Start with the most important or the most difficult task you need to accomplish while you’re fresh. Get it out of the way, so that the rest of the work you’ve got to do will be smoother sailing, and will require less of you. Do something until it’s finished. It takes you a long time to go in and out of tasks, re-acclimating yourself to the job at hand. Instead of getting up and doing something else for a while, finish. Then take a break. Then start something new.
Find a quiet space when you want to focus. If you have trouble finding one where you are, get some noise-canceling headphones and just leave them on silent. Lots of people think that the radio on in the background is a good way to study, or that they can watch TV while grading papers. This is partially true. [5] X Research source Only listen to music if you’ve heard it before, and you like it. Don’t try to focus on watching a show you’ve never seen before.
Positive thinking is good, but you also have to put the work in. Don’t just assume that good vibes will carry you through a tough test. You’ve still got to study and think hard during the test itself. Take deep breaths if you get nervous performing difficult tasks. Focusing on your breathing and calming your nerves will help you perform.
Do this just before the task itself, and try to stay in that confident head-space. That’s where you want to be.
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Learn a new language, if you’re feeling really ambitious. Taking on an entirely different vocabulary can open up your mind in exciting ways.
Read everything. You don’t have to read heavy classic novels to get the most out of this. Read Westerns or Romance novels. Read the newspaper. Read magazines you like. Read it all.
It’s usually easier to remember to take one big break, usually for eating, but set a timer to go off every 50 minutes or so, to remind yourself to give yourself a break and do nothing. You need that time.
You can also use Internet blockers to help you out if you find the lure of messing around too strong when you’re trying to work on your computer. Delete unnecessary apps from your phone. You’ll spend less time clicking around on Facebook and other social media if you can’t do it in transit.
Watch fewer YouTube clips and short little . gif sites. If you want to sit down and invest in something, watch an engaging movie, documentary, or long-form show that you’re interested in. You can have fun to, and you don’t have to actually like reading Anna Karenina. Mental stamina isn’t just an excuse to be pretentious. Form an opinion, but focus and pay attention enough to form that opinion.
While most doctors and sleep scientists agree that humans require around 8 hours of sleep per night, individuals differ widely. You know your body best-if waking up in the morning feels like the end of the world, then you’re likely not getting enough. Don’t eat, or drink any caffeine, alcohol, or sugary beverages shortly before bed. When your body’s working to digest, your sleep suffers in quality.
Oatmeal, fruit, cereal, toast, and yogurt are all great breakfast choices if you’ve got to do some heavy thinking over the course of a day. Of course, if you’re a coffee drinker, it’s fine to have a cup-but stop after one. Avoid heavy saturated fats, sugary foods, and high caffeine levels. Over-doing the caffeine will almost certainly cause you to crash, and the first thing to suffer will be your mental stamina. Cut back on caffeine if you’re a regular user.
Use exercise as a break, or as a way to meditate. Just going on a short brisk walk after meals can be a great way of getting a little exercise. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
Use exercise as a break, or as a way to meditate. Just going on a short brisk walk after meals can be a great way of getting a little exercise. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
Try progressive muscle relaxation regularly, especially if you’re in the middle of something tough. It only takes fifteen minutes, and involves nothing more than slowly tensing and releasing your muscles. Consider meditation. Yoga, deep breathing, and other types of simple relaxation techniques can also be quite effective.
Psychostimulants don’t work for everyone, and side effects can vary depending on the person. It may take a while to get used to the drug.
