Staying focused can be hard for many students; especially at this time of year. Senioritis bares down on seniors and even underclassmen feel a lethargic, overbearing sensation. Many just want to go outside and enjoy the developing spring, but not many want to study and prepare for the hardest weeks of the school year.

Not everyone becomes lazy, some lack sleep which can be a huge cause of being unfocused. Also, students with personal problems have a higher chance of losing interest in class.

Being active in class is an important step in staying focused. Taking notes, asking questions, and annotating important material while reading will hold the attention span of the student long enough to understand the information. If one is to finish strong, he or she must decide that that is what they want to do.

“Beginning to study the week ahead of finals, such as completing study guides, making flash cards, etc, will help alleviate some of that stress and help students feel more prepared and more capable of studying during finals week,” special services teacher and test prep counselor Sheri Dimos said.

Using time wisely is another method in the path to staying focused. Students are still busy with extracurricular activities and sports, so they need to find ways to help themselves keep on schedule. One way to do this would be to use any time you are given in class to help study or finish assignments.

Reward yourself. After studying for an hour or so, one should reward him or herself to a break, a nice treat or just some fresh air. This helps to relax and clear the mind before continuing with work.

“Focus has always been an issue for students, but everyone knows that most students are quite attached to their cell phones these days,” Dimos said, “It takes real determination to turn off the phone and focus on work. If you have friends who get angry when you don’t reply right away, you have to let them know that you are turning off your phone to study. Many things in this world can distract us if we allow it. We have to determine what is the most important use of our time.”

Sleep is important, especially for students. The Sleep Foundation website explains the necessity of sleep and how much sleep one should get every night.

For more tips on how to stay focused with school work and studying, check out the PsychCentral website’s page on highly effective study habits.