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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Purdue chapter.

I often find myself trying to trick my brain into thinking time is moving much faster. Painfully slow lecture still has an hour left? No, it’s basically six, ten minute intervals or even 12 five minute intervals. It’s been the longest week of my life, it’s only Tuesday. No, it’s pretty much Wednesday and tomorrow is Thursday which is just really pre-Friday, so in conclusion tomorrow is Friday. My favorite trick of time is telling myself, there’s only one more week until spring break. Considering I’ve been saying this since the first week of February, it’s a little disappointing when I remember I’m just gaslighting myself. Majority of this effort into ‘deceiving’ my brain is so I’ll remain productive, here are some of my favorite ways to remain productive with, truthfully, one more week until spring break.

Sweet Treat O’Clock:

My absolute favorite time of the day is what my friends and I fondly call, ‘sweet treat o’clock’. While it does not need to be any specific time or even with a group of people. This is just simply a great way to take a break from studying and reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve been doing. This can include getting froyo/ice cream from your favorite nearby shop or my go-to, a take-out box full of dining court cookies; especially when Earhart or Wiley have their chocolate chip and sugar cookies. 

Change in Scenery: 

I used to pride myself on being able to study in my room but sadly as the semester goes on, my bed just seems to look more and more comfortable. I have found that I can still study at my desk but only for a short amount of time until I have to move and study in a different location. I am quite fond of the lobby in my dorm building but I also find that studying outside, weather permitting of course, is also a great way to regain focus and get some fresh air. 

Time Managed ‘Doom Scroll’: 

While people, myself included, don’t like to admit how often they ‘doom scroll’ on social media. This can be defined by a significant amount of time spent just watching video after video with no end in sight. While it takes a large amount of effort to shut down a ‘doom scroll’, I found that if I set a timer then I am more inclined to break away and return to studying. It can be very helpful to break away from my homework and watch cute baking videos on Instagram for a set 10 minutes and then return to work. 

Complete a Small Task: 

When I was in high school my teachers often told me that efficient studying was completed when you actually sat down, applied yourself to it, and worked until complete. That worked great for me, in high school, but now it seems I can’t even read two pages without becoming distracted with something else. It is so hard to focus when you work non-stop for hours on end, so I often find myself completing small almost meaningless tasks during study sessions. Finish writing a paragraph? Take the trash out. Complete math problems? Replace the box of Kleenex. By completing a part of your homework and then a task that might have been weighing you down, is doubling the reward and keeps your mind alive.

Kendell is a writer and senior editor of the Her Campus Purdue University chapter. She's been a part of Purdue's Her Campus chapter since fall of 2023. Her favorite topics to write about include entertainment, the music industry and about her favorite experiences around campus. Kendell is a sophomore at Purdue University. She is majoring in Communications with a minor in History, Anthropology and Creative Writing. Beyond Her Campus, Kendell is a member of Purdue Orientation Programs and was a team leader and Summer Visit Day Conductor for Boiler Gold Rush 2024. In the future, she hopes to work for a broadcast network working with sports and entertainment reporting. She currently works at a cafe right outside of campus and loves to tell everyone about it. Originally from Noblesville, Indiana, she grew up visiting West Lafayette and Purdue's campus, she loves to learn more about the student life. In her free time, Kendell enjoys listen to music especially Taylor Swift. She is also really into reading and loves to talk about her latest reads, majority of which involve romance. She loves to bake and back home is known for her banana bread muffins, coffee cake and chocolate chip cookies.