Techniques for focusing?

[masterMood]

Hey all,
As school starts, it would be interesting to note what techniques you guys use to focus for whatever task is at hand.


For me personally, when I am studying by myself in order to eliminate distractions I work by myself in the same spot everyday and I get used to that spot as my 'study spot.' If little sounds around me are bothering me, I then try to ignore it, but then if that doesn't work I put on a song and put that song on "repeat" and play it over and over again, and I usually pick a song with a good beat or rhythm (like instrumentals) and it helps me go into a trance in a sense.


Another technique my friend uses though I'm not sure of its efficacy is that he draws a dot on a white piece of paper and focuses all of his attention on that dot. Has anybody ever attempted such a thing before or could elaborate on this?

Another thing I like to do is before starting the reading is really try to interest myself in the topic I am learning. Kind of like hot girls or SDN which naturally interest me (what a great combo??? ), i try to make learning things that msot people would complain about as much fun as possible (even if i know deep deep down i would rather be doing something else). So i scan the chapter I am going to read, ask myself a lot of questions why this or that is useful...


People say you should take breaks every hour or so, but I tend to take a break after like 3 hours (when i begin to REALLY overanalyze what i'm learning), but I find that I learn the best after i've gotten past the first 20-30 minutes of *trying* to study and i get into my "focus" mode.

Those are my tips/suggestions for focusing, now I'd liek to know what YOU guys who do well in school and do it efficiently focus.

I will also be posting this in the medical students forum to see what they do as they are pretty efficient at this as well.

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[Oceaner]

I've found that solving logic/math problems, as much as an hour or so a day (well one or two problems that usually do require that long) has helped me regain focus tremendously.

Music unfortunately destroys my focus. However, I am an active studier, which means I can't sit down in a desk when I am trying to soak stuff (It's not a problem in contrast for problem solving/tests and exams because when I am trying to spill stuff out I need total silence and immobility). Since I have a lot of memorization/reading/understanding in the classes I am taking I usually study outside-- on campus, in parks, skateboard parks, etc. where I can walk around/jump/etc. I've found that helps me recall facts better on exams because I make strong associations between the content and images/locations/smells. I can stay studying in one place for 5-6 hours

It's a bit weird to explain. Needless to say I look funny when I'm studying, and it gets a bit complicated in winter though haha-- I should've gone to California not Quebec.

 

[StevenJ128]

I like a quiet room, a comftorable chair, a fat dip, and a little Tool on the ipod. Then I can't help but focus.

 

[Inuranic]

I open/log on/find whatever I need to study.

I read it once or twice.

I go to bed.

 

[Lonelion87]

If you have a Mac, get 'Noise'.

It creates 'pink' or 'white' noise (you choose), so when you are working in a public area you can drown out your surroundings.

http://www.blackholemedia.com/noise/

 

[inaminute]

duct tape yourself to a chair---make sure you cover a hairy area of your body

 

[DocHeart]

I Like to go to group study sessions after i study. to clearfy every thing.

 

[masterMood]

If you have a Mac, get 'Noise'.

It creates 'pink' or 'white' noise (you choose), so when you are working in a public area you can drown out your surroundings.

http://www.blackholemedia.com/noise/

NICE!


do you know of any other applications for the mac that you find useful? I use iRooster for my laptop. It's an alarm clock that basically wakes you up using your itunes library ---- and hte great thing is that even if you have the laptop in "sleep" mode (with the lid closed!) it will STILL play the music. It's great!

Then there's audacity if you ever want to record yourself with the built-in microphone in the laptop.

I'm a dork at heart what can I say

 

[87138]

If you have a Mac, get 'Noise'.

It creates 'pink' or 'white' noise (you choose), so when you are working in a public area you can drown out your surroundings.

http://www.blackholemedia.com/noise/

Anyone have a link to something similar for PCs?

 

[bhishma]

Surround myself with people and things so uninteresting that I'm forced to be productive. Some sort of evolutionary mechanism one might think.

 

[masterMood]

duct tape yourself to a chair---make sure you cover a hairy area of your body

lmao

 

[itsalongstory]

ummmm...adderall? hehe

 

[mellowgirl]

If you have a Mac, get 'Noise'.

It creates 'pink' or 'white' noise (you choose), so when you are working in a public area you can drown out your surroundings.

http://www.blackholemedia.com/noise/

I downloaded it but what is it suppose to do? What am i suppose to hear?

 

[Parthenon89]

I like a quiet room, a comftorable chair, a fat dip, and a little Tool on the ipod. Then I can't help but focus.

my god.....hello brother

that TOOL statement is soooo true

i always seem to get more work done listening to them

crazy ish

 

[Auron]

Meditate.

I do a one hour session every day and it makes me feel unstoppable. I feel completely focused and full of energy, and very relaxed throughout the day.

 

[masterMood]

how do you meditate?


