How to Stay Focused When You’re Studying from Home - Advice from the Experts

From children doing homework to parents studying for a professional qualification to undergraduates studying remotely, the 21st century home has to double as a place of study more than ever before. Three million children are homeschooled in the US, while 98 percent of universities offer online courses. 

While there are obvious benefits to studying at home, there are some potential drawbacks, too. The most obvious is that while it is easy to make sure you put in the hours when you are in a classroom with a teacher or lecturer looking on, it can be another matter to stay focused on your studies when you have to rely on self-discipline. 

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Having an ergonomic desk and study space is a vital first step to make your learning environment comfortable and somewhere you want to spend time. But there are tips and tricks for staying focused too. We’ve sought advice from some experts and asked them to share their knowledge. 

What are the first steps for students struggling to find study motivation?

The most effective thing you can do is to actually create a habit out of studying. To do that, the first step is to actually schedule beforehand when you will study. If you keep it at approximately the same time every day, then quickly you will find yourself easily sliding into studying mode when that time comes.

The second thing you need to do is to create rewards to associate this habit with. The more that you repeat this process, the easier it will be. Dimitris Gkiokas, Researcher and Founder at The Metalearners

Can self-discipline be learned?

Self-discipline is not an innate skill that only a select few possess. It's a learned behavior that almost anyone can develop with practice and the right strategies. By putting these tips into action, you're on your way to becoming more disciplined:

1. Define your goals with clarity
2. Be honest about your limitations
3. Prioritize and plan as best as possible
4. Break down goals into smaller, actionable steps
5. Find accountability partners 
6. Reward yourself for progress
7. Have a plan B (if you need one)

Becoming more disciplined is like building muscle—the more you work on it, the stronger it gets. Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, CDCES, MBA, Chief Clinical Officer at Calm

Can you provide some tips for staying mentally focussed during pregnancy?

From a nutrition standpoint, one of the best ways to stay focused in pregnancy is to eat consistently throughout the day, even if you're having a hard time tolerating "healthy" foods. This is because our brains need fuel to function. Focus on pairing carbs with protein, fat, and fiber for lasting energy, and soothing nausea with foods that sound good. You can also try ginger or peppermint if nausea is particularly distracting. Finally, staying hydrated and finding safe ways to move your body regularly are proven to help with mental clarity at any stage of life, pregnancy included. McKenzie Caldwell, MPH, RDN, fertility and prenatal dietitian at Feed Your Zest

What are the key elements for a home study environment that promotes focus and concentration?

Key elements for a home study environment that promotes focus include a clutter-free space and having ergonomic furniture, like supportive chairs or even a massage chair that can make a big difference. Together, these elements help reduce discomfort and tension, allowing you to concentrate better and study more effectively. Julia Anne Gumanay, Blog Expert / Product Specialist at Wish Rock Relaxation

What advice can you offer to help people stay focused in today's hybrid work and study environment?

My biggest piece of advice is to have a specific space set aside somewhere in your house or apartment that is dedicated to school or work. If you are lucky enough to have a separate room, that’s great, but, even if it is as small as one corner of your dining table or living room, it can be useful. This space should allow you to leave your work- or school-related materials in the same place, allowing you to pick up where you left off. The utility of having a separate space is that it can help put your brain in the right place while you are working or studying. Your brain will start to associate your space with school or work, and you will find that it is easier to focus when you are in your dedicated space. It also allows you to walk away and leave it alone when you are done – even if it is in your living room, for instance, you can say to yourself “I’m not at my desk right now. I don’t have to think about school or work unless I am.” Getting that kind of distance can be useful for when you don’t want to be thinking about work or school during your downtime. Rob Baranowski, MS, JD, Technology Consultant for the Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization

What are your top tips to help homeschool students stay focused?

Homeschoolers enjoy tailored and personalized education, but even with those benefits, sometimes it can be challenging to keep your student focused. On such days, try shifting the classroom to a new area. Fresh environments can shake up monotonous routines and make learning more engaging and enjoyable. Exploring outdoor parks, libraries, coffee shops, or even other rooms in the house can transform the classroom and reignite a student’s interest.

Students have a limit to how long they can continuously focus. Research shows that taking a rest break every 45 minutes can boost concentration and productivity. A brief pause for a snack, light exercise, or quick game can help the student (and the teacher!) recharge and reset for the next lesson. If you or your student are struggling with burnout, consider adding some regular breaks to your routine. By combining varied study environments with regular breaks, parents can achieve a balanced and flexible learning environment for their students to help them stay motivated and attentive. These strategies foster a more dynamic and effective learning environment for students. Alexandria Letkeman, owner and founder of  The HomeScholar

How important is a dedicated study space, and what should it include?

