You have questions. We have answers.

Elizabeth Pulanco / Winonan

Dear Elizabeth,

I have found that after spring break I have been having a really hard time paying attention in class and procrastinating with my schoolwork now that summer seems so close. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for how to stay focused and make it to the end of the year without letting my grades slip.

Sincerely,

Spring Fever

Spring Fever,

Hang in there. If you’re having trouble paying attention in class, it might be a better idea to move up toward the front of the room. You will be able to hear the professor more clearly, and you may feel guilty for dozing off, especially if the teacher can see you. Moving up may throw off the seating of the rest of the class, but most people avoid sitting front and center so you will have plenty of room.

If you are still having trouble focusing, you could always start recording your lectures. Most smart phones have some sort of recording app, so if you do find yourself daydreaming then you will always have a back up plan. Just remember to ask your professors prior to recording the lecture.

The easiest thing you could do is have a cup of coffee before class. The perfect time for coffee in the morning is right before you have you breakfast because caffeine takes about 45 minutes to reach the brain. If you have your cup of coffee with your breakfast before you get ready for the day, the coffee should kick in right around your first class. This cup of coffee will give you about four to six hours of energy.

Procrastination is the hardest habit to stop yourself from doing, especially if you are already distracted.

One way to try and prevent it is to write down a list of what you need to do. Try to eliminate the harder tasks first, so you don’t leave them for the last minute.  Another important thing is where you choose to study.  If you are the kind of person that is easily distracted, then your room may not be the best place to study. All of your things and your responsibilities are in your room and trying to get productive work done may be difficult. The best place for getting work done might be the library or another quiet study area.

If your work place does not require your laptop or computer, then leave the devices in your backpack or back in your room. Having your laptop there when you do not need it can be distracting. If you do need to use your laptop, then you must use all the power you have to resist the urge to check your social media accounts, no matter how tempting it is. Close your social media accounts and don’t open them until you are done studying. If you don’t need to look anything up and you just have to type in a Word document, then it may be a good idea to turn off the Wi-Fi.

It may be hard to stay motivated with summer just around the corner, but since you realize you have been having problems with focusing, you have a better chance of getting back on track.

Keep up the good work and finish the year strong.