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How can I stay focused on studying?

I need to study a lot for the AP US History exam and the SATs, but I always have horrible time management. How should I stay focused on studying? A big source of trouble is the computer, but I need the computer for practicing online SAT stuff and typing things up for APUSH and my other classes at school.

Update:

I've tried to see it that way, but I know that I can just slack off, it's not like anybody's forcing me. I know it's a willpower issue, but I just have trouble acting on a good intention. In school, I can get a lot of stuff done really well, because I'm being forced to work.

10 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    study 30-45 minutes at a time and then take a 15 minute break. If you allow yourself a break, you will study more during the spurts. Kind of like sprinting. you'll also remember more.

  • 1 decade ago

    Oooh, I know just how you feel. The best think I found that works for me, is to go over the stuff you learned in class that day first. Then, say, maybe spend an hour on the computer doing the online SAT stuff. The you take a break and do something fun for say an hour. After that, you go back and do another hour of APUSH & other class stuff.. After that you finish for the day. So effectively what you have done is covered you class stuff, some revision, and kept up with other work, in the space of say 3 hours or so.

    Your brain works better learning a few things at a time. There is no point in sitting trying to study for 5 hours solid, because you will switch off mentally and start day dreaming or doodling or whatever!

    Little and often is the key. :) setting a specific time to do this will help keep you focused as well. Good luck.

  • Polly
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Life is about Time Management. I am sure if you analyse, you will find that a lot of time is being spent by you on the activities that need the least of the time to be spent.

    "Put First Thing First". This is Third of the Seven Good Habits that Stephen Covey writes about in his best ever book,"7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

    Make a list of your activities for the day. Say not to Time wasters. Priortise your activities. Take the Top priority activities & by the end of the day, you should be left with only Non Priority activities left. This will move you towards Effectiveness & you will move towards your goal more Scientifically.

    Good Luck !

  • 1 decade ago

    Each has their own unique way of studying and retaining information. Time management is just a buzz word ! Lots of people do not have any notion of how to manage time in order to study and you just might be one of those (like myself). If you are of a relative high IQ, you may not need to study for hours upon hours. Some read whilst chewing gum, picking their finger nails and listening to loud music....you might be highly distractable - that's normal. It is truly amazing the amount of information that can be absorbed and retained for the next days exam and that is precisely why lots of people/students leave it until the last minute (day) to study or 'cram'. Concentrate on allowing the more refined mechanisms of your brain to take in only what's relevant (because so much is NOT relevant) So, if you have the knack of skimming over only those bits that you need, it is more likely to stick. A bit like flash cards to a young child. Flash the card in front of them and they learn to recognise very quickly, what it is that's expected of them. Yes, repetition has a lot to do with it too, so re-read those relevant pieces perhaps several times, but do not waste time and effort on things you do not need to remember (retain). That's like storing useless information which takes up valuable space. Literally learn to delete what is not important, and concentrate only on what's needed. You might even find it useful to change the environment in which you are studying. Take the book outside, read it under a tree. The next time you look at it, take it somewhere else, then another place. Learning can actually be stifled if confined to the one boring place. Variety of scenery enhances your ability to recall information - you can link the information to a place you liked, or enjoyed or that was 'special'. Hope this helps you

    Source(s): www.counsellingaustraliaonline.com
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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    i have the same problem.

    if i don't need the internet then i turn it off and if i do then i block websites that will distract me.

    if that doesn't work then i reward myself. i.e. if i get 30 min of study done without getting distracted then i can go on myspace or something for 10 min.

    good luck!

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Well study for a few min, then take a break, and repeat the cycle aover and over until you fin studying. this keeps your memory right on track :)

  • 1 decade ago

    for me the best way to do that is making a time table of things to do...include your computer time and stick to the schedule.

  • 1 decade ago

    I agree with the other poster.

    You schedule it. Make time for fun, and time for work. Stick to it

  • 1 decade ago

    u really need self--control!!

  • 1 decade ago

    listing wat to do and wen to do - first step in time management....

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