Learning from textbooks can be daunting for many reasons:

-Working memory difficulties can make it difficult to track the progress of ideas and make the kind of connections that make the information stick

-Text books are a tough sell compared to many other possible distractions

-Reading can feel fluent when it is in fact too passive for the kind of learning that translates into exam performance.

Here are some possible strategies:

-The inactivity that comes with reading may set up an internal restlessness that makes concentration more difficult. Some students report increased success in concentration and remembering if they clear a space and pace while they read. You may also find that being on a treadmill or stationary bicycle improves concentration. Reading out loud adds an additional level of engagement useful for remembering.

-Exercise changes your neurochemistry in ways that can improve focus. Some students have reported success by going for a workout and shifting directly afterward into an academic task for a set period of time in a distraction reduced environment.

-Review your history. What environments are least distracting? This can range from the hubub of coffee shops to using earplugs in the library. Get creative about reducing distractions. Sometimes just orienting yourself a certain way in your study space, or throwing a sheet over sources of distraction can make a difference.