I don’t know how to be studious

I am a 16-year-old girl studying in Std X. I know that I need to work hard this year, but I’m unable to concentrate on my studies. My mother gets worried when she doesn’t see me studying. I don’t know how to make myself studious not only for my mother’s sake but also to get good results. Whenever I sit down to study, I get lost in my own world. I never succeed to complete the things I set out to do; I find them boring and leave them there. How should I deal with this problem?
Priya

Dear Priya,

You don’t seem to be enjoying the journey of learning and are finding it difficult to concentrate.

Studies are not something you do to please your mother or anyone else. We want to complete our studies to make a career and life for ourselves. Surely you want a bright future. Studying in Class X needs two things: One is a routine — beginning with exercise, adequate sleep, and time for relaxation.

The second includes the formula ‘Focus + Practice + Fun’. Instead of studying by reading your books for long hours, set aside 4 to 6 x 25-minute slots followed by 5 to 10-minutes relaxing breaks where you give yourself a reward. Your promise to yourself is to switch off every distraction and focus on your studies for 20 to 25 minutes only. Whatever you choose to learn during that time, make sure that you focus on how well you learn it, even if you don’t finish everything. Use three Rs of Active Learning – Read-Remember (w) Rite it in the form of notes, diagrams, graphic organizers, and more. Get up and walk while you learn, throw a ball, sing, make a cartoon! Make it fun, so that you remember. Solve lots of papers. Who said studies are so serious? Enjoy.

Enjoyment = taking an interest à changing your methods à better learning

Outcome = Better retention, better scores à Self-satisfaction à Everyone’s satisfaction

Good luck!