How To Avoid Distractions While Studying

Let's face it – staying focused while studying is hard. Really hard.

Your phone buzzes. Your friend messages. Your family's chatting downstairs. That YouTube video you started watching "just for five minutes" has somehow turned into an hour-long spiral.

We’ll take you through the main sources of distractions while studying and how to avoid them.

Key Takeaways

• Your phone is probably your biggest distraction – silence notifications or use focus mode to keep it under control

• The Pomodoro Technique helps you study in short, focused bursts with guilt-free breaks built in

• Setting up a proper study space (even just a corner of your room) makes a massive difference to your concentration

• Mental distractions like worrying or daydreaming are totally normal – simple tricks like brain dumps can help

Why It's So Easy to Get Distracted While Studying

There are many reasons why distractions happen. Sometimes it's external things you can't control: noisy siblings, roadworks, or people walking past your desk. Other times it's internal: you're stressed about exams, bored with the topic, or your brain just keeps wandering off.

Your brain isn't really designed to focus on boring things for hours. It craves entertainment, novelty, and rewards. Revision doesn't automatically offer those things, which is why procrastination can feel so tempting.

The good news is you don't need superhuman willpower to focus. You just need a few simple strategies that work with your brain, rather than against it.

Simple Ways To Stay Focused While Studying

These tips are practical, effective and easy to use. Pick the ones that sound most useful and give them a go.

Turn Off Notifications (Or Use Focus Mode)

Your phone is almost certainly (opens in a new tab) your biggest distraction. Research shows a negative correlation between grades and phone use in class, for example. Even if you're not actively using it, just seeing notifications flash up breaks your concentration.

What to do:

• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb or Focus Mode while you study

• Turn off all notifications except calls from family (in case of emergencies)

• Leave your phone in another room if you can – out of sight, out of mind

• Use app blockers like Forest (opens in a new tab) or Freedom (opens in a new tab) to lock distracting apps for set periods

If you absolutely need your phone for revision (like using flashcard apps), put it on aeroplane mode or use app-specific focus settings.

The first few days feel odd. You'll get that urge to check your phone constantly. Push through it. After a week, you'll wonder how you ever studied with notifications on.

Use the Pomodoro Technique

This is one of the best focus tricks out there, and it's ridiculously simple.

How it works:

1. Set a timer for 25 minutes

2. Work on one task only – no phone, no switching between subjects

3. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break

4. After four rounds, take a longer 15-30 minute break

Why does this work? Because 25 minutes feels manageable. Your brain knows a break is coming, so it's easier to resist distractions. Plus, the timer creates a sense of urgency that keeps you on track. Check out our guide to the Pomodoro technique for more. 

You can adjust the times if you want. Some people prefer 45 minutes of work with 10-minute breaks. Experiment and find what suits you.

Make a Quick To-Do List Before You Start

Ever sat down to revise and then spent 20 minutes deciding what to actually do? It’s a real focus killer.

Before you start studying, write down 3-5 specific tasks you want to complete. Not vague things like "revise Biology" – specific, clear tasks like:

• Finish practice paper Question 3

• Make flashcards for Chapter 7

• Summarise key quotes from Macbeth

Why this helps:

• Gives your brain clear direction so you don't waste time deciding what to do

• Stops you jumping between subjects randomly

• Feels satisfying when you tick things off

Keep the list realistic. Three solid tasks in a study session is better than ten unfinished ones.

Find a Quiet Study Spot

Where you study matters more than you think. If you're trying to revise on your bed with the TV on downstairs and your phone next to you, you're making life unnecessarily hard.

Create a focus-friendly space:

• Use a desk or table, not your bed (your brain associates your bed with sleep and relaxation)

• Face a wall or window rather than an open room full of distractions

• Keep only what you need on your desk – textbook, notes, water, nothing else

• If you live in a noisy house, try studying in the library, a quiet café, or even your local park

We have a whole guide on how to create the perfect study space to help you.

Use Music or Noise-Cancelling Tricks If It Helps

Some people swear by complete silence. Others need background noise to concentrate. There's no right answer – it depends on you and what you're studying.

