My Wandering Thoughts Curtail My Classroom Focus

Dr. Robert Wallace
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

DR. WALLACE: I'm a decent student, but I would like to be a much better student. One of the problems I've realized that I'm having on a regular basis is that I'll get distracted during lectures in the classrooms I attend.

An instructor will be talking about a subject, and I'll find that, seemingly out of nowhere, I'll start daydreaming or thinking about another topic, and instead of being able to dismiss it quickly, I end up thinking about the details of a random thought that came into my mind. It goes on sometimes for 30 or 40 seconds. When I finally snap back to it, the lecture has moved onto another related subject, and I've missed not only the transition but perhaps important details.

How can I discipline myself to not tune out important lectures in class by giving bandwidth to random thoughts that pop into my head from time to time? — My Thoughts Wander in Class, via email
Updated: Thu Apr 02, 2026

DR. WALLACE: I'm a decent student, but I would like to be a much better student. One of the problems I've realized that I'm having on a regular basis is that I'll get distracted during lectures in the classrooms I attend.

An instructor will be talking about a subject, and I'll find that, seemingly out of nowhere, I'll start daydreaming or thinking about another topic, and instead of being able to dismiss it quickly, I end up thinking about the details of a random thought that came into my mind. It goes on sometimes for 30 or 40 seconds. When I finally snap back to it, the lecture has moved onto another related subject, and I've missed not only the transition but perhaps important details.

How can I discipline myself to not tune out important lectures in class by giving bandwidth to random thoughts that pop into my head from time to time? — My Thoughts Wander in Class, via email

MY THOUGHTS WANDER IN CLASS: A quick and practical thing I can think of would be to have a pen and notebook with you at all times in class. When a random thought pops into your head, take one to two seconds only to simply jot that subject matter down in the margin of your notebook, and immediately bring your focus back to the instructor and the lesson that's being taught right in front of you.

Jotting down a note will relieve the craving of your mind to go through thought process and mental debates about the subject matter that popped into your head. You can do all of that after class, on a lunch break or whenever it's appropriate that you have time to think about some things like that. After all, you'll have a note to remember it!

And to further keep yourself engaged in the lectures, don't take detailed lecture notes in your notebook. Instead, write down key words or phrases intermittently as your instructor gives the lecture. This way, you won't be scribbling out full words, sentences or paragraphs into a notebook as that will further distract you. Simply jot down a quick word, a quick phrase or something that your mind realizes is important, and that'll help you both to stay on track in the moment and also help you review the lecture later when you look back over the words and phrases you jotted down.

A PERFECT BOYFRIEND IS MY CONTINUAL DAYDREAM

DR. WALLACE: As a female who is a high school junior, I'll admit that I often daydream about having the perfect boyfriend. My daydreams will sometimes occur in such great detail that I almost feel like I know the guy that I'm pining to go out with.

But of course, in reality, I'm single and have only dated intermittently here and there. Let's just say that the perfect boyfriend hasn't come anywhere near me yet!

How can I discipline myself to not simply daydream about a perfect boyfriend who doesn't exist and instead be more practical at finding a guy who could end up being a really good boyfriend, if not an absolutely perfect one? — I Daydream Unrealistically, via email

I DAYDREAM UNREALISTICALLY: I'd say that you likely know quite a bit about your perfect fantasy boyfriend, so let's focus on just a slice of that prospective perfect guy. Let's not focus on looks, athletic ability or anything related to the physicality of what you envision as your perfect guy.

Instead, focus on the personality traits, the way this guy would talk to you and treat you and how you would enjoy your time together rather than anything to do with physical perfection.

From there, seek to meet and talk to as many guys on campus at your school as you can within the bounds of what is reasonable and in the flow of your normal behavior. If you focus on simply one trait, like a good personality, being a good listener or being a team player, then seek to date those kinds of guys.

If you can do this, along the way one of these guys may grow into being an outstanding boyfriend — perhaps not 100% perfection, but at a number so high that you would truly miss him if he wasn't around!