Sir/Madam, I'm 16, studying in class XI with the science stream. I want to do well in exams, want to top my class and above all concentrate on my future. But there's something which does not let me concentrate on my studies. Thing is that I, very easily, fall for any guy and keep thinking about them and waste my time. I solely want to study and that is it. But due to my distractive and careless mind I'm making things tougher in my life. I seriously need some genuine piece of advise to concentrate like anything and show the people out there that I what I have in me because I'm tired of getting underestimated and the main thing I'm fed up of being a looser who scores pathetic marks in her exams despite she knows that she can do the best out of it. Help me Please..

Sixteen is an excellent time to start developing one's mental discipline or equilibrium. One way to do this is a short period of concentration every morning. I found a poem about that time that I read every morning to this day. It's Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata."

Here's a link to it:

http://www.healtalk.com/dl/desiderata.pdf

Ah yes, I remember your same problem very well. I don't know if there is a good answer for it, but there are some things you can do.

First, get good, consistent sleep every night. Limit your evening activities on school nights so that you are going to bed early enough for your body to wind down for productive sleep. This will greatly help your concentration and focus during the day. If caffeine keeps you wound up, drink caffeinated beverages in the morning or else drink decaff. Don't watch TV or get on the computer before bed. The light beam pulsing into your eyes makes your brain more wired, as if it were a bright sunny morning.

Take a complete vitamin every day. The B vitamins and magnesium sharpen your brain and concentration. There may be others, too, I just am not aware. It couldn't hurt to eat healthy meals, too, like vegetables instead of fast food.

Of course, getting enough exercise helps the brain stay on track. I know from experience that if I stay too long at a mundane task, such as studying, my mind wanders everywhere except where I need it to be.

What do you do that starts the "guy thinking"? Are you talking and flirting with them? Maybe until you get the grades you want and are in the right point in life, you should curb any behavior that starts your mind down the wrong track. One trick that may help you: watch the guy in question until you see him do something that is not cool, like picking his nose or stuffing food in his mouth. Think about dealing with that behavior every day, all the time. It may turn you off enough to get back to the science classes.

Above all, treat yourself well. You are worth the best, so don't settle for less.

When you get obsessive thoughts stop them asap. I use to have a hard time with obsessing with something in the refrigerator. Like the cherry cheesecake would nag me until I went for a piece. I started thinking about all the weight I'd gain eating every time I thought of food. Maybe if you start thinking about a guy think of an actor or singer that you really like and tell yourself you have as much chance with him as with (for example) Johnny Depp.