Finding it hard to concentrate?
Are you finding it hard to concentrate and focus on your learning?
When you need to listen in class, or get down to reading or studying, how you feel can affect you.
Sometimes you might feel ‘in the zone’ and other times like your mind is wandering all over the place.
Tips to help focus
Here are some things you can try to help you focus:
Calm your mind. If you are feeling anxious or stressed about something at home or in school then it can be hard to focus on school work. Check out our mental health information here.
Get enough sleep. Being short of sleep will make it very hard to focus your mind. If that’s an issue for you might want to check out our page about the importance of sleep.
Give yourself breaks. You could try structuring your time into shorter periods of ‘intense’ work. This is when you cut out all distractions, like social media, and then reward yourself with breaks.
One way you can do this is through Pomodoro working – named after the Italian tomato shaped timer. You do this by using the timer on your phone to mark 25-minute work periods followed by 5-minute breaks.
Reward yourself with a longer break after a few Pomodoros!
Motivate yourself and make it interesting. Most people struggle to concentrate on things they find boring… especially if there is no reward for doing it!
If there’s something you’re finding hard to engage with, think about ways you can make it more exciting. You could try studying it in a different way. Remember to reward yourself too! Looking forward to a small treat or doing something you enjoy afterwards can really help.
If you have ADHD… ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. People with ADHD find it extra difficult to focus on things without their mind drifting off. They may also find it hard to control what they pay attention to. You can read more about ADHD here.
If you have ADHD, using the strategies above will be even more important.
who else can help?
The Scottish ADHD Coalition offer lots of information and support. You can find out more by clicking the button below.
Young Minds is a website that also offers lots of advice for young people about ADHD. You can hit the button below to visit their dedicated ‘ADHD and mental health’ page.
There are also more great tips on the Salveson Mindroom Centre website.
Here’s a great video about a girl called Estella who has ADHD.