Options to try:

• Silence: best for complex tasks like essay writing or problem-solving in Maths

• White noise (equal volume across the spectrum) or brown noise (sounds like strong waterfalls, heavy rain, or ocean waves): mask distracting sounds without being attention-grabbing 

• Instrumental music: classical, lo-fi beats, or film soundtracks work well (no lyrics to distract you)

• Noise-cancelling headphones: worth the investment if you're constantly battling noisy surroundings

Avoid music with lyrics if you're doing anything involving reading or writing – your brain struggles to process both at once.

Test different options and stick with what helps you work fastest.

How To Deal With Mental Distractions

External distractions are obvious. Mental distractions are sneakier.

You sit down to study, but your brain won't cooperate. You're worrying about that argument you had earlier. Thinking about weekend plans. Daydreaming about literally anything except what's in front of you.

These internal distractions are completely normal, but they're also fixable.

Try a Brain Dump Before Revising

If your mind's buzzing with random thoughts, it's nearly impossible to focus. A brain dump helps clear the mental clutter.

How to do it:

1. Grab a piece of paper or open a notes app

2. Spend 5 minutes writing down everything on your mind – worries, tasks, random thoughts, the lot

3. Don't filter or organise it, just get it all out

4. Put the list aside and start studying

This works because once you've written things down, your brain stops trying to remember them. It's like pressing reset on your mental tab overload.

Use Mindfulness or Breathing Breaks

When your mind keeps wandering, trying to force focus usually makes it worse. Instead, take a quick reset break.

Quick focus reset:

• Take ten slow, deep breaths – in through your nose, out through your mouth

• Notice five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can touch

• Stand up, stretch, shake out your arms and legs for 30 seconds

These tiny breaks calm your nervous system and help your brain settle back into focus mode. They're especially useful if you're feeling stressed or anxious about exams. Our article on taking breaks while studying will explain further.

We have plenty more tips on how to motivate yourself to study too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Stop Checking My Phone While Studying?

The easiest solution? Remove the temptation entirely. Put your phone in another room, or at least out of arm's reach.

If you need it nearby, use app blockers that physically lock distracting apps for set periods. Give yourself permission to check your phone during breaks. Knowing you can look at messages after 25 minutes makes it easier to ignore the urge now.

What's the Best Study Technique for Staying Focused?

The Pomodoro Technique works well for most students because it breaks studying into manageable chunks with built-in breaks. It stops you burning out and makes focus feel less overwhelming.

That said, different techniques work for different people. Some students prefer longer focus periods (50 minutes work, 10 minutes break). Others need shorter bursts (15 minutes work, 5 minutes break). Read about developing positive study habits in our Learning Hub.

How Can I Concentrate Better at Home?

Home is tricky because it's full of distractions – family, TV, your comfy bed, the fridge.

Create a dedicated study zone. Even if you don't have a separate room, claim a specific corner or desk that becomes your "work space". Your brain will start associating that spot with focus.

Let your family know when you're studying and ask them to keep noise down if possible. If that's not realistic, noise-cancelling headphones or studying at the library might be your best bet.

Is Music Good or Bad for Studying?

It depends on the task and your personal preference.

Music with lyrics tends to distract you when you're reading, writing, or doing anything language-based. Instrumental music (classical, lo-fi, soundtracks) works better because it provides background stimulation without demanding attention.

Some people work best in complete silence. Others find silence too distracting and need gentle background noise. Experiment and see what works for you. 

Final Thoughts

Getting distracted while studying is completely normal. Your brain isn't broken – it's just doing what brains do.

Try just one or two tips from this article. Maybe it's turning your phone off, or trying the Pomodoro Technique, or finding a better study spot. See what works.

You'll probably still get distracted sometimes. That's fine. What matters is that you notice it happening and gently pull yourself back on track.

Focus is a skill, not a personality trait. The more you practise these strategies, the easier it gets.

References

• Digital Devices, Distraction, and Student Performance: Does In-Class Cell Phone Use Reduce Learning? (opens in a new tab)

• Forest (opens in a new tab) 

• Freedom (opens in a new tab)