Staying focused while studying can be rough. One second you’re reading your notes, the next you’re deep into TikTok wondering how you got there. But with a little effort, you can actually train yourself to concentrate better and get through your work without it feeling like a total battle.

First things first, your phone is probably your biggest distraction. The best way to deal with it? Get it out of sight. Put it in another room, lock it in a drawer, or even use one of those timed lockboxes if you have zero self-control. Out of sight, out of mind. If you really need your phone for study, try an app like Forest where a little tree grows while you work. If you leave the app, your tree dies. Sounds dramatic, but it’s surprisingly effective.

Another great way to stay on track is setting up a reward system with Forest. The longer you stay focused, the more trees you grow, eventually building an entire forest. It turns studying into a challenge where you actually feel accomplished instead of just drained. Plus, the app even lets you plant real trees with the points you earn, so you’re helping the environment while smashing your study goals.

At the end of the day, it’s all about making distractions harder to access and using tools that keep you motivated. You don’t have to rely on willpower alone. Just set yourself up for success and staying focused gets way easier.

Eireyna Papinyan