If you don’t have the flexibility needed to attend classes in person, studying online offers you the opportunity to advance your education at your own pace on your own schedule. But as much of a blessing as it might be to many nontraditional students, there are unique challenges attached. Between work, family, and other extenuating circumstances that may impact your ability to stay organized and focused, learning online typically requires a higher level of personal accountability than what you may expect in a traditional learning environment. But with the right plan in place , you can stay on-task and on-target as an online student.
Know what's breaking your concentration (and address it)
According to results from a national survey conducted by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 75% of Americans have trouble managing their attention span. Stress and anxiety topped the list of culprits at 43%. Lack of sleep came next at 39%, then digital devices at 35%.
Phones get most of the blame, and their prevalence in our culture deserves some of it. But if you're studying on five hours of sleep with a stack of unpaid bills on your mind, no single app is going to fix that. To focus your attention properly, you need to know what’s really bothering you.
Once you identify the problem, here’s what you can do to address it:
- If it’s lack of sleep, take a closer look at your schedule during the day and see what you can adjust to give yourself more time to rest.
- If it’s stress or anxiety, examine what might be causing you excess stress and what you can change or improve. If it’s outside your control or your anxiety feels as if it’s impossible to manage, it can be helpful to speak with a doctor or seek counseling.
- If it’s your phone or other devices, read on to find more strategies for managing your screen time.
If you often feel tired, get your phone out of reach while you study
Your phone is the easiest distraction to remove, and removing it works. In a randomized trial published in PNAS Nexus, adults who blocked mobile internet on their phones for two weeks cut their daily screen time from about five hours to under three, and their sustained attention improved by roughly the equivalent of undoing 10 years of age-related decline.
To avoid temptation, consider the following fixes:
- Place your device in another room when it’s time to focus.
- Have a trusted family member hide the device somewhere, without telling you where. Ask them to return it after a certain time when you’ve finished your study session.
- Set parental controls on your phone, computer, or tablet to help minimize the time you spend on apps like Instagram or TikTok.
- If there's one app you keep reopening, set hourly alarms and allow yourself a 10-minute break. That turns the thing pulling you away into the reward for staying put.
Eat and drink like you want to concentrate
Poor diet and hydration can contribute to a diminished attention or concentration span. According to the Ohio State survey mentioned above, 20% of respondents noted diet and hydration as a drag on their attention.
You don't need a special diet. You need to make sure you’re not hungry or dehydrated — or four cups of coffee deep. Eat real food, like fresh fruit and vegetables, and limit overprocessed snacks that will spike your blood sugar and leave you crashing (and exhausted). Keep water within reach and eat something with protein in it before a long study block so you're not crashing an hour in.
Need more snack ideas? Check out our blog on 10 study snacks to satisfy your cravings!
Take frequent breaks (and move during them)
There's a tendency for some students to cram as much homework into one session as possible. However, that's not always the most effective choice. Instead, taking frequent breaks is a way to let your brain recharge momentarily and to make the most of the knowledge that's being absorbed.
That could mean something as simple as:
- Turning away from the screen or book briefly. Use the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes looking at a screen, spend 20 seconds looking at something at least 20 feet away.
- Having a quick snack.
- Using that time to help around the house or spend a few minutes of downtime with your children.
Even a short walk can help. Multiple studies have tied physical activity to improved outcomes in cognitive function and academic performance.
Protect your sleep
Lack of sleep has the potential to negatively impact your ability to learn. A National Institutes of Health study of college students found that poor sleep can lead to lower grade point averages and an enhanced risk of academic failure, among other bad consequences. If you're regularly studying until 1:00 a.m. and then dragging through the next day, it’s probably safe to say that trading sleep for study time is taking away more than it gives you.
That trade can come down to more of a scheduling issue than anything else. Because U.S. Career Institute programs are self-paced, you can go as fast as you wish through a light week and ease off during a heavy one rather than grinding through on four hours of sleep.
Make your family a part of your education
If you’re a spouse or a parent, consider making your education a family affair. For example, if you have children, you could include them by making a game out of helping you study. They could answer the phone, keep the family dog from barking, or even sit beside you and do their own “homework.” You may also consider sharing some knowledge or lessons with your children, which will only reinforce their appreciation for their own education or help reinforce a love for learning.
Support from a partner or a roommate matters just as much. Communicate what your schedule is going to look like for the next few months. For instance, if you plan to do homework after work or after the kids have gone to bed, that might mean you will have less time to spend with them. Tell them why the coursework matters to you and how much you're relying on them for help.
By including your family and friends in your education journey, you’ll create a strong support system that you can rely on.
Where to go from here
The ability to focus is a skill you can cultivate. But just like creating any new habit, it’s important to start small. James Clear is well-known for his approach to habit stacking, noted in his book “Atomic Habits.” Essentially, you pair habits together. So, if you sit at your dining table to study, you could pair that with placing your phone in another room or with a family member. Every time you sit down to study, you repeat that habit. Before you know it, it will become second nature.
Ready to build the life you want with a school that allows you to learn on your own schedule? Explore the career-focused certificate and associate degree options with U.S. Career Institute.