Are you having trouble focusing on school or trying to improve your grades?

1. Plan when to begin studying
Set a certain amount of time aside each night to work on studying. Make sure you are consistent and steady with time management and with your goals. Remember that this is your study time.

2. Take periodic breaks
Every hour or so it would be a good idea to take roughly a ten minute break to catch your breath and rejuvenate your brain.

3. Have good notes
When you take notes about your topic, make sure you cover all the important facts, but you do not need to have every small detail written down, unless you know it will be tested on. Also, if you are confused on a section of notes, don’t be afraid to ask others for clarity, or you could do more research on the topic.

4. Avoid Hunger
Trying to study on an empty stomach is a bad idea. Have a nutritious snack or at least a drink to calm that growling body so you can focus on the task at hand.

5. Set background music
By playing some music in the environment, it may help inspire you to get work done and help pass the time, just don’t let it become too much of a distraction.

6. Do not watch TV
The television can be a distraction with all the flashing images and noisy sounds. Turning it off will mean you have your full attention towards studying.

7. Manage time well
A good idea would be to record when you take your notes so you will know when you learned about what. You may only have one day a week to study, so make sure you have all the materials you need during the study session. Also consider keeping a daily or weekly journal to assist you with studying, which can remind you what you need to do and when you need to do it with the time you have available.

8. Enhance listening skills
When you pay attention and focus in class, not only will your notes be improved, but studying goes by much faster, not that you should fly through it, but do not fall behind in note-taking either.

9. Ask for Help
If you get stuck on a problem, or you do not understand a chapter, just ask for help. Professors, teachers, other students may also have questions, even your family may have advice to offer if you ask.

10. Stick to your plan
If you get sidetracked by minor inconveniences, such as watching a show or calling your friends, you will lose focus on your task. Don’t necessarily ignore these things, just make sure you have your priorities in place, and then you can have fun.