Thinking is hard! Researchers have found that an average human being can stay focused in a single task for no more than 20 minutes. This isn’t long — but we can make the best of it. An online student spends long hours at work, much of it before a computer. At the end of the day, he has little energy for tasks that require concentration. Thus, studying is probably the last thing he can do. Yet, successful students manage to balance work and studies and earn good grades. How do they do it? Here are three tips to help you focus:
Love What You Do:
Isn’t it surprising that while an average attention span lasts for no more than 20 minutes, we can spend an hour or two easily absorbed in a National Geographic documentary, or a movie? Do not sign up for a course only because it is important for a career; do so because it fuels you. People who do things they love are more productive and will always remain motivated. They don’t have to come up with excuses for missing deadlines.
Eat that Frog:
If a particular task has to be done, delaying it is not going to help. Life isn’t easy – we have to accept this and adjust accordingly. If you have to choose between a set of boring tasks, pick the one that’s the most daunting so that the other things can be done easily. You could either stay awake late at night or wake up early to use the quiet hours to focus. Set aside a few hours every day and make it clear to everyone around that you do not want to be disturbed.
Say Goodbye to Distractions:
Our decreasing attention spans has a lot to do with the influence of the internet, television, and other entertainment mediums around us. The frantic activity around us is rewiring our minds and reducing our ability to focus on things for long periods of time. It also affects our ability to learn things in depth. The best way to tackle this is by focus at a single task at a time. Disconnect yourself from the TV, internet, or any other distractions
And if nothing else works, hire us. Just ask, “Can you take my online class?”
