If you can concentrate you can learn quickly. If you can learn quickly you can ace your studies. So the obvious question is…how do you concentrate.
One of the most important factors affecting your concentration is your environment. In this post, we’re going to examine the main characteristics of the perfect study environment. Then we’re going to talk about avoiding distractions – which are a plague to effective students.
The Perfect Study Environment
(Where you study is crucial to your success)
1. Choose somewhere purely for study at home, and at school. This is super important because your brain quickly learns that when you’re in that location it is time to focus. If you try and study in bed or in the lunch hall you will quickly get distracted, or even fall asleep!
2. Lamps create points. Environmental factors play a huge part in your ability to concentrate. In one experiment testing this, researchers gave students a ‘study lamp’. Whenever they studied they simply had to switch on the lamp. This created an environment that was associated with remembering content. Study lamp students showed a notable boost in the GPAs. You can use the same effect to boost your grades!
3. Don’t sit or work in a dangerous position. I used to try to study in bed, propped up against the wall. This sometimes made me really sleepy, and I’d end up taking a nap.
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Other times I would get a message from my friends and because I felt so comfortable in bed I would easily get distracted. Try sitting at a real desk to make sure you stay focused.
Avoiding Distractions
(As a student, it is far too easy to get distracted)
4. Other people are the ultimate distraction. If you get distracted in your home by your family, then consider studying in the library or a coffee shop. If you’re in school then ask your IB coordinator or mentor to find you a classroom that is free a lot and go and study there. Computer rooms and libraries are a good alternative.
5. Background noise is never good. The noisier your environment the harder it will be to concentrate on your IA, ToK essay, EE or test preps. So choose somewhere quiet. Never study with the TV on and try to avoid music (check out THIS ARTICLE if you’re interested in whether listening to music is beneficial whilst you study). If you are going to listen to music choose something without words.
6. Switch off your phone. It’s super easy nowadays to get distracted by smartphones. One of the biggest causes of academic failure has to be WhatsApp. But we enjoy using social networks like Instagram that we can’t stand switching off our phones. Unfortunately your iPhone is killing your grades, so it’s time to power down.
If you can follow these 6 rules, then you can create a peaceful and focused study environment that will guarantee more IB points in the end!
Are you a stressed IB student? Click here for Mindfulness tips!
