Tips to Focus

This has been a very busy two weeks for me. One thing that has made it extremely busy is that I joined a sorority, and I am going though Orientation which is very time consuming. Luckily we have set study hours to help get homework done, but because I am with my new sisters, it is difficult to focus on studying instead of socializing. It is extremely important to stay focused during study hours and stay on-top of grades because classes are the reason we are at Trinity! Because of this, I have compiled some tips to help you stay focused when studying.















1. Put away distractions. This includes the computer and cell phones. If you do not need a computer, do not even bring it with you when you study. It is too easy to long on and open up facebook. Turn off and put away your cell phone so that you are not distracted by your friends and family.
2. Don't socialize. If you are studying around people you know, don’t strike up a social conversation in the middle of studying. This breaks your concentration and takes up important studying time.
3. Focus on one thing at a time. If you have a variety of homework, don’t move from one topic to the next without completing your first task. This breaks your concentration on your first assignment and rushes you. Moreover, if you complete a task before moving on, you will feel a sense of accomplishment!

Homework Overload—How to Manage

Have you ever had various homework assignments, paper, and tests all due around the same time? Well, that is my homework situation this week, so I decided to focus on the implementation of a schedule that will get work done in a timely manner. In the previous post (January 20th), I talked about using a calendar to help plan your day. If you find yourself in my situation of homework overload, you might find it helpful to plan out a daily schedule that specifies not only what time you will start a given assignment, but also how long you will spend on that assignment. Your schedule does not need to be planned down to the minute, and you can slightly alter it to fit your needs as the day goes by. It is important to remember to not alter the schedule too much, because it provides a basic outline that will keep you on track in all you endeavors. Considering all details, such as calculating how much time it will take to walk back to the dorm, to eat each a meal, and even the time it takes to shower, will visibly show you how time adds up. Being conscious of the time NOT spent doing homework will keep you on track and focused during your scheduled homework time (and help you recognize how much time is wasted by that half hour spent on Facebook). Good luck!