Focus on Focus

The home stretch.  The last enchilada.  For all the cookies.  However you want to word it, things are finally starting to wrap up this semester.  I don't know about all of you, but this semester has flown by.  We're talking swallow-and-coconut speed here.  (And anyone who understood that is automatically one hundred times better than those who didn't)

When it gets this close to the end of the semester, few things are as valuable as focus.  And fewer things are attacked on so many angles.  Friends.  Family.  Facebook.  Video games.  Shopping trips.  Impromptu Sweedish meatball parties ... you name it, it's calling for your attention.  Distraction is a powerful beast.

And we feed him.

So how can we defeat this monster that threatens to eat away all our free time, leaving us a panicked scrambling shell of a student, slamming away at a keyboard with speeds that leave your fingertips fractured and bleeding?  Well, I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that victory is always within your grasp.  The bad news is you have just enough rope to hang yourself.  Focus and discipline are rarely fun things to exercise, but there are a few tips that can make this battle easier:

1. Get out: The brain is a tricky little bugger.  If you constantly repeat the same kinds of activities in the same locations, your mind begins to expect those things and subconsciously prepare you for that kind of action.  Ever had trouble studying in bed?  Fall asleep in the same class no matter how awake you feel at the beginning?  Feel your stomach rumbling when you walk into a restaurant?  It's the same basic phenomena.  If you're like me and use your personal living space for relaxation, it's going to be a thousand times harder to study.  Not only are distractions present, but your mind has already warmed itself up for some fun.  Your own brain chemistry is working against you!  Go somewhere where you frequently study, or at least somewhere you don't frequently goof off.

2. Don't use your laptop: Let me clarify -- I'm not saying don't use any laptop.  If at all possible, use a public computer that has limited web access.  When you study on your own computer, it's going to be more tempting to hop on to Facebook or Twitter to check what everyone has to say.  And honestly, even typing that sentence made me want to jump on and check my own updates.  It's practically a reflex for people nowadays -- open browser, go to Facebook.

And yes, I realize that this has some logistical difficulties.  Sometimes projects require unrestricted internet access.  It's not a perfect plan, but if you can find a way to eliminate the temptation, do so.  It helps.

3. Silence your phone: Or if you're really feeling crazy, leave it behind.  For some of you, that may be like cutting off a limb.  I have a news flash for you: you'll live.  Get over it.  Not only are you constantly tempted to text, call, or Facebook, but you're much more likely to send or receive a self-sabotaging S.O.S.  If someone calls you with a more tempting activity (and let's be honest, if you're studying that's not difficult), you're much more likely to snap up the offer and put things off yet again.  Avoiding the situation entirely makes it easier to focus.  Duh.

And again, I realize there are some issues with this.  What if an emergency occurs?  What if someone desperately needs to ask a question?  A technique I've used in the past involves leaving my phone with a roommate and letting them know where I am.  If an important call or text comes in, he knows where to find me.  It's imperfect, but it works.

4. Don't blitz: Take breaks.  Reasonable breaks.  When I'm working on a big writing project, I'll usually stop about every hour and walk around campus for five or ten minutes.  There's not really a point to it, but stepping away from the project and getting some fresh air gives my brain a chance to slow down and process what's going on.  Sometimes I'll wander around and think about the paper, but more often I try to think about something else.  Give your brain a break every once in a while.  It will thank you.

5. Use what works for you: This isn't a dogmatic set of rules.  There is no magical formulae for productivity.  If you find yourself more distracted without your phone, constantly worried about what people might be saying, then ignore what I said and bring it with you.  Each of us are wired differently, and the trick is not stumbling upon the magical series of actions that forces you to be productive.  You have to want to be productive, or at least be willing to put legitimate, concerted effort towards it.

Of all the times to be focused in school, these last weeks are among the most important.  So saddle up, buckle down, put your nose to the grindstone, and kick it in to high gear.  Or whatever productivity metaphor you prefer.

Test Taking Strategies (literal light bulbs).

There are several different kinds of tests. One question that many people ask is: Why do we have to take tests? That is a good question. Let's start off by taking the "Why Do We Have to Take Tests" test.

Question #1.

What would the world be like if nobody took driving tests?

Questions #2.

What would people do if they never took vision tests?

Question #3.

Do I need to continue?

Without tests, we would live in a world of blurry-brained road-ragers who keep mistaking the gas for the brake. Sometimes tests are necessary, and even if they're not, sometimes we've just got to take them. Now that the semester is winding down, we've got to face it. Sometimes we've got to take tests. Here are some tips to keep you thinking on your toes before taking so many finals.

Tip #1
Study.

Don't just go into the test thinking that you'll ace it if you haven't even opened up a book. If you walk into the final and you haven't studied, please wear your running shoes. As soon as the professor administers the test, put down your pencil, and run to the nearest McDonald's for a job application.

Tip #2

Sometimes we study and we're just horrible test takers. That's okay. As long as the information is up there someplace, you should rest assured that it has the ability to come to you at the right time if you stop fidgeting and worrying. This brings me to my next tip....

Tip #3

Relax. The world won't end over a test. People don't say "give it the old college try" for no reason at all. Go in there with confidence and do your best.

Also, perhaps I should pass this tid-bit of information along to you. Studies have been done on students who were taking tests. The ones that tested with the best grades were the ones who were in the right mindset. Don't watch cartoons before your exam. Try thinking like a scientist, (or whatever it is you're hoping to be). Put yourself in the position of your professors. Try to think along the lines of those who you admire in your field. Go into the test with the mindset of success. Visualize yourself in the seat you are moving towards. Wear a tie. Bring your Einstein doll (I would bring my pine-plant that I named "Pine-stein"). Bring a light bulb and let it hover over your head. If you are taking a philosophy test, bring a giant question mark. Ask Galileo to come along. Write a letter to Abraham Lincoln. Do anything to help yourself get into the mindset and then -

Have a Happy Holiday!

Sincerely,
Gina LoBianco & The Writing Center Staff