According to an article published in Kappan Online in 2017, students are likely to get distracted every five minutes out of every 15 minutes of their study time. Eight years down the line, it has only increased further with enhanced access to smartphones, TVs, virtual assistants, and more.

It is harder for student in 2025 because a lot of their learning process requires having internet access. From online tuitions to school projects, the mandatory use of laptops or cellular devices leads them to entertainment apps. These require regular monitoring by parents and guardians, who must also oversee their children’s study habits and routines.

7 ways to avoid distractions and stay focused on studying

Children require meditative qualities to remain focused in an era of unending notifications. However, it is harder for restless, curious, and growing kids to stay calm and concentrate on one thing.

Here’s where the 7 ways to avoid distractions and stay focused on studying can help them grow a horse’s vision. These are actionable tips to create a productive environment:

1. Being in the zone

The term ‘zone’ refers to a particular area dedicated to carrying out a specific activity. It is also a way to train your state of mind to become a part of that zone.

For example, going to a basketball court to play signifies a specific area where participants engage in this sport. After bringing your physical presence, you need to mentally accustom yourself to play.

It is the same with studies.

Students first need a zone – it could be a study table or a room.

Arrange all study equipment from stationery to books.

And then begin learning.

Students need to be a part of different zones continuously to recognize and prioritize their study zone. Extracurricular activities are beneficial in such scenarios because each environment helps them adapt to a specific setting.

For example, practicing singing in a choir inside a music room refrains listeners from making noise otherwise. Practicing football in the playground requires complete focus to prevent injury.

So, exposure to different zones helps students understand the value of each.

2. Getting rid of distractions

To fully immerse themselves in the study zone, students need to eliminate distractions that cause disturbance.

A minute of checking their smartphones for notifications can lead to hours of doom-scrolling. Such indulgences become more apparent for those who aren’t that keen on books – and that’s like 90% of growing kids.

Distractions aren’t necessarily devices; they can also be a mind full of thoughts or absolute blankness. Here’s where selective attention comes to play.

3. Selective attention

The blog you’re reading right now is a product of selective attention where the writer (me) has kept away all distractions to give it life! The phone is switched off, the room is secluded, and every thought is focused on a successful completion.

Since students have to prepare multiple subjects, it is both more complex and imperative for them to have selective attention. Before dedicating time to every new chapter you study, you have to filter out irrelevant information that doesn’t align.

Select a specific time to dedicate to one subject to extract maximum potential within the set timeframe. Move on to another book subject or activity once time is over, and repeat the same level of attentiveness.

4. Practice tests

Small children tend to receive familial support due to the ease of syllabus, unlike older ones who depend more on tutors and self-study.

With time, many students start procrastinating when they know they don’t have exams nearby. Suddenly, their association with books is limited to a phase that begins one month before exams.

Since tests don’t happen all year round, students often grow reluctant towards a 365-day proper study routine. Their preparations become time sensitive as exams approach.

Practice tests are the only way to fight this. These are self-examination techniques for students to solve exam papers from previous years.

You can also write down questions while studying in a new chapter and solve them once you are done. The instant gratification of learning something new through practice tests enhances confidence and improves memory retention.

5. Doing the hard things first

Following the concept of ‘eat that frog’, we should tackle the most difficult and significant tasks first. When you sit to study, your brain has maximum capacity to learn complex subjects.

For example, if you find mathematics hard, solve sums first and then move on to easier and enjoyable subjects. Tax your brain at the beginning of your study session to not only complete more challenging tasks for the day but also to retain what you learn.

Studying tough subjects when you’re already exhausted will either cause you to skip them altogether or go over your head. This often leads to academic stress, which can result in a fear of failure and poor academic performance.

6. Having a plan

A regular school day for a student comes with a routine. It is divided into specific time periods, as teachers specialize in individual subjects according to their expertise.

Children need a study schedule, a plan of action similar to the routine they follow at school. For example, let’s say a student studies from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every evening. The first hour is dedicated to the most challenging subject, the second hour to a moderate one, and the last hour to what they find most interesting. The following day, the pattern repeats for different subjects, giving equal time to all that they need to learn.

A to-do list helps students understand which tasks they need to tackle first. Every night, plan for the following day to evenly distribute time and stick to a schedule. The process builds accountability, and when done correctly, helps achieve academic excellence.

7. Reward yourself

Rewarding yourself after each accomplishment makes you look forward to doing better. It can be as simple as eating your favorite snack, playing a video game for an hour, or watching a TV show. But every reward should be utilized only when you have proven your worth.

It is a self-accountability and solely a student’s responsibility. But it is also how they can be true to themselves and look forward to achieving goals.

Flexibility is key!

It is easy to lose focus and never gain it back when you’re being too hard on yourself. While exploring how the points mentioned above work for you, try different things that work for you.

For example, study techniques such as the Pomodoro and mind mapping are tested methods to experiment with.

While multi-tasking is distracting for most, some students sharpen their brains by indulging in diverse activities. At one moment, they are reading, then they are sketching, and then writing.

Only experimenting with different techniques will help you find what works for you. Try to keep yourself busy with activities that revolve around academics while you’re studying to optimize study time!