Study Prof

One distraction after another can really tank your study time and short-circuit your concentration.  Here’s a slick trick to grow some mondo focus chops.

Your brain is like a big puppy.  Puppies know that when you get out the leash the walk around the block is soon to follow.

“A walk! Joy!”

Your brain thrives on similar cues to pattern its behavior. Examples…

• Just thinking of rush-hour traffic can wind us up tighter than an alley cat in a firecracker factory.
• Walking into economics class can cause low grade narcolepsy.
• Ringing bells make us salivate (thank you, Dr. Pavlov).
• The sound of our alarm clock, even during the middle of the day, jangles our nerves and gives us caffeine cravings.

Use this to your advantage. Have a regular routine you use when you study.  The routine itself doesn’t matter as long as you use it consistently.  Here are some examples…

Example One; Do forty sit-ups, take off your watch, turn off your phone, and sit cross-legged on the floor with your books arranged in front of you.

Example Two; Go to Schlotzky’s deli, get a large diet soda, sit next to the window, get out your books, say a brief prayer, and crack your knuckles.

Again, the routine doesn’t matter as long as you do it every time before you study and ONLY before you study.  Just like that puppy, after a while, every time you go through the routine, your brain will go.  “Must be time to study.”  and it will settle right down to the task at hand.

Bonus Tip: Is your brain just not behaving? You sit down with the best intentions but ten minutes later you realize you’ve been obsessing about your girl/guy troubles again.

Never fear. Psychologists have a very effective cure Please log in or sign up to read the rest of this content. Find out more.