere with a TV or your phone nearby is a no-no. Choose a location where you feel comfortable, ready to learn and where you know you won’t be disturbed so you can focus on studying. However, studies show that a change of scenery when studying can increase productivity and concentration levels.
You can enjoy the outdoors whilst studying or learning your new skill.
For additional study success, check the temperature in your study location. Studies show that the ideal temperature for concentration and productivity is between 70 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Clean your study area
Tidy room, tidy mind. Make sure you have all of the materials you need for your online class or study session in an organized manner.
Clutter can be frustrating and make it difficult to find the things you need.
Remove those plates and banana skins (from all the bananas you’ve been eating) and ensure that your area for study is clean and tidy.
Take notes to improve your memory capacity
Those that take notes during the class by hand are more likely to remember the information as they re-frame the content and process it in-depth.
Try to take notes the first time when you watch your video class and then go back over any areas you are unsure about.
Try not to write what the teacher says word for word.
Put information in your own words and describe it in a way that you will understand when you come back to your notes. For live tutoring calls, taking notes is indispensable in order to learn effectively.
Vary your study techniques to improve concentration
If you are sick of the sight of your flashcards, try a new learning technique. Make sure you attempt to learn the content of your course in several different ways. You could teach someone else the material, ask someone to test you, produce a mind map or even create a song to help you remember the key concepts.
You can also print off pictures, diagrams, watch additional videos and read texts to ensure you are learning multimodally.
Multimodal learning is shown to activate different areas of the brain, improve comprehension and increase the likelihood of retaining the information. In addition to this, it will be much easier to focus on studying if you keep on switching up your study techniques.
Listen to relaxing music
Teachers have always told us to avoid listening to music when studying. However, listening to music when you are studying or going over the content you have learnt in your video can help you in various ways.
Listening to particular genres such as classical music can activate various regions of the brain that help with concentration and attention.
It can also help with study endurance if you are struggling to remain motivated and put you in a positive mood, which helps memory formation. Who knew Bach could help you study!
Know when to take a break
Taking time to unwind and rest is hugely important when it comes to studying. It is not a good idea to stay up all night or have 12 hour study sessions during the day.
Breaks are productive, they improve focus. It is not cheating to take a break – but only if they are not longer than the studying itself.
Think about it, 5 hours of good, focused, in-depth work with breaks is better than 8 hours of scattered, distracted, mediocre work.
Be good to yourself and enjoy rewarding yourself
After a good lesson or study session, reward yourself. You could treat yourself to a chocolate bar, watch 1 episode of a Netflix show, see your friends or spend some time on your favorite hobby.
Rewarding yourself promotes memory formation and faster learning.
As psychology dictates, actions which are rewarded are more likely to be repeated. This means that episode of ‘Friends’ after each successful study session may actually help you to continue studying.
Stay hydrated and be mindful about your body
The majority of people are in a chronic state of dehydration. Being dehydrated decreases your brain power and can even cause the grey matter in your brain to shrink. Grey matter is the area in which most of the brain’s neuronal cells.
Try to drink around 2 liters per day.
Having larger amounts of grey matter in the brain is linked to higher IQ, meaning that drinking water when it comes to studying is always a good idea. Not only will you be hydrated, but you will also focus on studying more easily.
Think about the food you consume as a brain energy
Two words. Brain foods. Yes, what you eat can help you to focus on studying and improve your memory. For instance, blueberries can strengthen connections and improve cell regeneration in the brain. They have also been shown to improve short and long term memory. Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, which facilitates the release of hormones such as serotonin and dopamine that play a role in concentration. This is why they are known as the notorious ‘study fruit’.
Choline is a nutrient which aids in the formation of new memories, an essential part of studying and learning new skills. Examples of foods which are high in choline are eggs, cauliflower, lentils, sunflower seeds and broccoli.
Keep exercising to help your mind focus on studying
We all know about the benefits that exercising regularly can bring. Reducing the risk of heart problems, lowering blood pressure and managing your weight are just a few of the well known benefits of hitting the gym.
What most people do not know is that after a workout, the body pumps more oxygen and nutrients to the brain, giving it a boost.
This means that post-exercise is the one of the best times to fit in a study session.
Replenish your body and mind with healthy sleep
Sleeping for 8 hours per night can help you to stay focussed, cope with stress more effectively and learn faster. Sleep also plays a role in the formation of new memories.
The right amount of sleep can improve your memory abilities and ensure that the facts you need to know are consolidated in your mind.
All of these things are essential for effective studying, so whilst it may seem like there are not enough hours in the day, try to spend 8 of them sleeping.
So, now are you ready to study and smash your goals?
You do not have to incorporate all of these tips to be a successful e-learner. Learning requires motivation, effective techniques and consistency. If you continue to work hard and try your best, you will succeed on your e-learning journey.
The tips given above are for the times when learning can be frustrating and difficult, or when you need that little bit of a push. These periods are inevitable, it’s always a challenge to keep your mind focused on studying.
But don’t be discouraged if you just can’t get that pirouette right or if you are struggling with balancing the chemical equation. Switch up your techniques, take a break and organise your time so that you can equip yourself with the necessary materials to keep trying and learn how to focus on studying.
Try out our learning tips, smash your goals and continue practising lifelong learning.
Comments