Think about the huge cost of going to college.  For many, a college investment is the second highest investment you will ever make, second only to a home purchase.  You would think that with that much money involved it would not be hard to maintain focus on what you are doing.  But the reality is that many students lose focus and as a result fail to realize the full benefit of their investment.

What does losing focus mean?  This question can be answered in several ways

■     You put other activities ahead of your academic work.  Typical activities include: a job, partying, athletics, campus activities.

■     You have things going on in your life that are making it hard to study.  These can include relationship problems, family problems, financial issues, and personal health problems.

■     You have a leaning disability that makes focusing hard

■     You are struggling with motivation due in part to not knowing the career you want to pursue

Strategies for improving your ability to focus depend on the type of issue you are facing.  In the related topics that follow, you will find strategies for dealing with each of these focus issues.

Maintaining Your Focus – 2  – This topic deals with developing focus when you have other things that are competing for your time.  Specific examples of these things include a job, an active social life, athletics, or campus organizations.

Maintaining Your Focus – 3  – This topics deal with focus issues arising from difficult personal challenges such as family problems, relationship challenges, financial difficulties, and personal health issues.

Maintaining Your Focus 4 –  This topic deals with focus issues arising from learning disorders such as ADD or ADHD.

Maintaining Your Focus 5 –  This topic deals with focus issues related to a lack of motivation due in large part to not knowing what you want to do with your education..