How to Stay Focused in Class

With many people returning to physical classrooms, staying focused in class can be complicated. But don’t fret; there are some ways to learn how to stay focused during classes by using different systems.

In this guide, we’ll first identify your learning style, which can be a good way to retain information and study better. Then, we’ll review a few activities that should help support your studying goals, from staying hydrated to creating a goal and reward system.

We have a lot to unpack, so let’s start by identifying your way of learning and the best ways to stay focused.

Key Takeaways

• Before you feel enticed to get some tips on staying focused, start by identifying your learning style.
• There are four main methods of learning: auditory, which has a preference for listening; visual, which prefers graphics; tactile, which goes for experiences and physical activities; and reading and writing, which prefers reading in general.
• Some activities that can help you stay focused in class include staying hydrated, starting your day well-rested, eliminating distractions, and involving yourself in discussions.
• You can also help your focus by keeping your brain active with notes, staying organized with deadlines with calendars, and creating a motivation-reward system.
• An alternative is finding natural supplements that can help with energy and mood, like TUNE IN, a powdered drink that’s both versatile and tasty to help brain function.

Identify Your Learning Style

Before moving to some actual tips, you should circle back to understand how you learn. 

Your learning style consists of different methods people have to understand new information. There are four predominant learning styles: auditory, visual, tactile, and reading. And while classrooms typically focus on reading-writing techniques, there are different ways to access knowledge.

Sometimes, staying focused in class is a matter of understanding which techniques or methods work best for you to acquire knowledge during class. You might learn by listening to the lecture but need a way to recover that information because you can get that information in the long term.

Don’t fret; in this next section, we’ll review the different styles, their characteristics, and some ways to practice each.

Auditory

Let’s start with auditory learners. Basically, these types of people grasp the information better through listening. Sometimes, you might catch yourself talking out loud, enjoying a discussion, or preferring oral lectures over reading chapters. They can also memorize information in a sequence by repeating it to themselves (or others).

If this is the case, you can ask your teacher if you can record the sessions for recapping later. Some studying tips for auditory learners also include using podcasts or listening to videos explaining the information or simply having some music and repeating the information to yourself while studying.

Visual

Now, let’s talk about the visual learning style. These people thrive if the information is presented in an eye-catching format. They often prefer using infographics, mental maps, and other techniques that require drawing or putting the ideas on a whiteboard rather than writing them down on paper.

Sometimes, these learners might also doodle to aid memory during their note-taking, usually prefer open environments, and are keen to remember visual details. 

If you are like this, some good strategies for learners include using visual aids for note-taking, like diagrams, charts, mental maps, or infographics.

Sit in a position in your classes where you can see the whiteboard or teaching materials clearly, and try using color-coded information if you are taking notes to memorize and understand concepts.

Tactile / Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic learners (also called tactile learners) are typically full of energy and tend to be active throughout the classroom, preferring physical activities. They often prefer hands-on experiences, tend to be in motion, and might even use physical expressions while talking. 

You might find them tapping their pencil or foot while studying and preferring hand projects over reading or writing tasks.

If this is your type of learning, it's better to incorporate physical activities during the learning process. While reviewing information, try breaking up your session with physical activities and look for practical cases in which the information can be applied.

Finding places without too many distractions is key, so try sitting by a quiet and non-distracting section of the classroom or whenever you are studying. Consider looking at materials about what you are learning, or try experiments or role-playing exercises to help your learning.

Read / Write

Lastly, if you are a reading/writing learner, you might easily absorb and remember details from articles, books, or notes. These learners love reading for pleasure and are often proficient in writing detailed notes over verbal or visual instructions.

These learners often excel in writing exercises like essays, which can also be helpful for them to understand new concepts. If you are like this, the best way to stay focused in class is to emphasize your note-taking and rewrite the information in your own words. 

Try translating visual or auditive concepts into written formats, use highlighting, and write questions or notes to organize your information.

Make Sure You’re Hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated during class is key if you want to stay focused during the lecture. Mild dehydration can lead to slower reaction times, feeling tired, and even getting a mood low that makes you feel less alert.

Staying hydrated can help you keep these in check, and even trying cold water can be helpful to stay awake and alert without consuming caffeine.

Start Your Day Well Rested

Sleep can also be a critical factor for cognitive performance, which can be directly linked to focus, concentration, and even mood during classes.

Because of this, even temporary sleep deprivation could make you feel slow and affect memory and decision-making. Try listening to your body and get adequate amounts of sleep based on how you feel.

Getting enough sleep can help maintain mental clarity, prevent distractions, and prepare you to retain information from lectures or readings more easily.

Eliminate Distractions

Minimize distractions as much as possible if you want to keep your focus and enhance learning in general.

