Top 10 Tips to Help You Focus While Studying

Turn off Facebook, Zalo, Viber or any other social media platforms while studying. Keep entertainment devices like your phone, tablet, comic books, or TV away from your study area. It's easy to fall into the temptation of these distractions. Be strict with yourself when it's study time.

Set personal goals, such as completing a certain number of exercises or memorizing a few pages before rewarding yourself with a few minutes of relaxation. If entertainment devices are nearby while you're studying, it will be difficult to focus fully.

Sometimes, external factors can disrupt your focus unexpectedly, like a friend inviting you out, your mom calling you to do something, or even a bee flying into your face. While these things are out of our control, the key is to set discipline for yourself. Allocate a fixed study time, and during that time, eliminate all distractions unless there's an urgent matter. For example, if a friend invites you out, you must firmly decline.

Motivate yourself by writing a personal slogan and placing it in front of your study desk or somewhere visible to you. When you feel tired or discouraged, these motivating phrases will lift your spirits. It could be a quote, a phrase that encourages your study efforts, or a self-encouraging reminder. This method is not only effective but also easy to implement. Start creating a slogan now to boost your study motivation.

Have you ever wondered why you feel discouraged and don’t want to continue when facing a tough problem? The answer is simple: it's because you don't have a clear goal. Research shows that having a goal is the driving force that motivates action. Without a goal, you'll quickly lose interest and give up.

The solution is to ask yourself questions before you start something. For example, “Why am I doing this?”, “What do I want to achieve after completing this task?”… Determining these things will push you to try harder, making it less likely that you'll get bored or quit. Even when you face challenges, the goals you set will push you forward to complete the task.

It might sound a bit strange, but what I mean here isn't the usual music you listen to for entertainment, but instrumental music, orchestral pieces, or even Baroque music that can help you focus better while studying. Our brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left hemisphere, which helps with analysis and logical thinking, and the right hemisphere, which is more tuned to musical appreciation and language.

Listening to instrumental music or orchestral compositions while studying can activate the right hemisphere while the left hemisphere is engaged in reviewing and solving problems. This balance helps keep your mind in a good state, making studying more effective.

Studies show that workers who listen to music are generally more productive than those who don’t. Dr. Robin Harwood, a psychologist, suggests that certain types of concentration-enhancing music can inspire study without being distracting. These are instrumental tracks.

Classical music is an excellent choice for focusing, thanks to its harmonious and soothing tones. You might want to listen to works by Mozart or other famous classical compositions. If classical music isn't your thing, you can try more modern beats but with a tempo under 60 beats per minute. Such music can elevate your mood and give you a motivational boost for studying. Movie soundtracks from your favorite films are another great option.

Additionally, you might consider listening to natural soundtracks, like waterfalls, gentle wind, rainforest sounds, or ocean waves. These natural sounds can create a calming atmosphere, enhancing relaxation and focus during your study sessions.

Don't study for long, uninterrupted stretches of 3 or 4 hours. Instead, take 5-10 minutes to relax and clear your mind to help refresh your spirit. This short break is the time for your eyes and brain to 'rest.' Just as machines need to cool down after running for a while, so does your body. Giving yourself a break ensures you stay in good mental and physical shape for effective learning.

For optimal study, aim for about an hour of intense focus followed by a break. This focused approach lets you achieve more in less time while protecting your health. Sitting for too long without moving can hinder blood circulation and make you feel sluggish, making concentration harder when you return to studying.

A helpful tip is to stand up, stretch, and find a fresh, open space like a balcony or rooftop. You can do a few stretches you’ve learned in gym class and breathe deeply. After just five minutes, you’ll feel rejuvenated and be ready to jump back into your studies.

Relaxing by having a light snack or sipping a refreshing drink can help recharge your energy. A glass of milk, a biscuit, some fruit, or even just a banana will give you a quick energy boost and refresh you for the next study session. Just be sure to keep it light.

Give your eyes a break by gently massaging them and focusing on something in the distance. You could also enjoy a view while sipping a cup of carrot juice, as carrots are great for eye health, or include more vitamin A-rich foods in your meals. It's best to avoid excessive screen time on computers or smartphones during intense study periods to avoid straining your eyes.

You shouldn't focus on just one subject for an extended period. Instead, try to review 2 or 3 subjects in a day, including both social and scientific topics. This approach helps balance your mind and knowledge, while preventing boredom from concentrating solely on one subject. It also allows for better distribution of your focus, making your study sessions more effective.

A common habit among students today is studying just one subject for long stretches of time. While this may work for some, it can lead to mental strain and a loss of focus. As you know, when you're stressed, it's difficult to study effectively, and you'll likely get distracted by more interesting thoughts outside of your studies.

The solution is to mix different subjects when studying for long periods (preferably 3 to 4 subjects). This will help your brain stay engaged and prevent boredom, making the process more enjoyable. For example, in a 3-hour study session, you could alternate between 3 subjects, spending about 1 hour on each. However, be sure to take a short break of 5 minutes between subjects—maybe listening to music or browsing the web—but make sure it doesn't sidetrack you from your study session.

