I have lack of attention

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Hi all.

I'm preparing for university exam (the exam is in June 2018). But nowadays i cant study much, because i have lack of attention. I can't focus on my lessons. I need to check social media for example. And i'm usually sleepy. How can i prevent this? Thanks

Have you tried coffee?

Something I do for reading is I point to the line I'm reading, and I'm not allowed to move my finger until I know what is going on. If it seems like the point of the sentence will come later, I use two fingers, one to move forward, the other to mark where I last understood what was going on. Some sentences need three or four fingers.

Another thing I do is draw an imaginary picture of the objects in the sentence/paragraph while I read them.

On the computer, I highlight sets of words until I see the picture.

My hunch is that if you understand the topic, it will be more interesting, and it will be easier to pay attention. But it's a hunch, based on my own experience. I can't read things that are boring or things that don't make sense.

It might also help to watch videos of the topic on youtube, or do a google image search and look at diagrams. That might help if you are more visual than verbal, which might be the reason you're falling asleep reading.

Are there sample exams online?

If there are, I believe it would be good to take one, so you can see what you're good at, and what you're not so good at.

That way, in your studying, you can focus on improving what you're not so good at.

I don't know you so would be very difficult to make suggestions. I can only tell you what helps me get my mind into an organized & productive state.

Vitamin B Complex as needed for focus -- it is water soluble so overdosing wouldn't be a risk. It does turn pee neon yellow.

Drink water to stay hydrated & avoid caffeine. Drinking coffee or tea frequently only gives me nervous energy, not quality energy for productive thinking. I have a lot of anxiety. Caffeine doesn't help my mind focus.

I say the phrase, "Just do it, don't hesitate." Then I get to work on the first thing that comes to mind. I try to do the easy things first, & switch off into something more difficult -- but only work on the difficult tasks a little bit at a time. For example, I had a PHP project that I was not coding very well. It helped if I just coded a small portion, switched to something easier, then once that was done, switch back to the PHP & code a little more. I don't normally like to multi-task. Though, it wasn't really multi-tasking. It is the same for watching a long movie or several episodes of a show. I need a break from the stimulus, even when it is enjoyable. Don't know why, but have to pause all forms of entertainment every 15-20 mins to rest my brain. It becomes too much.

Hope that post was helpful.

Also, I want to mention that sometimes I reread a sentence or clause ten times before my brain pays attention, depending on the day, how much is on my mind, etc.

I look words up all the time, too. It relieves the need to "go do something else" so it replaces the social media urge. And it also provides me with more information for understanding. Sometimes the looking up takes more time than the reading actually, and sometimes it's more interesting than the actual topic.

I just noticed another strategy I developed so that I could read. I keep the "look-up device" (the device I look things up on) off to the side, and the thing I'm reading in front of me. So I remember that the main goal is to continue forward in the reading. Otherwise, it's easy to get more interested in looking things up than doing the goal work.

Sometimes, the thing I'm looking up is extra important or difficult, and needs to be in front of me for me to really conquer it. In this case I keep the book I'm reading on my lap anyway. So when I put the computer away, I remember that the goal was to read the book.

You can go to a library or a silent cafe to study and leave your phone at home.

I also have a short attention span. I find my mind wandering when I'm supposed to be getting things done.

I found setting a timer helpful. I would set the timer for 5 minutes, or whatever I felt I could reasonably get away with, and then for the time set, relentlessly focus on the task. I'd remind myself if I got distracted that it was only 5 minutes and I can concentrate for that long. When the timer went off I made myself get up and walk away from the task and take a short break or do something else for a few minutes before cycling back to another 5 minutes of the first task.

There are also programmes, mainly for the computer which will block you for a set time period from checking social media sites. Once that time period is up, they will allow you to go to them. Perhaps something like that will help?