https://students.dartmouth.edu/tucker/spiritual-life/mindfulness-programs
It’s the end of Week 2 and midterms are fast approaching. If you’ve got an exam next week, then you might want to consider spending a few hours studying this weekend.
“But Jon, studying during the weekend is hard. I can’t focus on my textbook when all of my friends are out having fun.”
Trust me, I get it. It’s hard to focus on writing an essay when your friends are out enjoying their Saturday night. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you stay focused this weekend!
Turn off your phone:
It’s hard to study on a Friday night when your friends keep sending you Snapchat pics of the latest party. #FOMO
According to WSJ bestselling author Eric Barker, research conducted by Drs. Adam Gazzaley and Larry Rosen found that the average adult checks their phone every 6-7 minutes. We’re statistically prone to check our phones while we’re studying.
Reduce outside interference by moving your phone away from your immediate reach (i.e. put it in another room). By doing so, you’ll be able to reduce your distractions and increase your chances of achieving deep work.
Make your study session a game:
Why do we love spending hours playing video games, but we can’t seem to read a textbook for more than 30 minutes? As noted by Eric Barker, students can make their study sessions more effective by introducing incentive systems commonly found in video games. In a classroom behavioral study, students exhibited higher academic performance when they treated schoolwork like a video game.
It’s easy to make a game out of studying. For example, every thirty minutes you spend studying without interruptions, you can assign yourself a point. If you reach ten points by the end of the week, then you can treat yourself to a KAF latte and pastry.
Exercise, meditate, and smile:
Physical exercise can increase your cognitive control and enhance your academic performance. If you’re struggling to focus on your textbook, then spend thirty minutes exercising. Also, try to exercise in nature. As noted by Eric Barker, Neuroscientist Dr. Adam Gazzaley and Psychologist Dr. Larry Rosen found that young adults are able to improve their working memories by walking in nature.
If physical exercise isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you can increase your attention span through meditation. Consistent meditation can enhance our attention spans. If you’re looking for a group of friends to meditate with, check out this free meditation group offered by the Tucker Center!
Finally, a simple smile can improve your mental capacity and endurance. According to Eric Barker, “facial feedback” can trigger physical responses. If you smile, you can actually increase your mind’s ability to endure longer hours of studying.
Hope these tips help you during the weekend. Stay tuned for more posts!
- Jonathan A. Lu ‘19
Also, be sure to connect with us on social media for updates on tutoring resources!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dartmouthacademicskills/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dartmouthacskills/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DartmouthASC