How can I make myself pay more attention while studying?

when I study (mainly while reading) i may come across a word that makes me think of something else that i'm actually interested in, then that thing i'm interested in makes me think of something related to it, and so on and so forth and it makes like a chain reaction of straying off the studying for like a full minute. is it ADHD or just, what? I try to study, but it takes me a lot longer than it should because my mind wanders. what can i do to solve this? thanks

You can take some kind of test to find out if you have ADD at a doctors and they give you pills, but there are other weird things too like putting colored plastic sheets over what you are reading etc. I used to have the same problems and tried many diff things but now I don't use any of them......

maybe keep a note pad next to you when you study. This way you can jot down the distracting things so you can come back to them when its more of an appropriate time. happy studying!

try group or combined studies with your fellows rather than wondering alone

Dont over extend your study periods, Take 10 minutes rest periods every 15 - 20 minutes, (your retention span) get up walk around, have a drink do something else but get back to work after the rest period has elapsed. My RS is about an 55 minutes, I take rests for 5 minutes

hehe dont worry i have the same problem! that or i fall asleep. Unfortunately (this is what i think anyway) it comes down to self discipline, fatigue, brain stimulation and the like. if you are tired and not interested then its easy to be distracted. ADHD has many symptoms so unless you have all the other symptoms (its not meant to be easily diagnosed, although many drs misdiagnose it) this is just lack of concentration. You can only follow studying tips such as studying in the morning when your mind is fresh, teaching yourself to stay focused when your mind begins to wander, eating foods that help mental concentration (not always coffee or red bull!), self talk and also learning other ways that make you learn better, ie some people find talking out loud keeps their concentration better than silently, also some read into a tape recorder (to listen to later on if your voice isnt too annoying!!)or type summary notes so as not to feel bored by just reading. I know myself i cant just read and learn so have found other ways that i learn better from. best of luck!!

I found that I read aloud into a tape player helps me - this way even though when I am reading I still keep talking which helps me to focus. Then I will listen to it again in the car or while I go to sleep or whatever to make sure it really sinks in.

You may also want to time your reading - make sure you aren't doing it all at once and give yourself breaks every 20 - 30 min or so.

Unlike Ava's recommendation (A good one by the way), I do personally recommend drinking coffee while you're studying and I'll tell you why. The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant, but it can also help you focus on any mental task at hand. But I also recommend three other things: The first thing is that you have a healthy diet and that you eat regularly. In order for the brain to work, you have to fuel the body. I personally eat shell macaroni and cheese with ground turkey for breakfast and I eat the remainder for lunch. In addition, I recommend that you find out what time of the day - or night - that you are most creative and take advantage of that time to study and learn. And lastly, I recommend taking a combination of a "B" vitamin complex and Omega-3 fatty acid pharmaceutical grade. Omega-3 helps repair and rebuild brain cells and, for me, it is a helpful tool. I hope these suggestions help you. I use them myself and practice what I preach.

write what you read...and repeat it to yourself 3 times...
it's proven that the brain retains more information after it is written and repeated at least 3 times..
try it, i promise it works.

i dont know i never study just dont study at all its so boring