How to Prepare a Distraction-Free Study Environment

By Emmanuel - Read time: 3 mins - 26th Feb 2018

High School Life Life Hacks Study Tips Uni Life Parenting

Image Credit: Pixabay

Study time is precious, which means you need to help your child make the most of it. While access to the Internet makes revising easier in many ways, it's also a pit of distractions. For example, one Facebook message can lead to a conversation that goes on for hours. Or, they may receive distracting notifications on their phone.

Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can help your child maximise their study time and prevent them from encountering distractions. Here are some of them.

Place a limit on social media

Today, most active social media users spend 135 minutes on average online each day, and that number is continuing to grow. That's just over two hours your child could spend studying, which means they may not make the most effective use of their time if you don't help them address the issue.

There are various ways to tackle this:

·       Allocate social media breaks; Your child should study for around 45 minutes before taking a break. While they shouldn't use every one to check their social media, they can allocate one or two and set a 10-minute time limit.

·       Use blocking apps; Using an app such as Offtime or Moment prevents your child from overdosing on social media. For example, Offtime helps you curb app usage. In contrast, Moment begins sending you notifications when you breach your set times and allows you to track how much time your child spends on a social media app.

·       Provide alternatives; If your child uses social media to talk to their friends about their exams, encourage them to use a productive alternative such as the website you're currently on!

Introduce them to do not disturb

Unfortunately, most phone apps suck up attention through their push notifications. Notifications are hard to ignore, and while each one may take five minutes' of your child's time, those moments soon add up.

Before they begin studying, ensure their phone is in do not disturb mode. That way, they can address their notifications during their breaks, without missing anything important.

Have study reward periods

Study reward periods are important for several reasons:

  • They give your child's brain a chance to rest, allowing it to prepare for the next topic

  • When they feel less stressed, they're less tempted to turn to distractions

  • Switching tasks enhances their concentration, maximising their chances of success

  • If they socialise with others, they reduce isolation, which in turn makes studying less stressful

For study reward periods to become effective, you need to measure success in some way. Also, you need to provide motivation. This means:

  • Giving rewards if they study for an allotted amount of time, without turning to social media distractions

  • Providing rewards when they master tough topics

  • Giving rewards when they score higher on a practice test

Should your child reach his or her goals, you could:

  • Provide a reward that's proportionate to the accomplishment, such as taking them out for a fun activity for the afternoon when they do better on a mock test.

  • Ensure the reward is healthy. It should be free from alcohol or caffeine, which aren't conducive to study success.

  • Focus on rewards and not punishments. Punishments leave students disheartened, which means they're less likely to perform well.

Overall, you should act as your child's cornerstone for reducing distractions and introducing rewards. With gentle support and the right resources, you can pull them through their exams with maximum success and minimal distress.

 


Originally from Sydney, Emmanuel has been in finance his whole life and excels in anything money related. He has a passion for football and in his spare time you can find him writing on the beaches of the mediterranean while sipping on a frappe.


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Read time: 3 mins