A dedicated space is important for focusing and keeping organized. When books and materials have a specific place, it is easier to stay organized and find things when you need them. This saves time and assists in getting started quickly. Also, using the same space signals to your brain that it is time to concentrate on your homework.

Designate a location as a study space. For example, it can be at the kitchen table or in your bedroom. When possible, it needs to be a quiet location away from distractions. Include a portable lamp if there is not much lighting. Your study space should include a binder or folders organized by school subjects to keep your papers and assignments organized. A second binder or folders can be used to keep finished work in, so you don’t need to carry that work back and forth to school, but the work can be accessed to study for exams.

If your dedicated space, such as a kitchen table, is also used for other activities, use a box to keep all your books and materials in. That way you can set out your books and materials on the table each night for homework and then quickly pack back up when finished.” Lisa Bigney  M.A., M.Ed., Co-Director Rhode Island Tutorial & Educational Services

Are there specific techniques or tools that can help students improve concentration during their study time?

Easy ways to keep our child and ourselves focused on schoolwork would include utilizing classical music Like “Mozart For study” on YouTube, having a dedicated workspace (but being flexible to move to different areas throughout the day), and eliminating clutter within the room so the child can focus on work. Utilizing crates to keep all of our supplies handy helps to eliminate finding supplies at the last minute.

Organizing a fun pencil box with various supplies needed for any subject is super helpful to eliminate stalling techniques. Lastly, take lots of breaks with physical activities in between subjects. A bonus tip is to have a child-friendly timer that keeps him or her on task with a visual schedule. Kristen Adkins, MAT, http://www.impressingminds.com/

What is the best home study routine to help students stay focused?

The most effective home study routine to help students stay focused is one that is tailored to individual needs. Factors to consider include sensory, energy, structural/time management, physical comfort, and learning style. As someone with ADHD and experience working with students with similar attributes, I have found that the following strategies work best:

Skills:

• Being self-aware of strengths, challenges, and needs
• Proactively planning ahead for supply needs, resource needs, and deadlines
• Developing perseverance plans for times when feeling stuck
• Learning to type and becoming tech-savvy to increase efficiency and utilize tools while minimizing distractions

Location:

• Working with others around for positive outside accountability
• Fulfilling dopamine-craving needs with activities like listening to upbeat music, movement, and snacks
• Avoiding distractions like social media and video games

Time:

• Establishing a consistent and scheduled study time
• Allowing for flexibility based on availability and circadian rhythm
• Striking a balance between motivation and stress by creating a manageable level of pressure.

Heather Chatem M.A, Executive Director of Samara Learning Center

What tips can you offer to help homeschoolers with exam preparation?

Use Your Textbook Wisely - Treat your textbook like a workbook. Highlight key points and make side notes as you read. Techniques like underlining, using arrows or asterisks, and highlighting important words or phrases can help you remember crucial information and quickly find material when studying for tests.

Expand Your Vocabulary - Keep a dictionary handy as part of your learning toolkit. Look up unfamiliar words, read their definitions, and make a habit of writing them down. This practice not only boosts your vocabulary but also helps you retain newly learned information.

Avoid Last-Minute Cramming - Don’t try to learn everything the night before a test. If you haven't grasped the material by then, cramming for an hour is unlikely to help. Consistently studying over the course of several days is the most effective way to prepare for any exam.

Choose the Right Time to Test - Tests are useful for gauging your understanding, but external factors can impact your performance. Lack of sleep, hunger, illness, or stress can affect memory retention. Schedule your tests for when you feel your best—whether that’s first thing in the morning after a good night’s sleep or later in the day when you’re alert and focused.

Rosemary Giordano Head of School at Inspire Homeschool Academy

Can you provide some tips for job seekers to stay focused and motivated?

As a person with a disability I understand the challenges of staying focused and motivated during a job search. Adopting a proactive and structured approach can help. Start by setting small, manageable goals to break the process into less overwhelming steps, and celebrate each achievement.

Utilize your support network, including family, friends, and vocational rehabilitation services, for support and guidance. It's also important to take advantage of resources specifically designed for job seekers with disabilities, such as assistive technology and inclusive job boards.

