Studies have shown that students who can concentrate more fully during their study time often spend less time studying. While concentration does not come naturally, it can be improved or increased similarly to any other skill. Getting started often seems to be the biggest challenge to accomplishing a task. Ms. Thayer suggests several warm up activities to break the psychic barrier of uneasiness or reluctance that accompanies the beginning barrier of uneasiness of a new task. These include goal setting, visualization, and the five-minute rule.
Students discover that their enjoyment of the materials builds as their concentration deepens.
Secondly, Ms. Thayer and students attending the workshop explore strategies to combat external and internal distracters. The students give suggestions on how to deal with interruptions by friends, television, daydreaming, and personal problems. The student who can focus at will finds it easier to stay motivated. Ms. Thayer outlines several ways students can stay actively involved with the material.