how to stay focused in class!
If you’re anything like me, you might have a hard time staying focused in long classes or maybe even during short classes. I tend to drift off into a daydream when the material the professor is lecturing on is difficult or boring. But over the course of my semesters at university, I’ve picked up a few tips on how to stay focused in class and figured things out myself. I have a few classes that are almost three hours long (they only meet once a week) and I’ve trained myself to stay focused as best as I can during that time.
A professor in my freshman year told my class that if we had a hard time focusing or just paying attention to what he was saying, to try to the best notes in class. By this, I don’t mean to take pretty studyblr notes, but to take notes on the important things the professor is saying so that you will be able to come back to your notes and study well from them. Following the lecture and trying to take good notes to come back to will make you want to pay attention. This is by far the best thing I do that helps me stay focused.
It’s super important that you don’t write down everything that the professor says, but rather the important things. I’ve found that if I’m just mindlessly writing down everything they say, I’m not paying attention to what’s important. Learn to filter out what is important and what will actually be on exams.
Handwrite your notes. First, it’s scientifically proven that handwriting notes helps you remember things better, and I’ve been told this by every professor I’ve had. Plus, it helps you filter out what’s not important and what is. If you’re typing on a laptop, it’s incredibly easy to just type out every word the lecturer says, and you don’t learn as well.
Learn to not daydream in class
I know it can be tempting to just think about something else, your lunch, your plans later, etc. during class to make the time go by faster, but even just listening to the lecturer drone on and on, no matter how uninteresting, will make something go into your head rather than thinking about something completely different.
Daydreaming (and doing other things during class other than paying attention) can be addicting, so tell yourself that you can do it once the class is over. For example, if you want to online shop, reward yourself by doing so after you’ve paid attention in class and taken good notes.
Make sure you’re actually able to focus
If you have an attention-related disorder, make sure you take your meds!
Eating before class is so important. I can never focus on what I’m doing if I’m hungry. So, eat breakfast or lunch, or take a snack to eat before class with you if you can’t eat a full meal. I always have a protein or energy bar with me in my bag just in case I get hungry.
Make sure you’re hydrated as well! Your body and brain won’t function at its best if you’re dehydrated.
