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Stay Focused: Tips for Dealing with Distractions

I've been an online student for the past two semesters, and it can be a real struggle to stay focused and not get distracted by ... *waves arms widely* ... well, everything. Seriously. I mean, my house is cleaner and my meals more elaborate when I'm actively avoiding doing my work, but that procrastination can have serious consequences. So here are my five tips for staying on task:

 

1. Keep a strict schedule.

My rule was "alarm goes off at 5am, butt in desk by 5:15am." Thank goodness for that programmable coffee maker! I did my grocery shopping on certain days, limited my TV time each week, and left a finite amount of time open for hanging out with friends. This sort of regimented lifestyle made sure that I used my time well and didn't waste time that I should have been studying. Additionally, I broke up my studying into smaller time periods most days (like, a little before work and then some after work) which helped me to stay focused. I think this is because I didn't get "brain drain" from a marathon study session (but believe me, I did those, too!). Read all about my daily routine in this post. 


2. Use a timer for both study time and break time. 

Whether it's your phone, Google Home, or a cube timer, I think it's helpful to allot time for studying and breaks, especially on days when you can't seem to get in the groove. I like studying for 50 minutes and then taking a 10 minute break. Setting a timer for the break time is important because otherwise you may find yourself scrolling through social media and not realizing a half hour has gone by. 


3. Consider hiding your phone or using an app blocker. 

When I'm sitting in a classroom, I'm not likely to pull out my phone because I don't want my classmates or worse, the lecturer, to see that I'm not paying attention. But when you're sitting alone in front of a computer watching a recorded lecture or a Zoom with your video turned off, there's no one to see that you're liking Instagram posts instead of focusing on the lecture. So, I highly recommend leaving your phone in another room or considering an app blocker so the temptation to get distracted isn't there. 


4. Have separate spaces for studying, relaxing, and sleeping. 

I understand that this isn't always possible, depending on your living situation. When I lived in a studio apartment last summer, my bedroom was my living room which was my office. I tried not to study in bed, but that wasn't always possible. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is you want to associate certain areas with certain tasks -- an office for learning, a living room for relaxation, a bed for sleeping. Seriously. Keeping technology out of your bedroom can mean better sleep (and as hard-working PA students, we need good sleep!). Creating these boundaries also allows you to separate studying from the rest of your life. So when you do step away from your desk to enjoy some chill time, you can more effectively turn off that student part of your brain. 


5. Listening to recorded lectures? Treat it like the real deal.

If you were sitting in a classroom, you wouldn't be able to say, "Hey, professor. Can you pause for a minute while I go get a snack?" So don't do that now! If you're frequently stopping (or worse, rewinding) a lecture, before you know it, a one hour lecture has taken you two hours to get through. And while lectures are important to watch and take notes on, it's not the most important part of my study habits -- so why would I dedicate more time to it? Instead, I want to get through the online lectures just like I would in person, and then get down to business writing my own notes, reading PANCE Prep Pearls, drawing things out on my whiteboard, making Quizlet flashcards and doing practice questions. 

 

Thanks for reading and happy studying,

Olivia

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