It’s a well-known psychological fact that when you understand or enjoy a topic, you’ll be more motivated to study that subject. Preparing in advance, reviewing the material before class, is one of the best ways to lay down a strong foundation of knowledge before the teacher starts the lesson. This approach increases your motivation and focus, and once you have a clear understanding of the material, your learning will be more efficient.

It may seem simple, but not everyone recognizes the importance of preparing for the lesson ahead. Most students focus only on reviewing past material. A common issue students face is sitting in class, listening to the teacher, and yet “not understanding anything.” This often happens because the student hasn’t read the lesson beforehand. The brain follows a principle: if you don’t understand something, you’ll lose interest and move on to something else. This is detrimental to your ability to absorb and comprehend the material, no matter how smart or proficient you are in reading.

Therefore, the solution is to prepare your lesson before you go to class. The evening before, after completing your homework, take some time to skim through the next day's lesson. You don't need to go into detail; just glance over the sections, headings, and end-of-chapter questions. This will give you a preview of the lesson, highlight interesting parts, and allow you to prepare questions for things you don’t understand. “Understanding half” of a topic stimulates your brain to explore further, which makes the learning process more engaging. Asking questions about what you don’t understand and sharing your insights will help you remember the material much better.

This is a highly effective method, especially for social science subjects. By reading the study material aloud, you engage both your visual and auditory senses, which significantly enhances focus and improves learning outcomes. Be sure to choose a quiet place with few distractions, so as not to disturb others and to create a peaceful environment for yourself.

Many people stop reading aloud after elementary school, but a recent study suggests that reading aloud can actually help us retain information better. In the study, 75 students read 160 words aloud and recorded their voices. Two weeks later, they were asked to learn 80 of those words in various ways, including listening to their own recordings, listening to others' recordings, reading silently, and reading aloud again. The results showed that reading aloud was the most effective method for retention, followed by listening to one’s own recording, then listening to others, and finally reading silently, which was the least effective.

“Listening to the words read in your own voice helps personalize the information and strengthens memory,” said Professor Colin MacLeod from the University of Waterloo (Canada), the lead researcher. Additionally, the findings suggest that not only does reading aloud improve retention, but the benefits are even greater when listening to your own voice.

Experts believe that reading aloud creates a special reference point in your memory. When you need to recall the information later, this reference point helps you retrieve it more effectively. While the study's sample size is still small, the results reinforce the idea that the more senses involved in the learning process, the more effective it will be for memory retention.

This is the first secret you need to consider in order to study effectively and stay focused. We all have different habits and preferences. Some people find they study better early in the morning when their mind, mood, and energy levels are refreshed, while others prefer the quiet of the evening to concentrate. Choose a time that makes you feel the most relaxed and mentally prepared to study.

Each person has their own ideal study time, which is why sometimes studying feels easy and information sticks, while other times it feels hard and frustrating. This is because each brain has its peak working period (it could also be influenced by personal habits).

The solution isn’t complicated. Some prefer studying at night, others early in the morning, so experiment with different times to find when you’re most productive. Once you identify your prime study time, focus on studying during that window. If you notice you can’t concentrate, don’t force it. Instead, take a short break, maybe listen to some music, look at some plants, or read a news article.

If you feel fatigued and your focus starts to fade, take a 10-minute break instead of sticking to a set study schedule. During this break, you can listen to music or chat with someone to relax before jumping back into your work.

This is certainly an important factor to consider for effective studying. Here are some suggestions for places to study outside of your home: city libraries, school libraries, or a quiet café. Sometimes staying in a room at home, closing the door, can feel a bit monotonous and uncomfortable. You could try finding new locations to study, which could change the atmosphere and help you evaluate whether it improves your study efficiency.

A good study environment ensures better concentration. There are many distractions that can interfere with your focus while studying, such as traffic, TV, phones, social media... For example, if you’re studying with your computer nearby, you may be tempted to check a Facebook notification, which can disrupt your focus and waste time.

Therefore, it's best to move any distractions away from your desk. Before you start studying, make sure you have all the necessary materials ready so you don’t waste time searching for them.

Additionally, create a study space that’s fresh, comfortable, and organized (or a bit messy if that suits you). Having a small plant, an aquarium, or a painting can make your environment more pleasant and help relieve stress during study sessions.

You can't study effectively and achieve high productivity if you don't maintain good health. Avoid staying up too late or relying on stimulants like coffee or tea to extend your study hours. Scientific research shows that between 1-2 AM, your body is actively detoxifying and eliminating toxins.

If you're in the habit of staying up late to study, it’s time to change. Make sure you're getting the necessary vitamins and minerals, eating properly, and giving yourself time to relax. To study effectively, you need to be healthy. Without good health, it will be hard to focus on your studies.

Health is one of the most important and common factors affecting concentration during study and work. However, many students—especially those living away from home—have habits that negatively impact their health.

First and foremost, ensure you're getting enough sleep. For students, 6-8 hours of sleep is ideal, providing enough time for the body and brain to recover from a long day of work and study. Unfortunately, many students stay up too late and struggle to get up early, leading to insufficient sleep, which is a primary cause of lack of focus.

So, what’s the solution? It’s simple: go to bed earlier and ensure you get at least 6 hours of sleep. In addition, maintain a regular, balanced diet and try to incorporate morning exercise into your routine. Prioritizing your health will improve your focus and enhance your study process.