College Success 101 Episode 2… STAY FOCUSED… Important Resources…

College Success Game Plan: A Guide to Surviving & Succeeding in College
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1548018139/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i9

Welcome to College Success 101 with TJInspires. This week topic is stay focused. College is hard and fun, but you must stay focused. What can you do to get and stay focused in class? Use these 4 tips to remove distractions and get focused!
 
1. Create to-do lists:
Taking just 2 minutes to collect your thoughts in a list can make a tremendous difference, even in your ability to focus in class. Avoid having constant anxiety by writing down the tasks you need to complete. You will find your mind more relaxed. If you are “old school,” take out a piece of paper and create an old-fashioned to do list. Or carry around a stack of Post-its®. Making a list and then crossing items off as they are completed, can be quite satisfying. Planners, calendars, lists and other organizational helpers will become your best friend - if you allow them to.

2.  Stay off your phone, social media, and get focused:
You rarely misplace your phone but when you do you have a minor panic attack. You might not realize how attached you are to your phone and social media, and you’re not alone in this sometimes-unhealthy attachment. Modern society almost demands students are constantly accessible by a text, call, email, or message. This connectedness can be an incredibly helpful thing, but sometimes being constantly available by phone can be a bad thing too, especially in class. For many college students, checking social media favorites like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok has become a reflexive habit. Just keep reminding yourself that you don’t need to check these sites every time you use the computer or your phone for school or work.
 
3. Get into a routine
A great way to stay focused is to be in the habit of staying focused. Figure out how and when you work best.  Even take note of where you seem to concentrate the most effectively.  Are you focused the most in the morning in your room, at night in the library, or after class drinking coffee? Look ahead and set a schedule for yourself so that you always have a time and place to be productive.
 
4. Reward yourself and enjoy college:  Think you deserve some credit if you follow these tips and meet your goals? You do! There’s nothing like a little reward to keep your motivation up. Think little things at first. Say you need to start working on an essay—you might decide to gift yourself a tasty treat once you get the paper outlined. Don’t take a bite out of that cookie until you’ve met your stipulation though; you will only be cheating yourself in the end! And don’t go overboard by thinking up too many rewards for yourself, but do think of nice ways to give yourself a break after making good progress.
            Remember to Eat well, stay hydrated, and sleep! You probably think you don’t need to be reminded to do this; after all, you have to eat, drink water, and sleep to live. However, in college, not everyone does these things properly.  Staying hydrated is good for your overall health, but it also helps improve your concentration.
 
Resources that you get familiar with:
Tutoring Center:
Many students will need a little help at some point in their college career. Students should locate and explore the tutoring center before he/she needs it.  Finding out what services are offered, how to sign up, how much advance notice is needed, will help him/her be prepared.  Often, some of the best students are the ones who use the services of an academic support center to raise that grade just a notch higher.
Library:
YES, this will be your most frequented place for the next four years. It seems obvious that students should know where the library is, but some students never take advantage of this resource.  Visit the library to check out what it has to offer.  In addition to the books on the shelves, the library offers a quiet place to study or just get away from it all, movies and magazines.
Academic Advisor
The most important office on campus is your Academic Advisor’s office. Yes, this one tip should have been told to me while I was in high school. An academic advisor’s primary job is to ensure that you are aware of every opportunity available to you. From day one, you should have a close relationship with your academic advisor. You will need to see them at least twice per semester.  

​ Tristan Jackson-College Success Founder...
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