Five Tips for Staying Focused at School (or Work)
The school year has started. The introductions and syllabus reviews are done. Now, it’s time to get to work. Some students jump right in and start churning out assignments. For others, it takes a bit to get back into a routine.
This happens to adults, too. The start of the school year is busy for everyone. It involves coordinating schedules, balancing work and life responsibilities, and navigating how to help our kids adjust simultaneously. This post will give five simple tips for staying organized and focused in school or work.
Break larger projects into smaller tasks
Most of the time, the most challenging part of a project is just getting started. Looking at the amount of work required can be overwhelming and can cause anxiety. If there is no game plan, some may sit and stare at a screen while trying to figure out where to start.
A helpful strategy when facing a big task is to break it down into smaller tasks. Instead of reading a whole book, start with reading 10 pages. Or instead of cleaning the house, start with washing the dishes. Once you can cross something off the list, it will encourage you to keep going.
Keep a calendar
This is one of the most critical pieces for staying organized, but also one of the most neglected (especially by students). Some still like to use paper and pen calendars, but that can seem overwhelming to others. Fortunately, technology makes this so easy now!
Most online classroom platforms can sync up with your calendar, making due dates and deadlines easily accessible. For example, Google Classroom communicates with Google Calendar, and students can get alerts when something is due. These reminders are so helpful!
Plan for short breaks or rewards
This tip works well with the previous suggestion of breaking large projects into smaller tasks. When scheduling the time to spend on each task, it’s helpful to have something to look forward to in between. You could read 10 pages and then get a glass of water. Answer 5 questions, and then go pet the dog.
The idea is to have something to look forward to after accomplishing a task. It serves as both a reward and a brain break. After getting away from work for a few minutes, you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the next thing.
Prepare ahead of time
It is easy to abandon a task or project when there are too many obstacles to overcome. For this reason, it is helpful to consider what items are needed and prepare for any possible distractions ahead of time. What is the plan if a friend calls and wants to talk? What about if your computer runs out of battery?
Planning for these things will eliminate any excuses that may come up and help keep you focused on the task at hand. You can’t account for everything, but the more situations you prepare for, the less likely you will get distracted.
Imagine how you feel when you are finished
Imagery is so powerful. Have you ever pictured yourself in your “happy place,” like a beach or the mountains, when you are feeling stressed? This is the same idea. If you can imagine how you will feel after finishing the task in front of you, it will motivate you to get it done!
If, after trying these, you (or your child) are still struggling, I would be happy to help. Contact me for a free 15-minute consultation, or refer to my counseling services pages for more information.
