But first identify what it is that distracts you, writes Richa Pant.

Concentration is the ability to focus one's thinking in the direction one wants. It's a vital skill to develop for students as it can help them immensely in their studies.

It requires paying attention to the right things at the right time.

However, this is easier said than done.

Just like any other skill, good concentration requires repeated practice day in and day out until you feel you can focus your concentration whenever you need to.

HOW TO BECOME MORE FOCUSED

Identify barriers
These must be overcome to achieve good concentration skills:

- Barriers to concentration

- Day-dreaming

- Negative thoughts

- Mental saturation after long periods of concentration

- A topic you hate or find boring

- Self-doubt

- Ambiguous purpose

- Feeling overwhelmed

Break the barriers
- Think STOP!!! Whenever you notice your thoughts wandering, think to yourself STOP and come back to what you were originally trying to think and focus on.

- Focus: You must try to keep your concentration level intact and not get distracted. Keep a tunnel-vision approach in terms of focusing only on the task at hand.

- Worry scheduling: Note down distracting thoughts in your Worry Scheduler. Remove them from your mind until their scheduled worry time comes, and re-focus on what you were studying.

- Customised learning: Every student has his or her own best way of learning. Customise your studying technique according to your own learning style.

10 steps to follow

1. Plan first: Take a few hours to draw up a strategy.

2. Decide on a quiet place to study: If there are a lot of distractions where you live, go to a quiet corner. Don't hesitate to put "do not disturb" signs on your door. Keep your phone off the hook if required.

3. Study environment: Lighting should be adequate. Make sure your chair is not uncomfortable.

4. Posture: Sit up straight.

5. Focus: Before you begin studying, take a few minutes to summarise objectives.

6. Change topics: Change the topic you study every one to two hours for variety, so that your attention remains riveted.

7. Take regular breaks: Go to another area and do something different from what you've been doing.

8. Analyse your energy patterns: Determine when your energy level is at its peak and when it's at its lowest; then study difficult topics at high-energy times.

9. Experiment: Try studying with another person or in study groups if it helps you remain more focused.

10. Incentives: Create incentives for completing a topic, like calling up a friend, taking a walk, etc. Give yourself a big reward at the end when you've completed your course with total concentration. 

- The writer is an educator based in India