Too Bored to Pay Attention at School?

School can be sooooo boring, right? If you have trouble paying attention and think going to class is a big waste of time, you aren’t alone. In some cases, it may simply be because you’re lacking in some basic class skills. In my book Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades, I explore the many reasons why you shouldn’t skip class.

“Why should I go to class?”

There are many reasons for attending class:

• increase your knowledge of a particular subject
• have the professor clarify questionable points for you
• meet other students
• observe how other students approach the class
• find a compatible study partner
• make sure you aren’t dropped from the roster (if attendance is required)

Of course, the most important reason to attend class is the lecture itself. During the lecture, you will usually be taught:

• how to learn the subject
• what information the teacher thinks is important
• what will be on exams (important clues for exams are almost always given in class)
• how to assimilate the subject so it will have practical value for you

If you master the lecture, your study time will decrease significantly because you’ll know what is important and how to go about learning and assimilating it.

7 Strategies to Get the Most Out of Your Classes

In Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades, you’ll discover 7 strategies that will help you get the most out of class time.

1. Be prepared.

2. Set goals.

3. Avoid distractions and stay awake.

4. Understand that hearing does not equal listening.

5. Become a note-taking pro.

6. Master the art of asking questions.

7. Review the class.

The book goes into detail about how to master each of these strategies.

When Inattention Goes Beyond Class Skills

What if, even after implementing all of these basic class skills, you still get bored and can’t pay attention in class? It could be a sign of a subtype of ADD/ADHD. Most people don’t realize it but there are 7 types of this condition, which affects not only kids and adolescents but also adults. Known as Inattentive ADD/ADHD, this type is associated with having trouble paying attention, being frequently bored, and appearing unmotivated, among other symptoms. It is more common in girls and women and is more likely to be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Left untreated, ADD/ADHD can negatively impact your school performance and your life. Statistics show that 33% never finish high school—that’s 3 times the national average!—so they end up in jobs that do not pay well. According to one study from Harvard, 52% of people with untreated ADD/ADHD abuse drugs or alcohol. People with untreated ADD/ADHD are also at increased risk for:

• obesity
• depression
• job failure
• incarceration
• divorce
• Alzheimer’s disease

Because of the possible consequences, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis to find out what is behind your attention issues.

Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades is written by psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and brain health expert Dr. Daniel Amen and relies on the latest neuroscience and leading-edge brain imaging to show students of all ages how to strengthen the ultimate study buddy—their brain—to be more successful in school. Order your copy here.

If inattention is keeping you from excelling at school, it’s time to seek help. At Amen Clinics, we use brain imaging technology called SPECT to identify the various types of ADD/ADHD as well as other underlying brain issues as part of a comprehensive evaluation. With this brain-body approach, we can create a personalized treatment plan to help struggling students perform at their peak level. Speak to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or schedule a visit online.