Office of Academic Support

Office of Academic Support

How can I overcome distractions that interfere with my work?
Distractions! Distractions! So many distractions! I can’t concentrate.


                 Distraction                                                  Intervention Strategy

IM's, email, phones, MP3's, VCR's,
video games, TV, internet and noise,
oh my!

Do not study in your room near your "stuff".
Studying with IM is like studying with a friend.

I'm hungry,very hungry.
Eat before studying.
Keep some healthy snack food handy.
Avoid excessive caffeine. It can make you feel hungry.

I'm tired.
I keep dozing off.

Study when you are most alert.
Get enough sleep.
Take a break and exercise.
Worth repeating: GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

I'm sick.
I feel awful.
Go to the health center.
Get some extra sleep.
Email your professor as far ahead of time as possible if:
    *illness will cause you to miss class.
    *illness will cause you to be late with a paper.

I'm stressed.
I have too much to do.
I feel overwhelmed.

Break a big task into smaller pieces.
Make a "to do" list.
Do the most important thing.   Or...
Do the easiest thing to get momentum.
Exercise.
Do reading daily.  Don't let it pile up.

Personal problems:
I'm worried.
I'm upset.
Make a note and tell yourself to take care of it after your studying is done.
Talk to someone in Counseling Services.

This course is hard.
I'm not doing well.
I don't understand this.

Don't just give up. Keep reading and studying and.........
     *Talk to the professor.
     *Get a tutor.
     *Talk to someone at Academic Services.
     *Talk to someone in Counseling Services.

My friends......
Often stop by my room.
Want to do something.
Hide.   Study somewhere besides your room.
Return to your room after your studying is done.
Set a time to play later.  Get work done first.
Use "going out" as a reward for getting work done.
Turn off the IM.  It's a gigantic distraction.

This is boring. Bargain with yourself: "When I get this done I will"...........
Remind yourself- in just ?? weeks, this course is over.
Work for shorter periods of time.
Reading as well as writing margin notes will help
concentration.
Too bad.  It has to be done. Just do it.

I can multi-task. Multi-tasking means risking multi-distractions.
Do one thing at a time; concentrate on it. Get it done, then
move on.  Getting it done will feel great.

When all else fails, take a break. Set a time limit, then get back to work.

IM's, email, phones, MP3's, VCR's, video games, TV, internet and noise, oh my!	Do not study in your room near your "stuff". Studying with IM is like studying with a friend.
I'm hungry,very hungry.	Eat before studying. Keep some healthy snack food handy. Avoid excessive caffeine. It can make you feel hungry.
I'm tired. I keep dozing off.	Study when you are most alert. Get enough sleep. Take a break and exercise. Worth repeating: GET ENOUGH SLEEP.
I'm sick. I feel awful.	Go to the health center. Get some extra sleep. Email your professor as far ahead of time as possible if: illness will cause you to miss class. illness will cause you to be late with a paper.
I'm stressed. I have too much to do. I feel overwhelmed.	Break a big task into smaller pieces. Make a "to do" list. Do the most important thing. Or... Do the easiest thing to get momentum. Exercise. Do reading daily. Don't let it pile up.
Personal problems: I'm worried. I'm upset.	Make a note and tell yourself to take care of it after your studying is done. Talk to someone in Counseling Services.
This course is hard. I'm not doing well. I don't understand this.	Don't just give up. Keep reading and studying and......... Talk to the professor. Get a tutor. Talk to someone at Academic Services. Talk to someone in Counseling Services.
My friends...... Often stop by my room. Want to do something.	Hide. Study somewhere besides your room. Return to your room after your studying is done. Set a time to play later. Get work done first. Use "going out" as a reward for getting work done. Turn off the IM. It's a gigantic distraction.
This is boring.	Bargain with yourself: "When I get this done I will"........... Remind yourself- in just ?? weeks, this course is over. Work for shorter periods of time. Reading as well as writing margin notes will help concentration. Too bad. It has to be done. Just do it.
I can multi-task.	Multi-tasking means risking multi-distractions. Do one thing at a time; concentrate on it. Get it done, then move on. Getting it done will feel great.