How do I deal with distractions at school?

Have you ever felt like everyone and everything around you at school is making it hard for you to get your work done? Well...me too! It's frustrating, but thankfully there are ways to eliminate these distractions.

Distractions can negatively affect your performance in school by reducing how much information you retain. It's often reflected in worse grades. It's important to reduce these distractions to improve your learning and academic performance.

The hard truth: you can't control those around you or what happens around you, but you can control what you do to set yourself up for success!

Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries helps you do everything within your control to manage distractions:

• Sit at the front of the classroom or ask your teacher if you can move to the front.

• Take notes during class to stay engaged and avoid doing unrelated activities.

• If your friends want to talk, let them know you'd rather catch up after class. It's okay to set boundaries because good friends will understand.

By creating these boundaries, you prioritize your education and give yourself the best opportunity to stay focused, pay attention, and get the most out of your learning.

Put Things Away

Remove anything that could possibly pull you away from giving all of your attention and focus to your education:

• Put your phone in your backpack and turn on Do Not Disturb.

• Put away everything except the materials you need for that class, so your desk stays organized and free of distractions.

Prepare for Noise

What if it is too loud for you to concentrate in class during individual work time? You can:

• Ask your teacher or professor if you can put headphones on or wear earplugs to reduce distractions.

• Politely ask the people talking if they can please quiet down because you can't concentrate.

Internal distractions are thoughts or feelings that make it difficult to focus. For example, you may be worried about another assignment, thinking about something happening in your personal life, or feeling unsure about where to begin.

It is crucial to create a priority list to limit internal distractions.

Consider the following:

• Put your most important assignments at the top of the list.

  • For example, if you have an essay due tomorrow and a discussion post due next week, place the essay at the top of your list.

• Take breaks to avoid wandering.

  • For example, work for 30 minutes and then take a five-minute break. During your break, you can stretch, drink water, or walk around.

• Schedule time for working on different subjects.

  • For example, you can work on English from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and then work on math from 4:15 to 5:00 p.m. This can help you focus on one subject at a time.

In order to be able to concentrate at home, you must create a space and atmosphere that allows that.

Photo by Microsoft Copilot on Unsplash

It's important to:

• Have a controlled space.

  • A controlled space is an area where you can manage distractions such as noise, clutter, lighting, your phone, and interruptions.

  • This space could be a desk in your room, a corner of the kitchen table, a quiet area in your home, or a library.

  • When your space is catered to your needs, you are more likely to remain focused.

• Unclutter your working space.

  • Look out for clutter such as extra papers, clothes, cords, supplies you do not need, or electronics that may distract you.

  • Try to keep only the materials you need for the class or assignment you are working on.

  • When your space is clean, you are more likely to concentrate and think clearly.

• Negotiate your time with family or friends.

  • Let your family or friends know when you need time to study and when you will be available again.

  • You can say something like: “I need to study from 6:00 to 7:00. Can we talk after I finish?”

  • This allows you to set a boundary while still making time for the people in your life.

We all know our digital devices are one of our biggest distractions....

To avoid these types of distractions:

• Use a website blocker.

• Stay off social media for set periods of time.

• Change settings on your phone for a certain focus/work mode.