Photo Credits: Verywell / Josh Seong

Not too long ago I was privileged to meet with a Dartmouth student who truly seemed to be flourishing.  Despite having a full schedule of classes, friends, and participating in clubs, she never seemed to be at the point of overwhelm.  I asked her how she was doing it all, and she said that she just was very clear on her priorities.  Number one was her wellbeing,  number 2 was family and friends, and number 3 was academics.  Don’t get me wrong, academics and grades are very important to this person, but without the foundation of her wellbeing and social network, everything else suffered so it made complete sense to have them be ranked first in her mind.  It appears that when she was able to recognize and care for her own needs, she was much more able to focus and be engaged with her classes and what she was learning.   And that goes hand-in-hand with the aspects, “engaged learning” being one of them, that have been found to be linked with thriving at college.   

Being an “Engaged Learner” means that  you are meaningfully processing what happens in class, are energized by what you are learning, and that you continue reflecting on and integrating what you are learning outside of the classroom. To give this aspect of thriving at college a boost, try out the following tips to help you bring more intention in and out of the classroom: 

1. “Brain dump” – You might try to freely write anything that is lingering in your mind and heart before heading to class or starting a project or assignment.  When you do this, write with abandonment!  Let go of perfect prose and correct spelling/punctuation and remind yourself that this writing will not be graded and is just for you. You might find that it frees up quite a bit of mental space and energy so you can focus more. 
   

2. Unplug + Recharge – If you find yourself mindlessly going to your phone, getting lost on Netflix/in a video game, or daydreaming, when you really want to be focused in class or on an assignment, you might try:
   1. Turning off devices you don’t need 
   2. Setting specific times for work and specific times for breaks (and giving yourself permission to actually take a break!)
   3. Getting enough rest* to help support concentration! (It really works.) 
      
      *Can’t seem to find more time to sleep?  Check out our in person Guided Relaxations on Wednesdays at 4:30 PM or our recorded Yoga Nidra for a sleep-like guided meditation that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to go. 
      

3.  Take notes – and not just of what you are learning! Note, without judgment, when you are lost in thoughts or worries*.  Try to let the thoughts go, and then intentionally and kindly refocus on the lecture or project you need to be present for.  You might have to do this over and over again.  But remember – each time you do this, you are strengthening your mindfulness muscle and in time you might notice longer spans of focused awareness. 
   
   *The mere act of noticing when we are lost in thoughts is easier said than done.  We can spiral down a rabbit hole of “stinkin thinkin” before we even know it!  To counter this, regularly practice our 6-minute Mental Noting practice and gain more agency of where you place your mind. 
   
   
4. Staying Connected – Asking for help is hard.  But sometimes extra support is just what we need to stay engaged.  Connect with your professor during office hours, join a study group, reach out to the Academic Skills Center for learning support, or schedule a wellness check-in to explore alternative ways to feel more engaged.
   
   

Here is to a more focused you!
LB