Tips for keeping your mind on your studies

It’s easy to get distracted when you’re studying, especially if there is a lot of complex information to take in. However, there are some ways to limit your distractions, reduce the time you spend procrastinating, and stay focused.

Plan your study sessions

When undertaking RN to NP programs with Wilkes, these are all online, except for your placement. So, it will help to plan your study, and overestimate the time it will take. This will give you more time to focus on the course materials and take in everything. Planning your sessions also means that you can set aside time for studying, rather than putting it off to do other things. If you let those around you know when you’re going to be studying, they will know not to interrupt you unless it is urgent.

Create a dedicated study space

If you find that you get distracted by other people in your household, it can help to create a dedicated study space. This could be a corner in your bedroom, or an adapted space in your garage if you have one. Wherever you choose, it should be somewhere you won’t hear and become distracted by other people. If it’s a space that other people might use after you’ve finished studying, make sure that you pack up your laptop and any books afterwards, to avoid these getting damaged by accident.

Take regular breaks

Set yourself regular breaks, especially during longer study sessions. If you have a lot of work to do, it can feel like you should study for as long as possible, but your attention span will start to wane, and you’ll be distracted by other things. By taking planned breaks, you know how long you have before you need to get back to your study session and you can finish at a point where it’s easier to pick it back up later.

Find ways to reward yourself

Find ways to reward yourself for reaching certain milestones. This doesn’t have to be anything expensive. For example, sticking to your planned sessions for a week might mean that you reward yourself with an afternoon off to catch up with friends. Or completing a module might mean that you buy yourself a small item you were planning to buy. By setting yourself a target before you allow yourself to buy it, you will be more likely to stick to your goals.

Remove the biggest distractions

Some people find that listening to music can help them concentrate, while others find it distracting. Think about what works for you, and the things that lead to you procrastinating, and then remove as many distractions as possible.

Studying online relies on the internet, but turn off email and social media alerts so that they don’t tempt you to read them. Turn off your phone, or put it on silent.

Online studying has lots of advantages, including being able to study from anywhere, but this can also have distractions. By following these suggestions, you can minimize them.