Q. Sometimes it is hard to stay focused and my mind wanders, especially when I am working on a difficult problem or lengthy assignment. It seems whenever I have a hard problem to solve, I try to avoid it, and I always find it hard to get back into the problem. Sometimes, even if the problem is easy, my mind still wanders anyway. How can I stay focused? Help!

~ Signed, the Wanderer

A. Your problems with focusing could be due to a number of reasons. Stress, sleep deprivation, burnout, or an underlying disorder could be the cause.

First, it’s important to first look at your lifestyle. Are you getting enough sleep (7-8 hours) every night? According to recent research, college students who go to bed late are more likely to have poor quality sleep, which may affect their mental health and academic performance (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2007). If you feel your quality of sleep could use improvement, try getting to bed earlier, avoid caffeine in the evenings, and set aside a solid 7-8 hours for sleep each night.

If sleep isn’t the problem, your issue could be stress. If you have too much on your plate, this might be contributing to your level of concentration difficulties. Prioritize things in your life by making a “To-Do” list and taking each assignment and activity one step at a time. If you cannot remove items from your ‘To-Do” list, you can try to release some stress through exercise, stretching, or even just taking an hour our of each day to relax. Every other Monday during the academic year, Stressbusters give out free 5-7 minutes massages on Q-level in the library!

If you feel your problem could be more than stress or sleep, it may be time visit the Student Health and Wellness Center  @ (410) 516-8270, or the Counseling Center @ (410) 516-8278, and speak to a medical professional. Both offices are on campus, services are free and completely confidential. Furthermore, the staff can provide you with specific medical advice and help determine the specific problem that is plaguing you and your studies, as well as discuss methods to address and rectify your “wandering mind” issue.

~ Guest Replied by Dr. Chicky, affiliated with the JHU PEEPS Anonymous Blog & The Center for Health Education Wellness (CHEW)