Studying is so important for school success, but it can be quite challenging. One of my biggest weaknesses is how quickly I get bored and I am confident this is relatable for many students. Especially considering that the average human attention span is shrinking. “ … in 2004, we found the average attention span on any screen to be two and a half minutes on average,” said Gloria Mark, PhD, on the Speaking of Psychology podcast, “And then in the last five, six years, we found it to average about 47 seconds.” This highlights how attention spans have dropped by 81 percent in only two decades.
Short attention spans are a prominent issue for students, particularly when practicing class material. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat it! If you enjoy games, you can follow the example of Berkeley High School freshman, Alaijah Sims, who said, “I like to make my own Quizlets because they have a lot of game options.” Quizlet is an online resource that offers many different tools for studying, such as flashcards, practice quizzes, and more. Quizlet can be an entertaining way to review a subject or unit.
Another way to fight boredom is by giving yourself incentives. From personal experience, I know incentives are a great motivator to get focused. Something like a sweet treat for completing homework or a brain break after studying for a certain amount of time works great. Breaks can fight boredom because you switch up what you are doing and break the repetition of working on the same thing for an excessive amount of time. Studying more often for shorter periods versus cramming before tests can be very beneficial. When you learn something new going home or to the library and practicing it will give you a much better understanding than waiting to try and comprehend it right before you have a test. This way as the class material is being taught you have a better understanding, and when it’s time for the tests, there’s no need to pull an all-nighter to re-learn.
BHS junior, Emma Myles, advises, “Don’t be afraid to study with a friend, but you have to make sure they are being productive, (and) also working on their own thing or something similar to (you to) make it more fun.” I strongly agree that studying with a friend can make the experience more enjoyable. Plus working with a friend gives you the chance to quiz each other with flashcards or just ask each other questions about the material. Harvard University’s academic resource center page backs up Myles’s advice stating, “Being in a group with a common goal supports and encourages focus on the work at hand,” and explains another benefit of study groups: “Taking advantage of everyone’s unique strengths helps mitigate weaknesses.”
So! I hope you are motivated to grab a couple of friends, talk with the people in your classes, and organize a time to work together. Or try using Quizlet and studying closer to when you learn something new to eliminate cramming. Lastly, remember it’s great to treat yourself because of the hard work you put into school.