As we are rounding the end of the semester, the stress and seasonal depression are kicking in. There are more deadlines and less colorful leaves on the trees, so it can be challenging to find motivation and concentration to really maximize your productivity when working on assignments. With this being said, I am going to share with you my favorite tips I use to keep myself focused and diligent so my homework doesn’t dictate all my waking hours!
Most importantly, in my opinion, is at some point everyday I do an activity that moves my body to allow myself a physical release of stress. I love to teach spin classes, go on walks on the rail trail, and recently I’ve been attending kickboxing classes as well! I resort to movement as a way to abandon any tense, unwanted stress I may be carrying, and it truly does feel like an ‘escape’ because I cannot be doing homework and exercising at the same time! Although I’m confident there is a ton of science behind this philosophy demonstrating the perks of movement; for the purpose of this article, we are putting the data aside and listening to what our minds and bodies enjoy.
Now that we have discussed the art of physically releasing stress, it is time to actually do the work. I have to admit, sometimes I tend to be a scattered person; I will start one assignment, then hop to another, before going back to the first one I started. There are positive aspects to this pattern: it allows me to step away from the assignment, so when I come back I am reading it with fresh eyes (so if you are a scattered brain, this could be a good method to try and approach your work). However, sometimes I undercut the time I spend on assignments that I am less passionate about when I go back and forth between homework. Instead, I find it very beneficial to allot yourself a certain amount of time (sometimes it is better to set an alarm for shorter increments like 10 minutes, or longer ones like 45 minutes) where you work on one assignment with no interruptions. This means finding a comfortable spot where you can put forth your undivided attention on your assignment– and put your phone on ‘do not disturb’, in your backpack!
Subsequently, finding a study spot that you love is vital in boosting your productivity. When the weather allows, I love to complete assignments that aren’t on my computer outside. Although, with winter creeping up on us, I often find myself on one of the couches in the library. I must be comfortable while studying in order to be productive. Additionally, when I really need to focus on assignments, I isolate myself from any potential distractions. Thus, I am not really in a social setting because I want to make the most out of my time I allocate for studying so I can enjoy the more social aspects of college for longer periods of time in my day.
Once you have decided on a spot, it is very important to bring something to have while studying. Personally, I fill my water bottle so I sip, stay hydrated, and essentially ‘reward’ myself by getting up to refill my water bottle– I know this sounds silly, but, again, moving my body helps me stay focused. The trip to fill up my water bottle serves as a nice brief break, but not one that would make me distracted!
I hope these tips helped– happy studying!