Hi

[Ellie]

Hi. I recently found this website. I'm not exactly sure when it started, all I know is that it has been going on for as long as I remember. I'm really glad to know I'm not alone because I felt that way for the longest time. My daydreams range from small, simple dreams to long (like several weeks to a month long), complicated dreams. I tend to think a lot in general, I'm definitely like to keep to myself more. I'm usually a relatively creative thinker and I occasionally share some of my thoughts in a classroom setting, that is, if they even relate loosely to the topic. Although, usually my ideas are shot down by the boy who sits next to me. He is obviously a very logical and close-minded thinker and it doesn't help me much. 

Either way, I'm happy to come across a forum like this one in hopes that maybe I could limit the dreams. You see, I am 14 years old and go to a college prep school and it requires a lot of focus on schoolwork. I don't really have time for daydreaming. It is terribly distracting because I'd much rather stay in bed and daydream than I would go to class or even do my laundry (I am a boarding student and have to do my own laundry, and motivate myself to do homework.) 

For little dreams, I usually do while sitting down, maybe while doing my math homework, or sitting at a table eating breakfast. Those don't usually get in the way too much, I just appear to be a little spacey. I'm more worried about the bigger dreams, those distract me a lot more and for much longer periods of time. Sometimes I pace, sometimes I sit, and when I was younger I used to talk aloud to myself (which scared my dad.) I've gotten better about not talking aloud, but occasionally I may smile. My roommate noticed  that once and gave me a very strange look. 

Bigger daydreams seem to occur after major events or changes in feelings. For example, they increased a tremendous amount when my dad died and then slowly faded, coming back here or there. 

In the end, I need to focus more. Especially if I am to do well in school. It hasn't been too bad this last semester, as my grades reflect nicely (Only one B, all the rest A's.)

So I was wondering, what is the best way to focus? I know school is only going to get more difficult from here, especially if I plan to take college calculus next year, I need to know how not to let my mind distract me.

Thanks. :)

[Marla Singer]

Everytime you get the urge to daydream force yourself not to. Distract yourself, it gets easier everytime you do it, and the less you do it the more you can concentrate

[Ellie]

I've been trying to do so. It's hard but I'm working on it. Thanks:)

Marla Singer said:

Everytime you get the urge to daydream force yourself not to. Distract yourself, it gets easier everytime you do it, and the less you do it the more you can concentrate

[taffle]

Hi and welcome! To maintain focus, try not to concentrate on any 1 task for too long. When I do something or get stuck on something for too long, I get bored and my mind wanders. For example, I was studying for an operations management exam for over an hour and I got so bored that my mind wandered. I find that limiting my tasks to short periods of time and switching between them help me concentrate better and get things done.