All prepared to study, ready with your books and notes for the IIT-JAM examination? Do you find it hard to read beyond a particular point? Do the things around you start to distract you? Well, this is a very common observation in most of the students. With the changing times and the age of technology hovering over us, we find it difficult to concentrate. The distractions around us take hold of our sincerity and before we know instead of sitting and studying for hours like we planned we end up day dreaming, watching videos or most commonly sleeping. This hampers our study and later we repent about the time we wasted as we could not avoid distractions.
IIT-JAM are one of the toughest examinations of the country which require full and sincere efforts of the students. While the way to achieve success in these examination is a little tedious owing to the vastness of syllabus and the investment in terms of time it requires. For such immense concentration it is necessary that we first learn to avoid distractions. Thus to address the same issue today we would like to talk about how we can avoid these distractions.
Let us start our discussion with what are the common form of distractions that we face during our IIT-JAM exam preparation. Ways of distractions
Common Distractions that we face during our IIT-JAM Exam preparation.
- Phone
No matter how important mobile phones have become in our lives; they are the most important reason for our distractions. If once you have opened your phone you are less likely to keep it down before 1-2 hours. Thus the 1-2 hours which could have been fruitful were spent merely to play games, watch video or any other activity. Though the mobile phones are a blessing during the exam preparation.
You can keep your notes and books handy in it and also you can find motivational videos on the phone. Your phone and the internet will help in clearing doubts and keeping you updated of what’s going around the world. Thus phones have to used very meritoriously to make the best of it.
- Laptop
Laptop similar to phones is your best friend during the preparation but it too contributes heavily in the distractions. While your laptop is the keeper of all your books, notes, toppers talk it also has a lot of memories like old photos, movies which can distract you. If you have an internet connection, then there is no stopping to the amount of distractions your laptop can create. Thus efficient and judicious use is important.
- Friends and family
Preparing for an exam like IIT-JAM requires you to be emotionally isolated and on your own where you can concentrate and have no distractions. While candidates who have prepared for this exam understand the intensity of the exam, the others find it difficult to come in sync with you. Thus many times friends and family can also act as distractions with their constant calling and messaging. So to avoid this make sure you fix the timing of talking with friends and family. If you are with your family, you can have food with your family. But, try to avoid the foods which affect to your preparation like chocolate, junk foods etc..
- Social Media
Social media today is a platform which does the best job in distracting everyone. From Facebook to Instagram to YouTube, people use these platforms to showcase how amazing their life is which makes you feel bad and thus distracts you immensely. A friend going to party, a cousin going for a trip, your colleagues enjoying while shopping, makes you feel bad and you wish your life would be something beyond the four walls of your room. Well always remember nothing great comes easy so your life might be miserable right now but once the exam is done it is going to be better than many other around.
- Sleep
This list couldn’t be complete without giving due regards to the one distractions we have no clue how to get over with. This distraction is sleep. Late night studies are very common for engineers but what it takes away is your sleep. If you sleep late and wake up early you will surely be sleepy all night through, which clearly is not a good decision. So manage your sleep well and make sure you take 7 hours of sleep minimum in a day.
These are the elements that are your main source of distractions, so now let’s discuss ways to avoid distractions.
How to Avoid Distractions during the exam preparation?
- Understand why?
We never get distracted while watching movies or series on Netflix. Have you ever wondered why? Because we know why we are watching it. Similarly, during preparation, know why you are doing and what you are doing. Once your motive for clearing the exam is known, concentrating will be a piece of cake. So write down why you want to clear the GATE/ ESE Examination and you are good to go.
- Stay away from social media platforms
While you are preparing for your exam, make sure you stay away from social media. This will keep you away from all the fun and parties your friends are having. Thus help in keeping your concentration intact.
While it maybe difficult for you at the start to stay away from WhatsApp and Facebook, but once you get busy with the exam preparation you will get accustomed to a lifestyle without social media and you will love it.
- Make a schedule
Whether it is about life or studying for an exam, a plan always helps. So before you start your preparation make sure you have a plan in place about how you plan to study all the subjects, when you have to revise, when solve questions and everything. So right till the last detail of the day like eating food and sleeping, plan everything out so that you do not wake up in the morning all blank with nothing to do. When you have an agenda in place for the day you concentrate more and are sincere in your efforts.
