When it comes to being in college, studying plays an important role in your academic performance and success.
So when you find yourself struggling to concentrate on your course material and retain the information you are learning, your grades can begin to suffer.
Every college student experiences periods of poor concentration and focus – given the stress of college study, this is understandable.
However, there are ways to improve your concentration and memory while studying.
Check out these five tips that will help keep your grades up and ensure your academic success:
1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
College students are no strangers to sleep deprivation, but not getting enough sleep can lead to disrupted cognitive functions such as concentration, memory and attention.
Failing to get a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is going to have a negative impact on your study skills.
The recommended length of sleep for adults is 7-8 hours each night. While this may not be possible every single night, you should certainly try to get this much sleep as often as you can.
To improve your sleep quality, try turning off all screens about an hour before bed, give yourself some time to wind down and try to go to bed and get up around the same time everyday.
You may find yourself stuck in the loophole of staying up late to study, but creating this pattern of poor sleep will only reduce the effectiveness of your study time.
2. Exercise
Not only is regular exercise beneficial to your physical health, but it can also help improve your memory and concentration by boosting your brain’s production of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin – all hormones that affect focus and attention – as well as increasing oxygen levels.
While aerobic exercise is the optimal form of exercise for improving concentration, it’s best just to do what you can. Even a quick 5 minute jog around campus is better than no physical activity at all.
As a student, you probably have difficulty finding time to exercise with a busy schedule. The important thing is to try and get your heart rate up throughout the day.
Consider walking to class or jogging between classes. You can even get up a few minutes earlier in the morning to sneak in a quick workout.
You can even use physical activity as a way to break up your study sessions – these breaks will also help to improve your memory and concentration as well.
3. CBD Oil
CBD oil has been known to improve memory and concentration. In fact, CBD has been found to help calm the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
However, before taking anything, you should speak to your doctor – especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or allergies.
Otherwise, CBD oil can be helpful in eliminating issues that are creating difficulties with concentration, such as stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation and nerve pain while improving focus and concentration.
Always purchase CBD oil from reputable retailers and follow the directions of use carefully. Start with a low dose in order to get a feel for how the product will affect you.
4. Train Your Brain
Think of your brain as a muscle – the more your exercise, the better it will perform. You can do this by engaging in puzzles and games throughout the day to improve your concentration.
You can try crossword puzzles, sudoku, jigsaw puzzles and memory games.
Studies have even shown that video games can help boost your concentration by improving visual selective attention, which is your ability to concentrate on a specific task.
While there’s science to back this up, you should also be responsible with the time you spend playing video games. It is recommended to limit yourself to an hour a day.
5. Try Meditation and Mindfulness
There are many benefits to practicing meditation and mindfulness, including improved concentration.
Mindfulness emphasizes focus and attention as you train yourself to acknowledge stray thoughts but allow them to drift by without distracting you from the present.
If you find it difficult to sit still and dismiss intruding thoughts, you can always use activities such as yoga and deep breathing to help you practice mindfulness.
Your brain can greatly benefit from mindfulness, even if you practice as little as 5-10 minutes a day.
Improving Your Study Skills
The key to improving your concentration and memory while studying is to try and eliminate the stressors in your life that are making studying difficult to begin with.
There’s no magic formula to make studying an easier endeavor – it will be challenging and difficult, but you can ease the struggle by maintaining good health and promoting a sense of focus.
