Firstly, let me start out by saying that if you struggle with this, you are not alone. We each have our own strategies and ways of focusing in, and that's great. For the sake of transparency, I am not here to pretend I always have had and have perfect focus, and work as productively as possible; I too, am highly prone to spending an embarrassing amount of time working not-so-effectively. Over time, however, I have found strategies and tips that work for me. Trust me, if I can focus, you can too.
PUT. YOUR. PHONE. FAR. AWAY.
Yes, I put that in all caps because this is my most important piece of advice. I’m sure we've all convinced ourselves that we are master multi-taskers who can have 10 different apps open, a YouTube video running, music blasting, and still work productively, but really think about that. Do you really focus on your phone? Chances are, your answer is no. Your phone can be your best friend, but when it comes to focusing, it can be your most dreaded enemy. We all have that little voice in your head that goes, “Check that notification. Just use TikTok for a few minutes,” which is more convincing than the angel on your shoulder that reminds you of that test ahead or that project that needs to be done. Even small glances at your phone can end in an hour-long spiral into the depths of YouTube, and it definitely doesn’t feel great procrastinating while there’s still a lot of homework to do. (Totally not based on personal experience.) If you absolutely must keep your phone by your side, turn off your notifications. Trust me. It helps.
Set Reasonable Goals for Yourself
For me, this looks like a checklist of small tasks. For you, this means whatever helps you best. I find that physically moving down a list of goals/tasks helps me stay focused and determined to finish what I want to accomplish. Plus, who doesn’t love to feel accomplished and be able to cross out an entire list? Another thing to note is to keep your goals reasonable. You only have a specific amount of time, so it’s unreasonable to expect to memorize an entire textbook, or finish an entire project in one night; trust me, I would know. That's why, whenever you can, it's also helpful to plan ahead and work productively. If you really have to finish that assignment that night, try breaking it into parts that you can follow, which you understand.
Take Short Breaks
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but there are just a few key points I want to point out. I hate to say this, but if you really want to work productively, the best things to do during a break are things like a walk, listening to some music, or taking a power nap(15-20 minutes). I say this because I love to convince myself doing something “fun” will only take 15 minutes when in reality, it can totally break my focus.
Start With an Easier/More Enjoyable Task
This makes it easier to actually want to work and get into the zone. It can also motivate you as you finish tasks faster when you're in that headspace and doing things you actually enjoy.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up if You Get Distracted and Set Rewards for When You Finish
As much as I wish we could all always be productive, there will be times when we get distracted. It happens to even the best of us, and beating yourself up over it ends up making things worse. You can regret or feel guilty, but make sure you use those feelings to motivate you to work harder the next time instead of wasting more time beating yourself up over time that you will not get back. It's also important to reward yourself once you are done working as you will remember and associate those good feelings with working productively, and it will make you more open to actually enjoying your work sessions. Incentives can vary, but for me, this could look like meeting up with my friends, binge-watching some Netflix, or just taking time for self-care. Make sure these rewards are not vital for your health. So do not set your reward as eating lunch, since that will probably damage your health, eating habits, and more.
Envision What You Want for Yourself
This way, you will remember why you are working hard. It will also give you a sense of purpose and motivation to go and reach for your goals.
Don’t Sit For Long Periods of Time
Some studies show that your brain works best in a time of around twenty minutes. Focus and use all your concentration while taking short breaks of around five to ten minutes in between. This lessens your chance of boredom and monotony of your task at hand. To help keep you on track, you can try using a YouTube “study with me” of the Pomodoro Technique.
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