- Laptop and phone only study material
While everything these days related to the preparation is available online having a laptop and a smart phone is a blessing but make sure you let it remain so. Therefore, before starting your preparation are sure to clean everything from your laptop and phones and keep just the study related material. When you have nothing on her phone or laptop you surely are less likely to be distracted.
- Restrict usage of internet
while planning your day keep time for browsing the Internet too. While studying a subject if you feel like you need to search topic on the internet write it down on a piece of paper and search it when you have allotted the time for it. Thus maintain the discipline to not be using the internet always instead live a balanced life.
Some More Tips:
- Take Breaks
Sitting on the study table engrossed in your book is a good thing but doing it all throughout the day will bring your fatigue and after one time your brain will stop concentrating. Therefore, it is necessary that during the preparation include breaks in your plan. At the beginning you can start with taking smaller 5 minutes break every hour or half an hour. Once you become used to of sitting for long hours you can increase your study hours and take breaks in longer duration. One a week or once a month reward yourself and you can also plan for an outing with your friend. This will freshen up your mood and help you get back to study with full sincerity.
- Utilize your breaks effectively
While it is necessary to take breaks, it is important as to how you spend your breaks. Browsing the internet and taking solace at social media is a bad way of taking breaks instead you can read, listen to music, watch inspirational video or simply go for a walk. The break should be refreshing which encourages you to study further.
- Stop procrastinating
Do the work when it is supposed to be done, delaying only adds up to the work and you end up not doing anything at all. Procrastination is bad not just during preparation but also in daily life.
- Concentrate on the smaller steps ahead instead of the end results
Most of the students get distracted thinking about how amazing their life will be when they clear the exam. Well thinking about it is good but not at the cost of your short term goals. So don’t worry about the final result i.e IIT-JAM final result, instead concentrate on the near future goals of sticking to the plan and not completing everything on time.
- Stay happy and do not pity yourself
Preparing for the IIT-JAM Examination was your decision so while in the preparing phase stay happy and do not pity yourself. Your life was your choice and repenting it will just make things worse. Preparation time is a tough phase but giving upon it is being a loser so be a warrior and fight this phase too. You can watch toppers talk of various toppers who will tell you how to study effectively and avoid distractions.
Summary
While overcoming these distractions will be a little difficult at first but nothing good comes easy. Before you start wondering on how to follow so many guidelines there are some important notes you need to know:
To avoid distractions is tough. When it comes to distractions, you’re not the only one. It’s not easy to stay on task when you need to work for hours at a time. However, some people are able to avoid distractions. The question is: why them and not you? Well it is the practice which has helped them to avoid distractions.
No one taught you how to focus. It’s funny yet ironic that all throughout our school days we were never taught how to learn and be focused. Even though that’s all we did there. It was just assumed, and ultimately it was hit or miss on whether or not you ended up knowing how to do those things at all. So while it didn’t happen earlier it’s never too late to start. So begin your journey of avoiding distractions today.
The tools to help master your ability to focus. Since everyone’s left to their own devices, it’s up to you to find ways to master your focus ability. That’s what these tips are for, so you can finally stay focused and on track with what we want to accomplish for ourselves.
Also Read: Got bored of long study hours during CSIR-UGC NET/JRF Preparation?
Have hectic class schedules and long study hours left you totally exhausted? Are you sitting and wondering what to do in your free time? You desperately need a break but a break, that doesn’t take you away from your schedule and instead boosts up your exam preparation. Well, firstly it is extremely important that you take breaks in between long study hours as they will help your brain process the information you are bombarding it with daily. (Continue Read….)
Conclusion
These tips will make things clear in your mind. It will solve your problem of being distracted when studying. So make sure you sit and analyze what is it that distracts you the most and then find a solution for the same. Making a plan always comes in handy so schedule everything down and paste in in front of your study table. So that it reminds you daily.
Going off track is not a problem, but not coming back on track is a problem. So whatever has happened in the past let it go. Give a new beginning to your preparation keeping all the above points in mind and give your best. Always remember that successful people are not gifted, they just work hard and succeed on purpose.
We hope this article helps you in your preparation. Feel free to write to us if you have any queries.
