Maintaining a good state while studying is not easy, especially in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. Mastering some practical methods can effectively help you adjust your mindset and improve your focus, so you can enter the optimal learning state. Below, I will introduce eleven detailed secrets to help you study efficiently and handle all kinds of challenges with ease.
Secret 1: Relieve Anxiety by Tossing and Catching a Massage Ball with a Spinning Motion
When you feel restless, anxious, or unsettled during study or work, a simple action can immediately divert your attention and reduce tension. Here’s the method: pick up a massage ball, gently toss it into the air with a spinning motion, and catch it steadily. The key is to keep the ball spinning while your eyes closely follow its trajectory.
Why does this work? Because it shifts your focus from inner anxiety to an external moving target. Since the ball’s spin and flight path are not fully predictable, you must concentrate intensely to avoid letting it drop. This helps your brain temporarily forget the pressure from studying. After several rounds of tossing and catching, you will feel your mind and body relax, and tension naturally eases.
Keep a massage ball at your desk and spend about 30 seconds tossing and catching it whenever you feel anxious. Even a brief break like this refreshes your mind and makes it easier to regain focus.
Secret 2: Break Fatigue and Sleepiness with Fingertip Tapping and Mild Discomfort to Activate Awareness
During long study sessions, fatigue and drowsiness often sneak up on you. This is actually your body’s way of releasing tension and relaxing, but you need to reactivate your alertness. A simple and effective way is to tap your fingertips lightly on the desk, applying just enough pressure to feel a slight sting—enough to stimulate nerves but not cause harm.
You can also gently pinch your skin with your fingers for a similar effect. This action pulls your attention back from grogginess and helps restore alertness. Be careful not to use too much force, as that can backfire and cause over-tension or irritability. Also, avoid relying on this trick too often to prevent dependence.
During classes or meetings, rhythmically tapping one finger on the desk combined with subtle body movements—like playing a piano—can keep your brain active and your sensitivity to information high.
Secret 3: When Focus Fades, Active Questioning and Serious Note-Taking Are Your Best Allies
Boredom and tiredness easily scatter your attention. At such times, actively asking questions and taking thorough notes can significantly boost your engagement and concentration.
Note-taking is not just about recording information—it activates both your body and brain. You’ll naturally lean forward and keep your hand moving to write, which keeps your nervous system active and aids deeper processing and memory retention. When you feel foggy, focusing on writing can reawaken your mind.
In addition, asking questions is a powerful strategy to overcome dullness and distraction. Even if the material is boring, actively posing questions forces you to focus on the content and think about answers. It also leaves a positive impression on the speaker, motivating you to stay engaged.
Secret 4: Drink “Universal Water” to Balance Tension and Relaxation, Avoid Coffee’s Negative Effects
Many people rely on coffee breaks to boost alertness with caffeine, but caffeine can worsen anxiety and tension. For those already overly stressed while studying, coffee may do more harm than good.
To relax, try a cup of chamomile tea—the natural herbal aroma helps ease stress. Drinking water in the morning and during study breaks is the simplest and most versatile choice. Water helps your metabolism and maintains a moderate level of alertness and clarity.
However, if you are dependent on coffee due to long-term heavy consumption, drinking water alone may not suffice. In this case, gradually reducing caffeine intake is a better long-term strategy.
Secret 5: Maintain Moderate Hunger to Avoid Post-Meal Sleepiness
Both hunger and fullness affect your study state. Overeating redirects blood flow to your digestive system, reducing brain blood supply and making you sleepy. Mild hunger, on the other hand, increases your body’s tension and alertness, making focus easier.
Don’t let yourself get too hungry, though, as extreme hunger scatters attention and can cause dizziness. The golden rule is to maintain slight hunger and, if needed, relieve it with water or small amounts of fruit or cheese to sustain study efficiency.
Secret 6: Deep Breathing Is an “Oxygen Boost Station” for Memory and Attention
Your brain demands a high amount of oxygen; oxygen deficiency slows mental response and clouds thinking. In closed environments with poor air circulation, oxygen levels drop and study efficiency declines sharply.
Ensure good airflow by regularly opening windows for ventilation. Placing green plants in your room can also improve indoor air quality, as plants release oxygen during the day.
When feeling mentally foggy or tense, try a few deep breaths. Deep breathing increases oxygen intake, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, and helps relax or awaken the mind and body. You can do this at your desk or, better yet, take a walk outside and breathe deeply.
Secret 7: Use Language to Regulate Tension and Build a Positive Self-Affirmation System
The power of language is significant. Gently telling yourself phrases like “Today is a good day” or “It’s okay” can greatly ease excessive tension. Spend 5 to 10 minutes daily loudly repeating such positive phrases, imagining the gentle voice and face of a caring mother to soothe your mood.
If gentle words don’t calm you, try firmer, praising language like “You’ve done great so far.” This self-affirmation strengthens your inner power and builds confidence.
When you’re too relaxed and can’t get started, say “I’m starting now” with a slightly stern tone to create a sense of urgency. But don’t overuse this harsh language, or it may cause excessive stress.
The most universal linguistic magic is the simple phrase “I can!” Whether you’re tense or relaxed, repeating this powerful sentence helps you recalibrate your state. Use it often to boost your spirit.
Secret 8: Adjust the Level of Importance to Avoid Excessive Anxiety or Laxity
When studying, people tend to fall into two extremes: over-analyzing every detail, leading to mental breakdown, or not caring enough, resulting in careless work. To enter a good learning state, you need to balance how much importance you give tasks.
For critical tasks, increase your alertness moderately to stay motivated without falling into anxiety. Break big tasks into smaller steps, and reward yourself after completing each step to maintain a sense of achievement and drive.
For less urgent matters, allow yourself to relax and not worry excessively to reduce unnecessary psychological burden. Flexibly adjusting your focus level keeps your study both intense and sustainable.
Secret 9: Create a Scientific Rest Plan to Balance Work and Rest and Boost Efficiency
Continuous study leads to fatigue and decreased efficiency. Proper rest scheduling—such as the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused study followed by 5 minutes of short break, with longer breaks every four cycles)—can significantly improve attention and stamina.
During breaks, do simple stretching, drink water, breathe fresh air, or meditate briefly to help your brain recover to an optimal state.
Secret 10: Create a Good Learning Environment, Keep Away from Distractions
Your environment greatly affects learning. Keep your desk tidy and minimize distractions like your phone and social media. Use earplugs or play white noise to block out background sounds.
Make sure lighting is sufficient to avoid eye strain. A good environment helps you naturally enter a focused state.
Secret 11: Cultivate a Positive Learning Mindset, Set Clear Goals and Reward Systems
A positive mindset drives continuous learning. Clearly define your goals and understand why you’re studying to strengthen intrinsic motivation.
At the same time, set reasonable reward systems—after completing study tasks, treat yourself to leisure or favorite foods. This enhances learning pleasure and helps form good habits.
Summary
Entering a good learning state is a comprehensive adjustment process that involves psychological regulation, physical condition, and environmental management. The eleven secrets introduced here cover emotional regulation, body activation, environment optimization, and mental building, helping you quickly enter a highly efficient learning state. I hope you find methods that suit you, improve your study efficiency, and achieve your goals!