Is the sole purpose of meditating to stop thinking?

it's kind of a broad-minded question, but yeah any advice for meditation? I think i have a sort of meditation from praying each day but that's based on focusing on God (and eliminating everything else)

 

[neurofreak]

ummmm...adderall? hehe

you beat me to it hahah

 

[thenorth]

Here's an interesting anecdote:

I tried Adderrall (second-generation ADHD medication, better than Ritalin) twice. I used it not only to cram for tests, but also to try it because I was writing a Neuroscience/psych paper on whether ADHD justified drug treatments (my prof was quite an anti-drug hippie critical of the industry). It's quite common apparently in some colleges.

The result: I got an A- on the first test, which was respectable given I crammed for about 10 hours the night before the test and didn't sleep. But I was tired and the material was difficult, so focusing alone wasn't that effective.

The second time I did it, I got A+ on a test withe easy material.

The result: great for cramming for tests requiring memorization, but not ones requiring actual critical thinking. I never focused that hard in my life for 6 hours when I was tired. However, I had significant withdrawal (sleep problems, slight depression for a week). Therefore, not worth it in the long run.

But makes you think: they prescribe it to 6 year old kids, and they have a pill everyday for the next 15 years. $$$$$$$$$ ?

 

[masterMood]

ERrrrr, lets forget about adderall, ritalin, and all those brain altering drugs, you use it once, use it twice, then thrice and you're hooked for life.

 

[lawlz123]

ERrrrr, lets forget about adderall, ritalin, and all those brain altering drugs, you use it once, use it twice, then thrice and you're hooked for life.

so?

its just a glorified form of coffee...👍

 

[neuro1617]

Definitely coffee. And I also find a quiet, comfortable spot and put on my ipod with a song on repeat. TV, the computer, etc all distract me, but for some reason, having music on in the background really helps. If I don't have music on, sometimes I'll just sit there and start daydreaming or something. Also for everything I make a list b/c I love to cross stuff off...yeah so I'm a bit neurotic. Taking breaks always helps to absorb info/clear your head to study/work some more.👍

 

[DrMidlife]

how do you meditate?

Everybody's different. I stare with blurred focus at a lit candle. Sometimes holding an icecube. Took me about 15 years to figure out what works for me.

Is the sole purpose of meditating to stop thinking?

"Quiet the mind" usually means you're thinking of only one thing, instead of having overlapping racing thoughts, worries, regrets, plans, etc. A lot of people focus on the breath, maybe imagining it having a color or sound. (Once you know bronchial structure, that actually makes it more fun.) Some people say that as brushing your teeth gets your mouth clean, meditation gets your head clean.

It's very personal, as is prayer.

 

[doinmybest5840]

It depends what I'm doing. For science classes with a lot of facts/figures/equations to learn, I take notes on my reading. I found this to be especially helpful in organic chemistry and physics. I usually write down equations, bolded information/words, and any other little things I feel will help me later on. I can't listen to music because I find it very distracting unless it's instrumental/classical, and even then, I have a tendency to want to skip ahead to songs I like most, which is very distracting.

When I lived at school I did my work on the floor in my bedroom. I'm easily distracted by other people so this was best because I was away from my computer (on the desk), and not by any friends or anything. I find it easiest to study in very quiet and minimally stimulating places, such as study carrels or rooms.

 

[souslepont]

Here's an interesting anecdote:

I tried Adderrall (second-generation ADHD medication, better than Ritalin) twice. I used it not only to cram for tests, but also to try it because I was writing a Neuroscience/psych paper on whether ADHD justified drug treatments (my prof was quite an anti-drug hippie critical of the industry). It's quite common apparently in some colleges.

I actually have ADD, and I tried Adderall too. It worked great, but, unfortunately, I couldn't sleep. There's not much point in improving your focus when you're too sleep-deprived to stay awake in class! So, I stopped taking it and now I just try to manage without medication. I make lists every day, write things down constantly in a planner, ask people to remind me about things, and take study breaks every 15-20 minutes.

Although some people claim it's counterproductive, I usually have to study with the TV on or with my ipod, sometimes with both going at the same time. I just can't focus in complete silence. My mind wanders too much. I absolutely have to have one part of my mind engaged in something else if I need to focus on a task. If there's nothing good on TV or I don't feel like listening to music, I go to the busiest part of the library and listen/watch other people as I study.

Long lectures are hard, but I can generally manage to pay attention as long as I'm doing something else quietly like doodling, highlighting, or taking extremely detailed notes (I get bored with outlines really quickly). I'm fine during discussions because I love to talk. During tests, especially long ones, nerves are almost good enough to keep me engaged, and I usually sing a song repeatedly in my head or talk to myself.

 

[powerful_squib]

Let's see... i HAVE to study with music or I will lose my mind completely. The thing is I have to study in a semi noisy/crowded place with my music on. When i tune out all of the noise I get completely focused, which is why
I like studying in the student center and common rooms. If there isn't any noise, my brain gets too focused on the music and I can't study. If I am in a situation like that, then my music can't be on my headphones. It's all very wierd.

I do have a couple of hideaway study places on campus that no one knows about... so hopefully it will stay that way for next semester