While the timing of this post might be useful for students in Brazil and in other regions in the southern hemisphere as they start a new school year, the information here applies to anyone wanting to improve their focus on any academic task.
Below are tips I recommend to my mentees as they begin their college search and applications, but they are also good back-to-school strategies. They will help you focus and reduce stress as you start the new academic year, or whatever next you're taking on next.
Take care of yourself
Schedule medical visits, update eyewear and attend any other medical needs
Maintain a healthy lifestyle of exercise, eating healthy foods and plenty of sleep
Stay hydrated
Organize your space
Keep your workspace clean and free of distractions
Dedicate a space to hide your phone while you study and work on projects
Remove anything that might distract you such as mirrors, beauty products, toys, collectibles, too many cool highlighters, whatever it is that ends up in your study space with the ebb and flow of your belongings
Optimize lighting
Diffused natural light from a window is ideal
Direct light from a desk lamp is better than light from the ceiling
Avoid cool light and blue light
Avoid arrangements that have you working in a shadow, or looking straight at a lightbulb
Use night settings on your phone to cut blue light exposure
Control sound
Quiet is optimal
If you can’t control the noise, consider getting noise-canceling headphones
If you prefer to listen to music, choose instrumental tracks that support your focus
Support your body
Make sure your space supports your body and allows you to maintain good posture
Keep a sweater and socks nearby of you get cold easily
Avoid lying down while studying
Dedicate a space for your school stuff
Care for your tech
Update your tech to meet your needs. This may mean investing in a laptop or a phone, or simply replacing a frayed phone charger, a broken case or a cracked screen protector. The goal is to make your tech work for you, not against you.
Command your attention
Value the minutes in your day by not letting them slip away to mindless scrolling
Set your phone to focus mode or mute all notifications
Corralling your phone in a drawer or a box will free your attention to do something else
If you feel you are losing focus, get up, take a break and move around for a few minutes
Engage all parts of your brain to focus - draw to understand complex ideas, read dense texts aloud to improve reading comprehension and retention, invent choreographies to illustrate biological processes, be creative in how you process information
Strategize your time
Find and use a connected calendar and task system that works for you. I use the Google Calendar and Tasks because they are connected and can be linked to other Google apps like Docs and Sheets, are collaborative and sync across my phone and computer. But there are many other options available.
Map out your academic year
Get your test schedule for the year - identify any conflicts such as Mom’s 50th birthday coinciding with a week full of tests, or the family vacation during the science fair
Politely ask your teachers when they plan to conduct group projects
Map out big school happenings like athletic events, Festa Junina and other gatherings and celebrations
Set due dates for tasks, and schedule blocks of time to work on them
Less wasted time = more time for you
These are some of the strategies and advice I give my mentees at the beginning of every school year. I would love to know what works for you. Please leave a comment. If you are interested in scheduling individual guidance, please contact me here.
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