By: Aliana Romo

Using time wisely during school is hard for many students, myself included. Although there’s many ways to work around pocrationation and bad work habits.

One of my favorite ways to avoid procrastinating is to study somewhere besides my house. This is especially for homework and outside school assignments. It’s easier to get distracted by phones and other objects around. Some of my favorite places to go and study are the library, outdoors or a local coffee shop. Some of these places can get a little loud, for example a coffee shop or studying outside at a park can be busy at times. Although with headphones and concentration it can be easy to stay on task. Picking a good study location is key to learning more about yourself and your learning qualities.

Another way to stay focused is to eliminate distractions. This can easily be to remove electronics such as phones, headphones, shows, etc. Many people get distracted by cell phones and it’s one of the worst distractions there is. It’s easy to lose focus quickly whether it’s by a notification or just wanting to be on your phone. Some ways to eliminate electronics from the area is to power off your phone, leave it in another room or to put it on do not disturb.

Taking out headphones or pausing any background noise like a movie or music can also help, even though for some people having music helps them concentrate. ‘Medical News Today’ says that “Music may help reduce stress, improve some aspects of memory, and improve cognitive function, which may all help with concentration and focus when studying.” The article also says that it can suggest the opposite too, causing distractions and getting lost in thought.

An additional way to stay on task is not to overwork yourself. It’s important to take breaks at points and revisit the subject later. Ways to take breaks is to go on a short walk or give yourself 10-15 minutes of relaxing. This can be hard to do if after the end of the break you’re feeling unproductive, although it’s important to remember that the main goal is to finish the work.

Setting goals often helps people finish homework and assignments more quickly. This is by setting achievable goals and focusing on finishing. This helps to concentrate on the work and getting it done, which helps to get motivation to finish.

Lastly, besides assignments outside of school it’s important to use time wisely in school and get work done then. Many times students are more distracted in school because of friends, being tired, and many other things. It’s also important to utilize help when needed; teachers are there to help you understand things. It’s good to ask questions when confused to make sure that you understand the assignment and topic. This can make things a lot less stressful and easier. To get rid of distractions while at school, the other tips still come into place. This means to stop talking with friends, avoid going on your phone and concentrating on the work.

Studying is about being able to figure out what tips help yourself more. What works for other people may not work for you.