When you're juggling multiple responsibilities, time is precious. Try to make the most of what you've got by using your time effectively, developing your concentration skills and dealing with distractions.

Use Your Time Effectively
Discover when you are at your brightest. Find out if you are a morning person or a night-hawk. Are you distracted and sleepy after lunch? Schedule study time during your peaks. Try not to waste time when you're less mentally alert - use it to accomplish simple, routine tasks like housework or grocery shopping.

Develop Your Concentration
Explore how long your concentration span is. Get to know by recording your start time when you read from a textbook or other course readings. Record the time again as soon as your mind begins to drift. You may try this several times until you can gauge your average concentration span.

Many people take nearly imperceptible "refresher" breaks every few minutes. You may simply look out a window or glancing at a picture on the wall. A minute breaks happen every 20 minutes or so. After 45 minute of studying, most people need to stand up and walk around for a few minutes in order to stay fresh.

You may improve your concentration by reading actively: try using a highlighter, making notes of significant points in a notebook, recording questions about items you don't understand, trying to predict what will be on the next page and connecting what you're reading with other things you've read. Besides, you can increase your concentration span by dealing with distractions.

Deal with Distractions
At times it seems that distractions are coming at you from all sides, and probably they are. Distractions may be external/environmental, or internal - the wanderings of your own mind. It is essential to learn managing both types.

If random thoughts intrude ("It's John's birthday next week," "We need bread," etc.), don't try to suppress them. Instead, quickly write them down to consider at another time. At times a memory or a thought that appeared to be unrelated to your reading yields interesting insights into the subject upon later reflection.

Know your optimal study conditions and use this awareness to reduce distractions in the environment. Clear up whether you are more relaxed with absolute silence, or with classical music in the background. Discover if you have enough light to read without straining. Consider the temperature. Examine if you need a fan or a blanket to feel comfortable. Explore if your chair comfortable enough to sit upright, but not so comfortable that it lulls you to sleep. Discover if there are other people around. Have you established time and space boundaries with them that they respect?