Finally, maintaining mental and physical well-being through mindfulness, exercise, and self-care practices will help sustain your motivation throughout the job search.

Miranda Swafford, MPA, CWDP, Executive Director of Mississippi Valley Workforce Development Board

Could you offer some study tips that might be helpful to neurodivergent students?

It's important to recognize that all neurodivergent students are unique individuals with their own needs, so they will need to explore ideas and figure out what works best for them and their individual brains! Here are a few things that might be helpful for ND students to consider while studying at home: 

1. Find a quiet space with minimal distractions. It can often help to have a space your brain recognizes as carved out for work. Ideally it has natural light, quiet and uncluttered ambiance, and everything you need within arm's reach. 
2. Try headphones! Some people need the noise-canceling element, others enjoy music or white noise. Regardless of what works best for your brain, headphones can be incredibly helpful. 
3. Keep fidgets handy. Having sensory input can be critical for neurodivergent brains. Find a positive, productive outlet for those hands! 
4. Make visuals. Even the process of creating visuals that never gets used helps us remember what we're learning. Pick up some paper and writing utensils, and get to work!
5. Give the Pomodoro Technique a shot! Often by giving ourselves a specific window in which we are going to work, our brains can better focus knowing there is an end in sight! 

Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech

To what extent do you agree with the common contention that minority groups have to study twice as hard to succeed?

Individuals who are marginalized and impacted by systemic oppression often have to perform at a higher rate to get the same recognition as people who are less impacted by systemic oppression. Performance, whether at school or in the workplace can be objective such as grades, test scores, or project deliverables.

The barriers present to overcome objective barriers result in lower grades and test scores for youth and adolescents and may result in challenges achieving work place outcomes, deliverables, and performance goals for adults. Performance can also be subjective such as communication style and language differences, gender roles and expectations, or various biases that impact schools and works places socially and structurally.

The efforts to overcome subjective barriers result higher need to perform, mask or code switch, leading to an increase in anxiety and mood disorders, further impacting the cycle of minority stress. Overall what folks who are impacted by minority stress are combating is studying the social norms of expectations developed based on post-colonial expectations, which rarely demonstrates what someone is capable of only what they can perform.

Nick Marzo, MS LPC, LMHC, CST=S, ACS, Director at Modern Path

To what extent is it possible to study remotely to become a fire officer?

With advancement in technology, it is surely possible to study remotely to become an officer. Since 2013, I have personally trained thousands of successful fire candidates to achieve every rank from entry-level firefighter to fire chief.

Whether in person or remotely, it still requires effort and commitment from the candidate. The advantages of remote learning include ease of scheduling, little or no travel time or costs and flexible scheduling for everyone's busy schedules. I certainly advocate remote learning.

Chief Freddie Fernandez, Founder/Owner of Fire Assessment Center Prep Deputy Fire Chief, Miami Fire Rescue (retired)

What advice can you offer to students who are struggling to focus on studies due to personal difficulties?

I spoke to my colleague’s here at Wesley House, all whom are or have been finishing up their Master’s and/or Bachelor's. The common denominator was to not isolate because isolation can often lead to dropping out and experiencing a mental health decline.

We have found that having study groups where one can meet schoolmates to go over each other’s questions and notes helps build friendships, making school more enjoyable. One alumnus said if an individual has a disability, inquire about disability support services; for proper accommodations, where a student can potentially receive a private room to study or take a test. They may also provide headphones, and additional assistance.

Another highly recommended to study for 30 minutes at a time and after studying she recommends taking a 10-minute break doing meditation, allowing your mind to chew and digest all one has taken in. Another student stated she has greatly benefited by blocking out specific time and using studies as an escape, to build a friendly relationship with school.

This practice has facilitated the ability to always pass her classes and not have to retake or make up any credits. All Wesley House students agree on being intentionally grateful to have the opportunity to study and acquire a degree in a field that one is passionate about. Also, get familiar with your surroundings, becoming aware of the non-profits around you, and asking for help before an issue becomes overwhelming.

We highly recommend getting to know local food pantries, and assistance available to students, such as CalFresh, which can provide additional assistance in case a student runs into tough times and needs food, rental assistance, and or guidance when trying to graduate while also seeking employment. That support system is vital.

Whether that is resources or people, we need the assistance of our neighbors to assist and enhance each other’s lives.

Maria Khalifa, CalFresh Outreach Coordinator at Wesley House