How can I improve my focus on long reading assignments in my 300-level Environmental Science course with a tight deadline?

The best way to tackle a long, dense chapter is to stop reading it like a novel and start treating it like a scavenger hunt. When you sit down to read 45 pages at once, your brain naturally rebels because it feels like an endless mountain to climb. Instead, try the "preview and question" method: spend ten minutes looking only at the headings, charts, and the summary at the end. Turn those headings into questions before you read the actual text. It’s like having a map before you enter a dark forest; you aren't just wandering aimlessly anymore, you’re actively searching for specific answers to your questions. This keeps your brain engaged because you’re on a mission to find information rather than just passively letting words wash over you. I know exactly how frustrating it is to stare at a page for an hour and realize you haven't absorbed a single sentence. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind, but please remember that your focus is a muscle, not a light switch. If you’re feeling burned out, stop forcing yourself to sit there for hours. Try the Pomodoro technique—set a timer for 25 minutes of intense, focused reading, followed by a strict five-minute break away from your screen. If your mind wanders, just gently acknowledge it and bring your attention back to the next paragraph. You’re doing the hard work of a junior-level major, and it’s completely normal to hit a wall with this kind of volume. Take it one section at a time, trust your process, and you’ll find that you can get through this material much faster than you think.