To stay focused on a task, the first thing to do is to go to a quiet place where you can be alone. You need to create your own concentration bubble, and to do that it’s sometimes essential to disconnect from the outside world.

First step: avoid high-traffic areas. If public places are inadvisable, moving into a living room where children, adults (and even pets!) can appear at any time may not be the best idea!

So lock yourself away in your bedroom or study, which you will have made comfortable and conducive to concentration. Easier said than done? If the situation doesn’t allow it, noise-cancelling headphones or (well-chosen) music can make up for the difficulties associated with the outside environment.

And if that still doesn’t work, there are other places where you can work without being disturbed: libraries, coworking spaces and other dedicated cafés can be your best friends!

Ah, the telephone… It’s the number one enemy of students during revision time. All it takes is one incoming message or notification to break your concentration! The bad news is that it’s proven to take at least 10 minutes, if not more, to get back to work. That’s a lot of time wasted on a simple like on social networks or a text!

Fortunately, there are always solutions to avoid being tempted by the call of the smartphone. The easiest way is to turn your notifications off or enable airplane mode. For the more addicted people, there are also various applications dedicated to “nomophobes” (people who can’t live without their phone). Some offer to make receiving notifications impossible for a given time, while others block the most time-consuming applications. So turn off Instagram and Tiktok, and concentrate on the scribzee app (which, on the other hand, can help you stay focused)!

Francesco Cirillo, an Italian student, came up with the idea of using his tomato-shaped kitchen timer (“pomodoro” in Italian) to time his revision. And the good news is that it worked! His technique? Set your timer for 25 minutes to concentrate on a task, then take a 5 to 10-minute break, and repeat the exercise a certain number of rounds (4 for Mr Cirillo). By forcing himself to concentrate on timed periods of time, the student was able to organise his concentration and avoid distractions.

This technique is entirely customisable: for some people, 25 minutes is too long or too short. It is always possible to shorten or extend the length of the sessions.

You need to think about taking real breaks: going into another room, doing activities that require physical effort rather than mental effort, getting some fresh air… In short, you also need to try to disconnect completely from your revision.

Creating your own checklist is a very good idea, for one simple reason: the brain knows exactly what it needs to do, when and in what order. The checklist allows you to organise your day by breaking down your work into several tasks. And for each task to be completed, you can associate precise details (for example, the number of pages to be revised, the duration of each session, etc.).

That’s how to avoid jumping from one thing to another without any logic and losing concentration! Going from a maths exercise to reading a French worksheet, and ending up on a history timeline in a short space of time is not necessarily advisable…

There are early risers, late sleepers, the fast ones, the slow ones… Because we’re all different, it’s a good idea to take a good look at yourself so you can organise yourself better. Some people are at their most productive in the morning, while others tend to be more productive in the evening, and that’s perfectly normal. So try to be on the lookout for your moments of peak productivity and take advantage of them to get down to work!

If you’re more productive in the morning, get up, enjoy a good breakfast, and get going! More of a night person? Then it’s best to opt for evening revision sessions. If in doubt, why not try both?

Sometimes, even with the effectiveness of certain techniques, concentration can fail. The culprits? Small everyday habits! To overcome distraction problems, don’t hesitate to optimise your daily lifestyle!

• Sleep: we recommend around 7 hours of sleep to revitalise the brain. Micro-naps are also very effective if you can’t get enough sleep at night.
• Diet: eat a variety of meals. Choose fruit, vegetables, and proteins to give your body the energy it needs. Avoid processed foods, and above all, stay hydrated!
• Sport: physical activity is good for the body, but also for the mind. It helps to relieve stress and revitalise the brain. If you’re not a big fan of exercise, a short walk can also do wonders. The main thing is to move around a bit – it’s always better than nothing at all.

Finally, it’s important to avoid snacking and over-consumption of coffee, as the drawbacks often outweigh the benefits. Coffee can increase stress and make you feel tense. Why not consider a delicious cup of tea instead? Tea is known to stimulate memory and boost productivity.

So while it can sometimes be difficult to stay focused during revision periods, there’s a solution for every problem! A little calm, a little organisation, a few techniques and tools, a healthy lifestyle, and you’re ready to concentrate!