Expert Q&A for How to Stop Zoning Out

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Question

What are some common mistakes people make when trying to concentrate on their studies?

Ted Coopersmith, MBA
Academic Tutor
Ted Coopersmith is an Academic Tutor for Manhattan Elite Prep, a test prep and academic tutoring company based in New York City. In addition to general academic advising, Ted has expertise in preparing for the ACT, SAT, SSAT, and ASVAB tests. He also has over 30 years of financial controller advising and consulting experience. He holds a BA from the City University of New York (CUNY) and an MBA from Pace University.

Ted Coopersmith, MBA

Academic Tutor

Expert Answer

People tend to generalize their abilities, which sometimes keeps them from focusing on particular comprehension issues or subject weaknesses. Rather than saying "I can't do algebra" or "My reading comprehension is not good," it's better to peel back the onion while focusing and building on your areas of strength. So, rather than saying "I can't do algebra," redefine the problem by saying, "I get confused by simplifying expressions."

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Question

How can you prevent zoning in class?

Kirsten Thompson, MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Kirsten Thompson is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor at UCLA, and the Founder of Remedy Psychiatry. She specializes in helping patients with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum depression. Dr. Thompson holds a BS in Operations Research Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MD from The State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine.

Kirsten Thompson, MD

Board Certified Psychiatrist

Expert Answer

If you followed the tips abode and find that your difficulty concentrating is still negatively affecting your ability to function at school or home, consider speaking to your doctor about treatment.

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Question

How can I not lose my concentration so easily?

Kirsten Thompson, MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Kirsten Thompson is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor at UCLA, and the Founder of Remedy Psychiatry. She specializes in helping patients with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum depression. Dr. Thompson holds a BS in Operations Research Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MD from The State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine.

Kirsten Thompson, MD

Board Certified Psychiatrist

Expert Answer

Try to identify any patterns associated with your zoning out. Are there specific things that trigger it? Is there something you frequently think about? Does it happen at a particular time in the day? Once you identify patterns with your zoning out, you can set preventative measures to disrupt those patterns.

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Question

How do I stop zoning at work?

Kirsten Thompson, MD
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Dr. Kirsten Thompson is a Board Certified Psychiatrist, Clinical Instructor at UCLA, and the Founder of Remedy Psychiatry. She specializes in helping patients with mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and postpartum depression. Dr. Thompson holds a BS in Operations Research Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MD from The State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine.

Kirsten Thompson, MD

Board Certified Psychiatrist

Expert Answer

If you tend to zone out at a particular time in the day, set aside that time for physical activity and plan to work around that time.

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