If you are a student who is endeavoring to get better grades, there are a list of methods that can help you to boost your ability to focus your concentration, retain the data that you study, and recall it during an examination without suffering from mental blocks or test anxiety. This is a list of how to go about instituting good study habits:

(1) Establish a place for reading and only study in that place! Establish a peaceful location that will facilitate a focusing of attention without distractions. Some usual examples would be a library, a vacant classroom, or your bedroom. You will want to establish the custom of studying when you are in this special place. So it's best to not use your special place for other activities like daydreaming, watching TV, or eating, etc.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STUDY PLACE HAS:

(a) A comfy chair, but not excessively comfortable

(b) Your desk

(c) Excellent illumination

(d) Good air flow

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STUDY PLACE DOESN'T HAVE:

(a) Distractions

(b) A telephone

(c) Music that will be distracting to you

(d) A large screen television set

(e) A companion who talks a lot

(f) A refrigerator filled with snacks

(2) Split your study periods into small, short-range goals.

(a) Set up small precise projects like, "I'm going to study my English from 2 PM to 3 PM. Otherwise you will only set yourself up to fail.

(b) Set a reachable study goal for the period of time you are able to allocate. For example: finish reading chapter twenty in my Trig text book, or complete a final version of my history paper, etc. Set your goal at the time that you are ready to sit down and study, just before you begin. Set reachable goals. You might do more than reach your goal, but set a realistic goal even if it seems too easy.

(3) Test Anxiety

(a) Some people mostly experience physical symptoms, like nausea, feeling hot or cold, headaches, or faintness, etc.

(b) Other people experience emotional symptoms for the most part, like feeling irritable, crying, or getting frustrated quickly.

(c) The main problem with anxiety is that it can cause one to have a memory block. Or it could trigger thoughts that are racing out of control.

(d) Although you may currently feel some level of anxiety while taking an examination, you can learn to diminish that anxiety, or even completely eliminate it!

(e) Anxiousness and the resultant stress are frequently the main causes of a lack of the ability to focus concentration. Stress can also be the cause of a mental block when one tries to recall information.

(f) Hypnosis CD's can be utilized to relax your mind and focus your concentration. As your mind calms down, your ability to stay focused will increase. Similarly, a calm mind enhances your ability to retain information, and recall it when it is needed.

(g) Neuro-Linguistic Programming CD's can also be used to program your mind for the positive expectation of serenity and the ability to bring back to mind the information during an examination. Relaxation is valuable for diminishing or getting rid of test anxiety. There are a number of hypnotherapy techniques that can promptly get rid of a test phobia!

Alan B. Densky, CH has specialized in the practice of hypnosis and NLP since 1978. He offers self-hypnosis CD's for improving memory and recall. Visit his Neuro-VISION Self-Hypnosis site for free hypnosis newsletters, articles, and MP3s and his Self Hypnosis Video Blog for free video taped hypnosis tips.