How to avoid distractions while learning/reading/studying?
Disclaimer: This may look something irrelevant to my blog, but yes I started writing this down for my niece and nephews who are struggling to overcome their distractions during their study hours. Publishing it with a hope that it may be useful for some other little hearts too.
Lock down is an unexpected phase of our life. Many have no idea on what to do in this phase. Few want to enjoy, few want to be peaceful and few want to make use of it in a different way. Many of those people who thought of making it useful chose to learn new things. When it comes to new learning, more time, an open mind, peaceful environment and concentration is more important. Lock down has given more time, now we need to bring the rest of the things into our life.
Concentration: Many would say, concentration is staying focused. I agree. A Sculptor sees a desired sculpture in an uncut rock. That is staying focused; seeing only what needs to be done. But when it is too difficult to stay focused, we can choose to do an alternative of removing unwanted parts of the rock. The end result may be the same. So from my point of view, concentration begins where the distraction ends.
P.S. There are people who are good at concentration and can do things irrespective of the distracting factors around them. They are legends. Let us talk about the common people.
What is a distraction?
When you are attracted to things other than what you intend to do is called distraction. To understand better here is an example. If you are intended to read a book, but get attracted to the music played outside your room is called distraction.
Avoid attractions:
From the definition and example, we understand that the attracting factors are our distracting factors. So, it is important to list what attracts/deviates us from our work. It can be a gadget/ people/ own thoughts. So, we need to look for the ways to avoid those attractions.
These attracting factors can be broadly classified into Internal factors and external factors of distraction. Any of our own activities that distract us from doing the intended work are internal factors. Other distractions are external factors.
Example: If someone calls you during your study hour and you get distracted from studying is an external factor. If you look into the phone and start browsing unimportant things during your study hour is an internal factor of distraction.
External factors:
When compared to internal factors, external factors are easy to avoid.
People: People in your house may distract you. Either they love to spend some time with you or want you to help in their work. Make sure to share your study time schedules with the family members and you follow it strictly. If 4pm to 6pm is your scheduled time for reading, keep following it. If you miss that for your personal reason or reschedule it, it gives them a signal that you are flexible to rescheduling the study hours. Let you family members answer to the neighbors or friends who call you during your study hour. You can return the calls later.
Electronic devices:
TV
After getting used to the internet, we are not addicted to TV anymore. Still when our favorite song gets played or favorite actor's interview is going on. It is inevitable to get back our concentration into studies.
It is important to get family members' support for this matter. Request to lower the volume. Maximum choose your study place away from TV.
Mobile phones and laptops
The only way to get away from the distractions due to mobile phone and laptop usage is to keep it away from your study place. But unfortunately, our library itself is available in those electronic devices only.
Here are some difficult ideas to avoid distractions from phones and laptops
If you have offline materials, then turn off your data pack/wifi. If materials are available only on internet then try the following steps
Close unnecessary tabs
Turn off notifications
Mute chats in whatsapp groups
Note down your doubts and call your friends/ message your friends for clarification before or after your study hour.
Be unavailable to your friends' queries as well during your study hour.
Watch your watch. Be determined to complete the syllabus as planned.
Internal distraction
To avoid internal distractions,we have to be self disciplined.
Keep a schedule and follow it.
Avoid procrastination
Limit the screen time
Don't take peer pressure. (That wastes our time in show off.. like social media posts, whatsapp status etc)
Limit Social media time. Seriously no worthy thing is happening in this world than we are learning for our future.
Be determined, be successful.
Comfortable time to read
It depends on your environment, family routine, your other routines etc.
If you are a student and studying is your only priority, then I would prefer early morning, time after breakfast and night to read.
Early morning is the best, because, even if you want to get distracted, your mind will not get attracted to silly things like chats, browsing, temptation to eat food etc. So, choose the theoretical subject which needs more attention to understand the concept in the early morning time.
After Break fast: Choose a subject that needs work outs like Math, Accounts, programming, Statistics, experimental etc. You will be energetic to do all these things. Also your friends/ teachers will be available to answer your queries if required.
Night: Make revisions at this time. You will get peaceful sleep if you can answer your revision questions. Else it is easy to go through the learned subjects once again and crack the sample tests.
Afternoon: I recommend taking a good nap.
Evening: Stay away from your study place.
P.s I am not an education expert or psychiatrist to prove any of the above scientifically or none of the above are survey results. But when I was a student, I enjoyed studying. I still believe, reading is a fun and make us live on our own planet. All I would say about this article is, “It is not a rule book, but give a try, at least take some tips”.
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