One of the most repeated and genuine doubts of the students is that how can they increase their study hours. Many of them face difficulties in studying for longer time due to distractions and lack of focus, while many of them are challenged by their tight schedules of college, internships and other work.
Although the quality of your study time matters more than the number of hours you study, not being able to study for the decided time period can be frustrating and may lead to reduction in your productivity. It is important that you study for a considerable amount of time per day in order to get the desired results.
This article will discuss the various means which may help you in increasing your study hours and concentration time period.
- Do not aim for continuous long study sessions
You need to keep taking breaks frequently between your studying time in order to recharge your mind and prevent it from exhausting. The best model ever proposed in this context is the pomodoro technique.
- Pomodoro technique states that you divide your working time into slots of 25 minutes each, followed by a 5-minute break.
- After 3-4 such slots, you can go for a relatively longer break of 15-20 minutes.
This strategy is perfect to keep yourself refresh and ensure that your brain remains productive and does not lose its effectiveness in the meantime.
However, one thing must be kept in mind. The breaks you take must be strictly adhered to the time assigned to it and must not be extended. Those are meant only to regain your effectiveness and concentration.
- 2. Focus on the step in front of you, not on the entire staircase
The major reason why students fail to study for more time is because they think too much about it. They focus on the work they have to do in the entire day and panic.
Thinking about the studies you have to do in the entire day will definitely get you stressed because it will get you haunted from the huge number of hours and tasks.
Instead of overthinking about the entire day, just focus on what you are going to do in the next 1-2 hours. Make those hours productive and counted. After it is finished, take a break, and focus on the immediate next 1-2 hours.
Thinking about 1-2 hours at a time will make the tasks seem easier and you are more probable to finish it with effectiveness and concentration.
- 3. Negotiate with your mind
Sometimes, students might not ‘feel like studying’ just because they are in a state of rest and entertainment, and they do not want to disturb that. For example, you might not want to study if you are using your social media or chatting with your friend.
- In such times, when you try to procrastinate your studies without a major reason to do so, you need to negotiate with your mind.
- Tell your mind that you will study for 10 minutes only. After 10 minutes, if you still don’t feel like studying, you will quit.
- In all probability, once you sit on your chair and start studying, you will develop focus in 10 minutes and the urge to waste your time on social media and chatting will disappear. Then you can continue for long.
Coming out of your comfort zone and initiating the studies is the most difficult part of studying. Once you have started, you are most likely to leave the inertia and continue your studies.
- 4. Handle the distractions
Distractions are the biggest enemy for long study hours goals. You may frequently check your phone, or some random thoughts may pop up in your mind, taking away your focus. You need to deal with these.
- Keep your phone and all sources of social media away from yourself during the planned study time. You can also consider turning off the notifications.
- Whenever you try to get distracted, just speak out loud ‘I am again getting distracted and this is ruining my studies and I will regret it.’ You are more likely to leave the distraction thereafter.
- If some random thoughts keep popping up in your mind, take a break of 2 minutes, close your eyes and think about that thought. Give the thought time to express itself and extinguish. Do not avoid it. After 2 minutes, your mind will feel free and relaxed and you will be able to concentrate nicely.
All these techniques are very effective study tips to increase your study hours. Following these will help you and increase your productivity manifold.
All the best!
