How to Actually Lock In

Here’s the deal: studying doesn’t have to be painful. It’s not about grinding for hours on end—it’s about working smarter.

If you struggle with:

Then these focus strategies are for you. Let’s break down three simple strategies that will help you actually lock in, get through your work faster, and free up more time for the things you love.

Strategy #1: The Pomodoro Technique

You might have seen this technique over social media. Pomodoro is a classic: it’s simple, effective, and it actually makes studying feel doable.

Here’s how it works:

This trick isn’t just about productivity—it’s about training your brain to focus in short bursts. Instead of dragging yourself through three hours of half-hearted studying, you’re giving your full attention for short, powerful sprints. That’s where you’ll get the best work done.

Strategy #2: The Feynman Technique

The Feynman Technique is a way to learn any subject, no matter the complexity. It combines skills like active learning, teaching, identifying knowledge gaps, and more.

Here’s how you do it:

This method exposes all the little gaps in your knowledge so you can fill them in. The more you refine your ideas, the more you understand the concept - and this will build your confidence and trust in your ability to learn even harder subjects.

Strategy #3: Remind Yourself Why You’re Doing This

All that being said, let’s be real—no study trick in the world will work if you aren’t serious about your goals.

So before you study, take a minute and ask yourself: Why are you doing this?

• Are you trying to hit a specific grade?

• Do you have your eyes set on your dream school which requires a high academic baseline?

• Are you working toward a bigger goal?

Write it down. Make it real. If you’re a visual person, create a vision board—cut out pictures, print out acceptance letters, whatever makes it feel tangible. The clearer your why, the easier it’ll be to stay focused when things get tough.

At the end of the day, these strategies aren’t just about studying. They’re about making the most of your time so you can get your work done and still have time to do what really matters.

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