Paying attention in school has always been a struggle for me. It got even more difficult when iPhones became the new fad and social media started to rule the world. How could I possibly wait a whole class period before checking out what was going on in the cyber world?! I had to train myself how to have self control and keep the social media fun for strictly free time. I have come to realize a couple things I do to keep my focus in class or at home while working on schoolwork.
1. Positive Self Talk 100% of the Day
Talking out loud acts as if someone else could be saying it to you, therefore it changes your perspective on things. For example, if I am stuck on homework and my phone is staring me right in the face I will say out loud “Erika, you don’t need it. You can do this right here, right now. Let’s get it done”. It could even come down to smaller things like having the motivation to even get out of bed and get my butt to school ready and on time. The key to this is to tell yourself motivating things, not things that have a negative connotation.
2. Ignore Time
Counting down the minutes of class makes them go by even slower, right? If you are fully investing yourself in a class or homework assignment the time goes by in the blink of an eye. I have found myself not wanting to search social media during class time if I make the conscious decision to invest myself in everything that is going on for that time period. It can be hard to do, especially if you are not technically interested in the subject of the class.
These things are all things that help me focus my attention and get the most out of my education. It’s hard to get behind in a class just for not simply paying attention. Find ways that are useful and help you learn YOUR own way to focus. Once these tools become a habit, attention will come naturally and help you in the long run.
