What are some ways to help keep focused in school ?

Question

im 13 and im going into eighth grade. i procrastinate allllot! and im a really smart person.. its just that when i dont feel like working hard or doing my homework i cant seem to pull my self to do it. im trying to get better work and studying habits. and NO i do not have adhd.. im just lazy.please dont leave rude comments like " just work harder", because i am going to work harder this year. i just need some advice and tips on focusing and everything! pease help!?

Answer 1

at 13 that is totally normal but if you want to change you should ask your mom or who ever to push you a little harder to do it that's what i had to do with my mom because if i said i didn't want to go to school my mom would say then don't just do double tomorrow now i am a half a year behind but enough about my messed up self lol also try setting a study time get a schedule down you know like when i was in public school i would walk home get a snack change out of my school clothes then do my homework then i could goof off it really helped me i hope i helped

Answer 2

Keeping focused is about first of all identifying what it would be like to be focused. What does it mean? What would it look like for you to be focused? Write out everything that it means to you.

Then, *when* you don't match up with what you know "focused" looks like, you let go of that and do what you know that focused looks like. I say "when" because it will happen. It'll happen more in the beginning than later on, but it will happen that you will become unfocused and it's just a matter of pulling yourself back to where you want to be.

One very important thing to keep in mind: you do NOT have to feel like working to work. So many people think that you have to want to do something to do it--you don't. You CAN make yourself do your homework, but you need to accept that you feel the way you do and that you can still do your work feeling the way you do. When people say they can't make themselves do their work, what it really means is that they have this icky feeling and they think they can't work while they have the icky feeling. They can. They just have to do so. It's like the saying, "Feel the fear and do it anyway." The people who do things aren't fearless; they just keep doing things even though they're afraid. Just keep doing your work even when you don't want to. It sounds simple and it is. You say to yourself, "I know I don't feel like doing it, but I *am* doing it NOW." And do it. Even just one question, reading one sentence is proof of being able to make yourself do work even if you don't feel like it.

Btw, almost all laziness is about this inability to deal with the icky feelings surrounding things that have to be done. To avoid the icky feelings, the work is avoided. Perfect solution, right? Nope. What happens though is that those who do that don't learn to deal with those feelings. And they don't get anything done and they have additional icky feelings of guilt and lower self-worth.

Answer 3

Some people have found that Omega-3 fish oils help with concentration. Ask your mom if you can take some vitamins. Also make small goals and keep track of your progress. A good book to read is called-Do Hard Things. It's all about choosing the best for your life and rebel against a life of mediocrity.

I don't think you need to work harder. I think you need to find a new perspective or find a passion for your life. Some kids even do better doing work while listening to music. Try classical music...it sounds weird but it works for some students.

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/

Answer 4

just set goals and give yourself awards if you do complete a goal or have a reminder when you get off track so when you look at it it tells you . stop messing around and get to work that is what really helps. or have your friends to motivate you to keep going to get good grades and study more often.i hope this helped  

Answer 5

School is long behind me. However, I still remember the promises I made and failed after about the first month of school. Now I have many regrets. I think a big key factor is to look at yourself 20 or 30 years down the road. Where do you want to be then? Choices you make now will determine where you will be in the future. Don't think of it as just getting through school. Think of it as making excellent choices for the future.

Answer 6

It's natural to loose momentum when you're not really interested in a school assignment or project.  This happens frequenty with students who are under-challenged.  If you're bright and want to stay interested ask your teacher to give you a special challenge, it could keep you more interested.

Also...

Eat a balanced, healthy breakfast/lunch

exercise regularly

stay away from sugars in candy and pop

sit away from friends in classes you need to focus in

My other suggestion may be hard for you to grasp at your age.  That suggestion is that you simply recognize when you're falling off task and choosing to be lazy, and then taking control of the immaturity and the laziness that it brings.  Insist that your mind do what you need it to do as a responsible person would instead of listening to the child in you and blowing off your work.  Draw your mind back to your task over and over again - it is in doing so that your concentration will gradually become stronger and your bad habits lesser.

There will always be school or work or family responsibilities (or all of the above) to do... may as well get used to it.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I used to have trouble with that. I still have a little bit of trouble, but it's getting better. Well, you can put up reminders around your room. If you have a sibling or something, you can have them make sure you don't get any priveleges(computer, TV) until you finish. You could lock yourself somewhere quiet to work or just go to the library. That's about all I can say.

Answer 8

KDaniell, there are several people just like you, even adults. Instead of making promises to yourself, make commitments. To do this I would suggest you sit and make a schedule or a guidelines on goals you wish to accomplish. Next share these goals with your parents and set up an award system with them. This award system will involve consequences for failure as well as success. By doing this you should build up accountability on your part for your actions. This will also teach you character that will last. I am glad that you recognize your your problems and are willing to admit them. I want to challenge you to get started and focus on the finish line, Graduation Day. Another thing that will help you out is to ask your parents for chores to do around the house and see if they could award you for chores well done or consequences for chores not done. The reason I say that is that when I was your age my parents encouraged me to work. Through this I learn to be a self motivator instead of a quitter. Please let me know if I can be of any further help. You may e-mail me through my web site listed below. Keep up the good desires and have a good success. You are on the right path.