A Clear Mind by Laura

A Clear Mind by Laura - January 2014 Scholarship Essay

Focus, focus, focus. I have often found that the most difficult part of studying is starting the process. Today, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and countless games and apps on phones, tablets, and computers provide enough distractions to keep the average student from completing homework or studying for an upcoming exam. In my own experiences, I have found that the most effective method of studying is completely turning my phone off or placing it in another room, going for a run or going to the gym, and finally, sitting in a quiet room to work.

Turning off my phone takes away any distractions and prevents me from picking it up at every buzz. A simple "check" of Twitter could turn into hours of scrolling through tweets. The safest choice is to turn the phone off so I will not have any temptations to text or "glance" at social media sites.

My other method, working out, has been successful in helping me to clear my mind and to keep me from becoming too restless. When the weather is nice enough, a short run with my dog around the park is enough to do the job. I feel better after working out and it makes me tired enough to be able to sit down and finish my homework. When the weather becomes cold, as it often does in Montana, I either do sit-ups or push-ups between assignments or periodically while studying, or I go to our local gym for a couple of hours if I have the time. This method has multiple benefits, as I am able to stay both physically and mentally healthy. While working out is not an enjoyable thing for many people, it is worth it to be able to successfully focus on studying.

Distractions are what keep students from their full potential. Without these distractions, a student would have little to keep him or her from completing work or focusing in school. With the technology of today, distractions are becoming extremely easy to find. In order to successfully study, one must limit distractions as much as possible. A clear mind and a relaxed body are also very important factors. I have found the most success in distancing myself from social media and unnecessary technology, along with doing some sort of exercise before or during studying.