3 Study Tips to Boost Your Concentration

The combination of exam nerves, social media distractions and multiple message platforms pinging for your attention can make it hard to carve out quiet time to focus on studying. Being ‘in the flow’ is positively associated with academic performance, learning attitudes and psychological wellbeing, but if you find it hard to knuckle down and lock into your learning, applying these study tips can help.

1. Study Tips for Sharpening Your Focus

Try: Creating a Pomodoro Power Pack
Whether you’re writing an essay or revising for exams, the pomodoro technique can help you power through procrastination. Studies show this time-management method can boost your motivation and focus. It works by splitting your study into timed intervals punctuated by timed breaks. Think of it as a series of study ‘sprints’ – a bit like HIIT training for your brain. You can break your work into chunks like memorising the information from five index cards, writing one paragraph of an essay or working on one specific coding task.

The key is to tune out all other distractions. Put your phone away and make sure you won't be interrupted.

How to Do the Pomodoro Technique

Set your timer for 25 minutes.
Put on your noise-cancelling headphones.
Work only on one task until the timer sounds, writing notes or key points.
Take a five-minute break then repeat this cycle using the 25-minute blocks for deep study.
After four pomodoros, take a longer break.

What to Try

2. Study Tips for Helping With Mental Fatigue

Try: Making a Study Brain Break Jar

If you’ve been cramming for hours and craving fresh air or a good stretch, research shows that taking regular ‘brain breaks’ (from five to 60 minutes) during study periods can significantly improve your energy levels, productivity and memory retention. Write the following tasks, or ones of your own, on paper strips and put them in a glass jar for lucky dip ideas when you need to stop and take a refreshing break.

5 minutes of box breathing (breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold, for four seconds each, and repeat)
10 minutes of walking outside while looking at distant objects
15 minutes of mindful colouring
20 minutes of following a guided yoga or stretching video
25 minutes to call a friend
45 minutes of listening to a podcast
60 minutes of refuelling – grab some food and stay hydrated

What to Try

3. Study Tips for Breaking the Boredom

‍Try: Compiling a Portable Study Kit

Tired of the same four walls? Research shows that changing up your environment when studying has positive benefits, like boosting your memory. Doing a ‘study crawl’ and studying in different locations like a cafe, the library or a friend’s place might help keep you motivated and feeling more energised. So when you’ve been reading the same text over and over and nothing’s going in, pack up your travel study kit to change the scenery every few hours.

Here’s what you need: ‍

Analogue Study Items‍

For those times when technology doesn’t cooperate, a notebook and pen are always a reliable backup. There’s also a good case for going old-school: research shows that taking notes by hand helps your brain retain and process information more effectively. Pack a notebook or index cards alongside your favourite pens, highlighters, pencils and pencil case.

Portable Tech

When you’re on the go, you don’t want to feel weighed down, so keeping your tech setup light is a must: a small laptop or tablet, a charger and powerbank, and a pair of headphones to watch videos. A USB flash drive is a worthwhile addition as it’s handy for extra backup or making it simple to print documents on the go.

Security and Protective Gear

Keep your kit safe by storing your laptop in a protective sleeve. If you’re carrying printed documents or notes, a folder or document wallet will keep everything neat and damage-free. Pack everything in a sturdy laptop backpack or tote that’s comfortable to carry.