Coping with Academic Pressure: Study Hacks to Keep you Focused and on Track

When you’ve got a huge test or project deadline looming, do you find yourself scrolling on your phone or watching Netflix instead of studying? We’ve all been there, so let’s explore the hacks and mind tricks that will help you get your head into some seriously effective study.

1. Avoid the Procrastination Trap

Procrastinating now and again won’t hurt, but when it becomes a habit it can eat up valuable study time. Putting revision off leads to a vicious cycle of stress, panic, and despair, making your homework even less appealing. The solution? Use a simple strategy called the 5 Minute Rule. 

If you’ve got an assignment due but suddenly find sharpening your pencils or tidying your bedroom very appealing, stop. Notice when you’re avoiding a study task, and summon the willpower to commit to working on it for just 5 minutes. Set a timer and get started.

This short, totally manageable timeframe tricks your brain into getting started without having a panic about how you’ll get the task done. In most cases, you’ll end up doing more than 5 minutes because once you start, your momentum builds. Repeat the 5 Minute Rule as often as needed.

2.  Find a Study Space

We get it. Home can busy, messy, noisy and cramped. It might feel like the worst place to try to focus. If home is too distracting, see if you can claim a space in your school library, set up in a quiet corner of a coffee shop, or visit your local library to use one of their study tables. Wherever you feel most focused, try to make your space uncluttered, well-lit and with as few distractions as possible. 

If you’re studying out of the house, take some healthy snacks with you to keep your mental energy up. Make sure you pack all the stationery and books you’ll need to get a good few hours work in without having to interrupt your session to go in search of resources.

3.  Trick Your Brain into Focusing

Our brains are easily distracted, especially if there are a hundred things you’d rather be doing than studying. The Pomodoro Technique is a great trick for keeping your brain on task. 

Set a timer for 25 minutes and go all-in on studying with zero distractions. Put your phone on silent or leave it in another room, ignore the world around you, and get the work done. When the timer goes off, take a 5 minute break to refresh. Set a timer for the 5 minutes too, otherwise you might find that half an hour has vanished.

Repeat this Pomodoro cycle until your task is done.

Some people find it helpful to have music playing quietly, but it is best to avoid music with lyrics as this can be distracting. If background noise bothers you, noise-cancelling headphones might be your friend.

4.  Refresh and Recharge

Taking a break is as important as the work itself. After 60-90 minutes of solid focus, take a proper break for 15-20 minutes. Get up for a walk, make a healthy snack, or chat to a friend. Avoid zoning out on social media, though, as this will put you straight back on a journey to distraction. 

Once your mind has reset, you can dive back into studying with a new burst of energy. 

5.  Tech Tricks

On average, we check out phones once every 12 minutes, with phone use taking up 4 hours of our day. Imagine how much more productive you could be if your phone was less appealing.

To reduce the chance that you’ll disappear into 30 minutes of scrolling, try a tech trick. 

The tempting colour icons on your phone are a visual prompt, encouraging you to click on them. Switch your phone to greyscale to make your phone look more boring. You can also download website blockers that prevent you from accessing certain sites for set periods of time. 

If social media is significantly impacting your ability to study during crunch times, temporarily delete the apps from your phone until the exam period is over.

Final Thoughts

Study focus and discipline take practice, but there are tricks, tools and techniques that can help you make the most of your brain power when it matters the most. Be kind and patient with yourself during times of stress, but remember to take charge and establish new, healthy study habits.