Concentration

Concentration difficulties may be temporary, such as after a distressing event, or may be part of a lifelong condition. University places high demands on your concentration, but there are ways to adapt your study to your particular way of concentrating.

Below are some concentration issues that frequently affect study. Click on the ones that apply to you for further advice.

    • Aim for a broad understanding of the content first. You can examine the detail in later revisions.
    • Record information any way you can. You can use a voice recorder, photos, or add notes to the lecture slides.
    • Organise information into chunks, for example:  this lecture has 3 parts – each part has 2/3/4 main points.

    • Use planning tools. Well organised information is easier to find and to learn.
    • Make an appointment with Academic Skills to work through your plan for the semester or an individual assignment.
    • Seek assistance and extra time allowance through Student Equity and Disability Services (SEDS) where appropriate.

    • If you are aware that you have difficulty following instructions, you have won half the battle.
    • Accept that you are distracted and work around it.
    • Ask for written instructions in advance if possible.
    • Check the instructions with another student.
    • Count the parts of the instruction as they are given and then try to repeat them to yourself.
    • Write down key words.
    • Use a voice recorder.

    • Identify the distraction and make a firm decision about how you will deal with it. For example: “Those are just students walking in the corridor. I do not need to react to that.”
    • Practise ignoring a common distraction for a few minutes at a time. Congratulate yourself for every success.
    • Listen to online or recorded lectures through headphones.
    • Wear noise-cancelling headphones while you study.

    • Look briefly through lecture slides and pre-readings before lectures and tutorials. This way you will be able to predict some information, leaving your mind free for extra information.
    • Keep well organised notes of content given in class, so that you can revisit difficult material. Organise clearly by date or topic and set aside regular time to review. Even 5-10 minutes every day will help.

    • Use planning tools that help you break tasks down into manageable parts.
    • Aim for short sessions, for example work on each part for 25 minutes. If you cannot complete the task in this time, break the task down into smaller parts.
    • Instead of setting goals like "I will finish the introduction to my essay", aim for time limits or word limits. For example "I will work on my introduction for 25 minutes" or "I will write 150 words". This way you are more likely to achieve your aim and will maintain your motivation.

    • Accept that some tasks may make you anxious due to your past bad experiences, and plan to deal with that anxiety when it arises.
    • Use techniques to reduce anxiety, including meditation, mindfulness training and grounding exercises, and build these activities into your study time.
    • Set aside time every day for record keeping. Knowing what you have completed in your studies and having a list of what you need to do can give you a feeling of control, which will reduce anxiety.
    • Visit the Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website for further tips and information about dealing with anxiety, including mindfulness techniques. Make an appointment to see a counsellor at CAPS if that will help you.