STUDY SKILLS

DEVELOPING CONCENTRATION
Many students often fall into this trap thinking that if they were to sit down and study for long hours, they will learn more. However, what actually matters during your study time is not the quantity or the amount of time you spend on studying but rather, the quality or your level of concentration and understanding of whatever you are studying. Here are several tips to help you develop your concentration so that you can have quality study hour.
Preventing Procrastination
For many students, the most difficult part of studying is the beginning- getting started. Therefore, they end up procrastinating. However, this should be avoided as the English proverb goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, so here are some suggestions to help you prevent or conquer procrastination
1. Start by setting small goals (objectives)
2. Evaluate your goals (objectives), performance and achievement
3. Break large task into smaller parts
4. Set a time limite
5. Reward your self
6. Bounce back, push forward
7. Look at yourself in the mirror
Dealing with Distractions
Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you have found the perfect hour to study and right at that moment, everything seems to take place? Your notes are missing, your roommate needs someone to talk to, you realize that you do not know how to solve the equation and even the background music that you were listening to seems to annoy you. All these distractions seem to be testing your patience and perseverance to have a productive study hour but all is not lost. Read on to find out more about distractions that might occur and how to deal with them.
Dealing with Internal Distractions
Internal distractions are distractions that come from within us- our thoughts and emotions. These distractions are sometimes more difficult to handle compared to external distractions because we cannot see it but we can feel and sense it. It takes a lot of self-will to conquer these distracting thoughts and emotions so that you will have a productive and quality study time. Read on to find out more about how you can deal with random thoughts, wandering thoughts, personal worries and anxiety.
A student's life is not a bed of roses. One can be burdened by a sea of problems; academic, coping with university life, loneliness, home sick, making friends, financial and so on. These worries could be overwhelming especially for first year students who are still struggling to cope with the change of environment. More often than not, it is the student's academic performance that suffers.
Solution
If you find yourself in such a situation, it is highly advisable for you to speak to someone about it- someone who can give you sound and helpful advice like your parents or even your academic advisor (PA).
You could also contact the Career and Counseling Centre (PKK), UTM at 07-5530394 if you feel that you need professional help or just someone to talk to. Speaking to someone about your worries can help ease your mind off it (or even reach a solution to it) thus giving you the ability to focus on your studies.
· Dealing with External Distractions
· External distractions are distractions that come from your surrounding environment and may take different forms. Different people find different environment distracting. For example someone who likes studying in silence might find even the slightest whisper a distraction. The following tips are some guidelines as to what you could do to deal with external distractions. You may want to experiment with the possible solutions and then make changes to suit your personal study preferences.
Audio Distractions
Audio distractions can refer to background music or even the voices of people around you. The tolerance of this distraction differs highly from individual to individual. Some people require total silence in order to be able to study while some can study even in a busy cafeteria.
Solution
Depending on your tolerance level, here are some steps you could take to deal with audio distractions:
Find out your personal preference. Do you study better with background music? Can you study with people around you talking?
Set a specific study time and let those who are living with you (family, spouse, friends, etc.) know. Be sure to inform them that you would love to have some silence during that few hours.
Find alternative study places that suit your preference such as the library (if you prefer silence).
If the music in your background captures your attention more than whatever you are reading, be firm and switch it off. Distraction often gets the better of you.
Visual Distractions
You might think you are able to study with the television or the computer on but 15 minutes into your study time, you realize that your eyes are glued at the screen and not your book. Some people even find it difficult to concentrate when facing a door or window which opens to a busy corridor.
Solution
Depending on your tolerance level, here are some things you can do:
Do not fool yourself into believing that you can continue studying effectively with the television or computer switched on.
Be firm and switch it off.
Sit with your back facing the door or window so that you cannot see what is happening just beyond the door or window.
Find an alternative study area that has minimal visual distractions such as television, people walking around and whatever that will distract you from your studies.
Phone Calls
Life is full of temptations and distractions. When you are in the mood to study, that is when your phone rings and it completely takes away your attention as ignoring it is just as difficult as resuming whatever you were doing.
Solution
If you know you cannot resist checking or receiving any incoming calls or messages, here is what you should do:
Pick up the call and simply say 'I'm sorry, I cannot talk right now. I'm studying." You must not feel obliged to talk every time there is a call.
Better still, set your hand phone to silent or switch it off for the few hours during your study time. It takes a large amount of discipline to stop yourself from taking a 'peek' at your hand phone so this is the best way of doing it. You can always check your phone during your short breaks. However, do not use this as an excuse to take a break as you will end up taking 'short breaks' every minute or so.
Set a specific time for studying and inform those who call you often about it so that they will avoid calling or sending you messages during that few hours. There is nothing embarrassing about saying that you need some personal time to study.
Visitors
Staying in a hostel means that there is always the possibility of someone knocking on your door to ask for help or to talk. You do not have to feel obliged to entertain everyone who knocks on your door especially if you have more important task at hand. It also does not mean that you are being rude or snobbish if you say no to visitors or people asking for help. Learning how to weight the request and if needed, to say no, is a precious time-saving skill and it prevents distractions.
Solution
Here are some suggestions on what you could do to avoid unwanted or unwelcomed visits:
Put up a sign that says "I'm studying" or "Do Not Disturb". Most people should understand what that means.
For people who do not understand what that means, you will have to learn to say 'NO' politely.
Inform those who have the habit of 'dropping by just for a chat' about your study hours and choose another time so that you can hang out and chat with them without any worries at the back of your head.

POSTED BY LIBAN ALI