John (not his real name) is a bright 16-year-old who finished high school exams. He is intelligent, ambitious, and studied really hard. But the results were disappointing. He did not score as well as expected. So what went wrong? This thought bothered him constantly. Seeing his plight, a senior colleague told him, "Maybe you were not focused.”
The literal meaning of "focus” is to give your full attention to something. It is something very essential in any endeavour, including studies, to achieve success. There are many students like John who are intelligent, have big dreams for the future, and work hard, but are not focused.
A student may sit with a maths book to prepare for an exam that is a week ahead, but after a short time, the mind will wander to an ongoing football match on TV. Thinking that a "short” break is necessary, he watches the match, only to realise after an hour or so that he had to study. He returns to his room and opens the book, but his mind still dwells on the exciting ongoing match. After commencing study again, he receives one or two phone calls and many messages, and again, his mind is diverted.
Added to this is time spent on meals and rest. He tries to catch up with the remaining revision in the evening but is tired now. To finish revising, he has to study till late in the night. The next morning, he starts studying but does not feel fresh enough due to a lack of proper sleep. This also affects his study. Each day is spent in a similar fashion, with many diversions. The net result is that his mind does not assimilate what he reads and the output in exams is below his potential, making him feel depressed and stressed. Such an attitude does not help much in subsequent exams, which adds to the stress.
The first thing necessary to do very well in exams is to have a strong desire from within. One can be motivated to achieve success only if there is ambition within.
The next step needed is to be organised. A fixed timetable should be prepared for studies and revision and adhered to, as much as possible. Giving more time to difficult subjects, as compared to easy ones would be a wise idea. Self-study is possible only after school hours, i.e. in a limited time, hence it should begin from the commencement of the academic session. Regular studies are much more fruitful as compared to long hours and late nights put in the last few days.
It is important to give full attention to the book while studying. Seems difficult initially, as the mind tends to wander around, but can come with regular practice. Making your own notes after reading helps to enhance mental concentration. In fact, writing the lessons taught, in your own words in a simple language, is very useful in understanding and memorising the subject better.
Eating, sleeping, and daily physical activities are necessary. But while busy with these, one can revise the lesson before, mentally. For recreation, it is advisable to do some physical activity for a short while in or around the room. It freshens the mind and body and helps improve health. This can be in the form of cleaning the room, watering plants, etc.
Avoid the use of caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco, to stimulate the mind, as they cause more harm than good. One with a healthy body will have a fresh alert mind, which aids in better performance. A healthy lifestyle helps to achieve and maintain it.
There may be friends who tempt you to go out for fun and merry-making when exams are around the corner. Avoid the company of such friends. True friends will motivate and support one another in studying.
Regular and focused study is the key to doing well in exams, hence study well and stay focused.
Dr Rachna Pande is a specialist in internal medicine