Concentration

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Concentration

• Adapted from Dennis Congo (2000).

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Intend to Concentrate
• Concentrating is easier when you have a
  specified time for study. Knowing how long you
  will study helps concentration. Consciously tell
  yourself I will concentrate for ___ minutes.

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Prepare to Concentrate
• Have everything you need to complete your task
• Make sure you have your texts, notes, pens,
  study guides, etc

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Use Concentration Promoting Activities
• Prepare to rewrite and organize notes
• Create diagrams, graphs, study guides
• Summarize the material

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Vary Your Study Activities
• If you have difficulty focusing on one subject
  for long periods of time, vary the subjects you
  study
• Take breaks in between study activities

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Study in a Non-Distracting
• Environment
• Find one place, and use that place only for
  studying
• Remove visual and auditory distractions

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• 6. Devise a Specific Study Plan for
• Studying and Learning
• A step-by-step plan makes it easier
• to concentrate
• Use a text book reading strategy

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Eat Regular Well Balanced Meals
• Researchers find students with healthier diets
  earn higher grades
• Avoid too much sugar and caffeine
• Dont take stimulants

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Get Plenty of Sleep at Night
• Fighting off sleepiness negatively affects
  concentration.

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Set Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and
• Semester Goals
• It is easier to concentrate and self-motivate
  when you see yourself moving toward your goals

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Ten Tips for Better Concentration

• Take Regular Study Breaks
• It is normal that your concentration will
  wonder. When this happens, take a five minute
  break.

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Improving Concentration

• Factors that Affect Concentration
• TV/stereo, loud noise
• Too comfortable seating
• Friends, family, pets
• Telephone
• Music

• How to Control These Factors
• Leave or rearrange the environment
• Use the library or empty classroom
• Study away from others and in silence

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Improving Concentration

• Hunger
• Drowsiness
• Dislike or disinterest in a class

• Eat high protein or fruit snacks
• Plan study times at optimum hours, get adequate
  sleep, exercise lightly to energize yourself
• Join a study group, participate in class, ask
  questions

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Improving Concentration

• Anxiety about a class

• Speak to instructor, tutors, other students
• Examine if you are studying effectively
• Assess whether the anxiety is cause by the class
  or personal issues
• See a campus counselor

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Improving Concentration

• Intimidating assignments

• Break the larger assignment into small manageable
  tasks
• Tackle the most difficult part first
• Reward yourself for progress
• Work collaboratively

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Improving Concentration

• Daydreaming

• When daydreaming write down those thoughts and
  refocus on the task at hand
• Focus on identifying main ideas and details in
  text and notes
• Make up questions
• Stop studying and temporarily indulge in
  daydreaming
• focus on one thing