9 Tips To Help You Focus When Studying
1. Get Rid of Distractions
This should be pretty obvious right? But actually, it’s not. We often get distracted without realizing that we already are. Once distracted, we engage in the new task and we don’t pay attention to what we were originally supposed to do.
Instead, to get rid of distractions, identify what distract you and then take proactive measures to not let them distract you again. For example, if it’s the internet, television or people, then you might want to consider studying at the library.
However, sometimes distractions can be thoughts that are intrusive. For instance, thoughts stemming from anxieties or worries. If this is the case, there is only so much you can do about them. You can try seeking professional help, dealing with the cause of anxiety or worries, or doing your best to distract yourself from those thoughts.
2. Avoid Procrastinating
Sometimes, we don’t begin on the task because we are already distracted. If this happens, put the distractions away and tell yourself that you will start the task for 5 minutes straight. Generally, you should find that the 5 minutes is enough to motivate you to continue, but if it doesn’t, then you may want to consider re-evaluating what’s important to you or what’s really keeping you from starting.
5 Skills That You Gain From Studying Psychology
Disclaimer: This is from my own experience and the responses are evidently biased and possibly unrepresentative. However, hope they can still give those who are aspiring in psychology some ideas. Furthermore, thanks to those who replied on my question about ‘what do you learn from studying psychology.’ If anyone is interested in reading more after reading this article, here is a link to those responses: http://neurolove.me/post/30993472317/what-do-you-learn-from-studying-psychology
. 1. Research Methods
A core aspect of studying psychology is to learn the research methods. In research methods class, you learn what kind of methods are used to conduct studies and the flaws or problems associated with each. You are also taught about how to review articles, how to look up authentic sources of information, and how to write your own research paper. In the research methods class I took, we had to pair up in groups and conduct a study together, collecting actual data from class, and writing a full report. Above this are also opportunities to volunteer in research labs where you can further apply these skills to a real/supervised study.
Beyond research methods are courses in behavioral statistics. In statistics course, you learn how to construct a study so that you can achieve some kind of real effect /significance.
I personally believe that having a lot of knowledge in research methods and statistics is the most important for psychology students. Furthermore, when applying to grad school, your grades in these related courses are usually one of the most important.