The key to this is to create an environment that can conduce to concentration, so try staying in a place without noise and clutter. One useful tip is to leave your phone in silence or in do not disturb.

If you can control your digital and physical interruptions around you, you can significantly improve your ability to concentrate and process information, leading to better learning and productivity.

You can try this by using apps that will block your phone or use headphones with music to keep yourself from external buzz.

Be Involved in the Discussion

Now, a way to solve on how to stay focused in class is to keep yourself involved in the discussion. Try being active and participating during class, especially if you have to talk with other people if you have group activities.

Engaging in conversations and asking questions can allow for a deeper understanding of the subject and even create critical thinking skills. This also encourages learning with other people and even socializing, motivating you to stay engaged in class.

Keep the Brain Active by Taking Detailed Notes

Note-taking is a powerful tool for learning and overall memory retention. Try finding a style that helps you with this by using key points or summarizing information in your own words to help you process and internalize the material.

That said, there are many ways to take notes, from the Cornell note-taking method to using doodles, graphics, or color codes to differentiate between topics.

This type of active engagement with content from lectures can help understand the content better and help with recall and memory. Even more, well-organized notes can be a valuable resource for review and revision, helping with long-term retention.

Stay Organized with a Calendar for Deadlines

Keeping a good organization with your notes, calendar, and overall deadlines are all key ingredients for effective time management, feeling less stressed, and staying focused in class.

You can use a physical agenda or journal to help you keep up with tasks and activities or use Google Calendar or other apps that can help you track activities throughout your different devices.

Keeping track of these can help you prioritize tasks, let you know when it is important to go to class (like with debates or class participation) and avoid last-minute rushes.

This ensures that you use the right time for study, rest, and other activities, leading to a more balanced academic (or professional) life.

Find Sources of Motivation & Reward

A key component to help you create feel-good hormones to help you focus is to find natural sources of motivation and set up a reward system for it. This can help you boost productivity or focus, especially if you set specific goals and reward yourself after getting to them.

Whether you reward yourself, ask a friend to give you positive reinforcement, or seek help from successful peers, mentors, or teachers, the key to this is to find what motivates you.

This can help you maintain high enthusiasm and commitment to support your goals and keep you focused while studying.

But before you start thinking about the reward itself (like a coffee after class or getting a new pen or gadget), think of what could help you feel generally happy while attending class. 

You also don’t need to buy material things; simply setting rewards like giving yourself some time, playing video games, watching something you like, or simply taking a stroll to a place you like can also work in this system.

Natural Ways to Stay Focused While Studying

While you might initially feel enticed to get some coffee to stay focused, caffeine can increase alertness in the short term but can make you feel even more tired in the long term. Because of that, you should look for other types of ingredients that help you maintain good energy levels, like adaptogens or nootropics.

If you want an easy and natural way to get energy while keeping the right amount of safe ingredients, you should try TUNE IN. This powdered drink can increase your brain’s production of three key hormones for focus, including dopamine, epinephrine, and acetylcholine.

It's fully caffeine-free, low-calorie, and can easily be mixed with juice, tea, or water, or even bring it with your favorite smoothie to class. It has key ingredients that can help you with focus, like vitamin B, vitamin B1, lion’s mane, cordyceps, and alpha GPC for an extra energy boost.

You can try this drink in two delicious flavors: Pink Lemonade and Tropical Punch. And by being all-natural, with no sugar or caffeine, it is a tasty and natural way to help you stay focused while studying.

Final Thoughts

And with this, we’ve got to the end of our article on how to stay focused in class. First, we looked at identifying your learning style so you can get a better idea of the best way to get knowledge, whether you prefer listening, writing, visual classes, or having more practical cases.

We also had key tips to help you stay focused in class, like staying hydrated, going into class well-rested, eliminating distractions while studying, and practicing your note-keeping.

Remember that staying focused in class can be a process. You can start with small steps and activities and then slowly start adding other tips, so don’t feel overwhelmed by trying to do a lot at once.

Relax, start with whatever feels right at first, and slowly start changing your habits and motivation towards your class. 

FAQs

How Do I Focus Better in Class?

To focus better in class, try to prime your mind beforehand, silence distractions, engage actively, and take refreshing breaks to keep your brain on board.

Why Am I Struggling to Focus in Class?

If you’re struggling to focus in class, check your sleep, rule out underlying issues, and eliminate external distractions to create a supportive learning environment.

How Can I Focus 100% on Studying?

To focus 100% on studying, break down tasks, find a quiet space, and reward yourself for progress to stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

How Do You Focus on a Boring Class?

If you can’t focus on a boring class, try to be an active learner, visualize the concepts, and take quick mental breaks to refresh your focus and find hidden interest in the material.