Having Trouble Staying Focused on Your Contractor Licensing Exam Studies? Here’s How to Get Back on Track

Some people are born students. And then there is the rest of us. Not everyone is destined to have the kind of ideal focus that makes it so much easier to study and retain information. In many cases, you have to trick your brain into thinking that you know just what to do. Here are a few things you can try to help you get back on track.

Locate Your Focus
One of the best ways to find customers for your business is to figure out where they are and then be there. You might be surprised to learn that this works for your focus, as well. For example, if you find that you are constantly distracted from your studies by alerts on your phone, then your phone is where you need to put your energy. Recognize that distractions can make it harder for you to be productive, particularly if you are already struggling to get your head in the game. Shut down the distractions for short periods of time, and make sure that you put your reminders in the right location.

Set Smaller Goals
Having long-distance goals is a great idea, because it helps you build the ambition you need to get you through. But in a lot of cases, having one or two major goals that are far down the road can become demotivating. After all, if you aren’t sure how you’re going to get there, it’s that much easier to spend your time on other things. Take your final goals and work backwards to create a series of steps that you can follow down the right path. Some people need goals that take a couple of weeks, while others may need them to be easy enough to achieve in one day.

Rely on Momentum
For a lot of people, faking it until you make it can be an effective tool to overcome confidence issues like attention or impostor syndrome. Simply put, the best way to get something done is to do it. But if you can’t get yourself started, it’ll be harder to build progress. Instead, make it seem effortless. If you’re finding it difficult to dedicate 15 or 30 minutes at a time to the books, start with five. By the time you get done, you might feel amped up to continue. And if you aren’t, then you’ve still made the effort for even a little bit of time. This can build confidence that will sustain you for longer periods later on.

Gamify Your Progress
Take a moment to think about ways that businesses try to get you to engage with them. Your local coffee shop may have a punch-card or points system that gives you a free item once you have ordered a certain amount. Employers often offer rewards to employees who meet certain benchmarks for the month. This approach can sometimes feel like a cheap way to motivate yourself. But if it works, it may be worth trying. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or create an elaborate system of awards for investing your time. Instead, just give yourself the ability to feel good about what you’ve done by doing something that you enjoy.

Avoid Negative Reinforcement
While you are working on building good study habits, it’s important to avoid undoing your progress with negative reinforcement. People who have a hard time achieving their goals can find it easy to get stuck in a destructive thought pattern. However, berating yourself for failing to dedicate the right amount of time doesn’t motivate you to do better. It can actually make you less likely to succeed, by convincing you that you don’t have the aptitude. Try to focus on the things that you do well and the progress that you have been making. Keep in mind that becoming a licensed contractor and building a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. Every little bit of progress toward your goal is a valuable one, and worth celebrating.

Improving your focus is one of the best ways to ensure a better score on the contractor licensing exam. To learn more about preparing for the test, visit CSLS today!