Improve your attention span

EVERYONE goofs off sometimes but when watching YouTube videos instead of studying becomes a habit, you might waste so much time that you start failing your classes.

If you have trouble maintaining a decent attention span, here are some tips.

Get seven hours of sleep a night

Sleep deprivation is awful. After a day without sleep, many people find that they become clumsy and cannot make rational decisions. After a couple of days, they begin to hallucinate.

You need a good night’s sleep every night to keep your brain functioning efficiently.

Write a to-do list

You need to set yourself clear goals so that you can track how you are doing and focus on what must get done.

Doing this on a computer is fine, but using paper and a pen can be even more satisfying when it comes to crossing items off.

Work during your downtime

When you are waiting for the bus, you can read a chapter of your book. When you are walking to class, you can visualise that presentation you will be graded on. When you make that list, work out what you can do in such moments.

Switch off your phone

It is nice to see who is doing what on WhatsApp, but unless someone is in hospital or in an emergency situation, you can live without the mobile phone. So, switch it off and concentrate on what you are doing.

Reward yourself

If you have been good during the day, you get time off to do what you love most. Block time in your schedule to wind down.

Try fiveminute refreshers here and there in a busy day, and at least one big block of time during the week where you can do something substantial such as hiking or playing football.