Tips on staying focused in class

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Does anyone else keep compulsively daydreaming in class? How do you stay focused?

No clue. What is this "daydreaming" that you speak of? Is that like on TV?

I chew gum and drink water. It helps a bit.

I used to stay focused in class by not staying focused in class if that makes any sense. I liked to (and still do, but since starting college I'm taking classes I want to take and therefore not bored) make my daydreams part of class. For instance, during math I would have to figure out the exact angle of the pyramid to find the length of side X to triangulate the distance to something or other. I haven't had math in awhile, forgive the lack of sense-making. Also, I would daydream about how I would save the world by identifying rocks. "That's not halite! That's calcite!" and "Fear the awesome power of my gypsum." And in history I would send myself back in time and daydream about what the teacher was telling us. It really worked for me. I said really odd things in class because of it, but it worked.

So, my best suggestion is to try to focus your daydreams. If that's even possible.

I've done that where it's like, if I can finish this math with my imaginary audience watching, I'll get laid by that elvin girl. Still, paying attention to the teacher can be tougher.

I don't daydream but it is hard for me to pay attention. I move a lot, doodle or make lists on paper, or I may just think really hard without daydreaming. Sometimes I get really sucked into what the teacher is talking about but I'm focusing so hard I don't really comprehend what they're talking about anymore.

Bouncing my legs or playing with something in my hands helps me pay attention. I drink water and chew gum as well. Taking notes helps you pay attention and also gives you something to do.

Sitting up straight helps:P

Use to have the same problem.

I was prescribed Ritilin for it even though it wasn't notiably an attention deficit disorder. Did help with not letting mind wander so much.

This is a problem for me too, especially now that some of the classes I'm required to take are up to 3 hours long. I do find drinking water helps, and I've heard gum helps though I don't chew it, mainly because I don't like the way it feels in my mouth (plus I have a habit of popping). I find getting up and having a short break helps, so I often leave to "use the bathroom" regardless of whether actually have to. I was also given the advice of squishing play-doh in my hands, I haven't tried this yet but it might help.

There are also herbal supplements that are supposed to help attention span problems, but I can't say whether or not they actually do. I've tried neuro-ps (phosphatidylserine) at the advice of the guy at the vitamin store, and I can't say I've noticed I difference (but I don't take it consistently so it's hard to say). I've heard ginseng and ginkgo biloda help, but I haven't tried them yet.

I can't focus in class either except my problem is a lot worse than yours - I sleep in class. Whatever you do, don't let yourself fall asleep. Probably the best way to stay focused is to take notes on what the teacher/professor is talking about even if you really don't think you need to. That way you stay focused and if you forgot what you learned that day.. you can always look back on your notes and study.

I had horrid troubles with daydreaming, sleeping in class, and not paying attention, and didn't really care till I got to college. In college, not paying attention was such a habit that I had trouble following what was going on. What I had to do:

1) Have a bottle of water or something so you don't get thirsty.
2) Get plenty of sleep the night before.
3) Try to make yourself interested in the subject--easier said than done sometimes.
4) For me, this was the biggest and Mariah918 already said it--Take notes. Even if you don't feel like it. Taking notes every day helped me with tests and papers, I ended up spending less time studying because I was more focused in class.

On a tangent, my notes were horrid. I'd divide my paper in half, one half would be notes on the subject matter, the other half would be doodles, song lyrics going through my head, quotes I found interesting, profanity if I didn't like the professor/teacher and just a mostly-meaningless mess.

It's really simple for me: I just do it. One thing that may help when one goes to college is not to take as many courses, so you don't feel burnout by the time you get to your final class of the day.

aha! i am not the only one! w00t!
hehe... sorry, but i know how that feels. i've dissapointed all of my teachers this year because of this kind of thing. i really hate it too.

Pain! Works like a charm.