How did you respond to the following statements related to distractions?

• People rarely interrupt me.
• There is not a television.
• There is no telephone except my cell.
• This is a quiet location with almost no interruptions from phones, people talking, or music playing.
• I almost never talk to other people when I study here.
• I do not take a lot of breaks when I study here.

In general, you should avoid an environment that presents constant distractions. While you might do several things to stop the distractions—shutting a door, using earplugs, putting up a Do Not Disturb sign—other distractions may appear anyway. If you find yourself in that situation, you may want to find a new study spot.

Managing the distractions that are within your control is another matter.  Your decisions, choices, and actions can determine which distractions you allow into your environment. Do the simple things—turn off the cell phone, turn down the music,  take out the ear buds, do not turn on the TV.

Some locations help manage distractions for you. If you study in the library, you will be required to turn off the songs, rings, buzzing, and other noises that come from your devices. Libraries may eliminate most of the talking, music, television, and other distractions that often interfere with your learning.  However, even in a controlled environment, distractions can be a problem. You must choose to stay focused and find strategies that support your efforts.