3 Productivity Tips

Today’s post follows on from Monday’s on coping with deadline season- in relation to essays and exams. I feel like this one can be used more generally though too because productivity is always needed throughout the years. To me, being productive just means using your time wisely and staying focused. It’s something that becomes increasingly difficult when you don’t want to do something or have the attention span that is roughly the equivalent to Dory’s short term memory loss. These are a few things that I like think help get the most out of your time and help you stay productive.

Make the most of Mornings: I find that how well mornings go really reflect on my productivity levels for the rest of the day. If I’ve snoozed 10 times before 9am then chances are I’m going to have moved onto Netflix by 3pm at least. I’ve learnt the hard way how to make this work and I’ve written this post that might help you- Basic Girls Guide to: Mornings. I find that getting rid of the ‘pre-wee scroll’ on your social media is a great way to get me out of bed and get the day going. It might seem unbearable getting up early- especially a student like myself- but it really helps get you going. This also ties into having a good night sleep, as getting into that dull but proper routine really helps you maintain your productivity.

Taking proper Breaks: I know this kind of seems counter-productive BUT stay with me here. Thinking that you are going to revise for 12 hours straight is unrealistic and you’ll end up only doing about 5 hours of actual work. Instead, giving yourself hour long breaks where you walk out of the room and do something completely unrelated really does help in the long term. Having a couple of days a week where you do half-days or none at all can actually make you more productive than just stuck at  your desk for the next 2 months.

Organisation is key: This might be an easy one but it is broad. By organisation I mean to-do lists that are realistic and manageable, make deadlines and stick to them and always prioritise your mental wellbeing. Productivity, as with everything, is about balance and you need to find out what works best for you. If you find that you’re not working well right now, find the cause and change it. That really is the bottom line. If Instagram is your downfall, then put your phone in the other room or if you hate working in the morning be prepared to work up until you go to sleep. Once you’ve found the cause of the problem, you can allow your inner-productivity to shine… it might just be hidden really, really far down.

Amy

3 Ways to Get Through Deadline Season

For those of you not in education, you will have the privilege of looking forward to the Springtime. When the sun begins to shine again, the flowers are blossoming and summer is almost here… For us stuck at school, college or university it means DEADLINE SEASON. I’m talking essays, coursework, revision and exams. This time of the year can be really draining for many students and I thought I would share my 3 ways to try and get through this tough time.

1. Keep things FRESH: The most boring thing about revision and writing essays is the monotony, everything feels the same. It can be unbearably DULL. So I recommend changing things up regularly, whether that be what you are studying or the way you are studying. I find that studying where I study or sometimes doing it with other people a helpful way of trying new things. Sometimes I like to go to the library or a cafe with a friend but other days I want to sit in my bed and revise with a cup of tea and silence. It just depends on how I feel and I think giving yourself a bit more freedom can make it all a bit less draining.

   

   Photo Credit: Greta Hollar’s Pinterest

2. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others: This is one I’ve learnt as I’ve got older but comparing your work ethic to other peoples is NEVER helpful. When you’re scrolling Instagram and other people seem like they are out all the time, or your friend brings out a colour coded revision time table- both at the different ends of the scale, but its important to just focus on your own thing. Don’t feel guilty or left out and remember that this is a temporary situation- it’s just for now. Just give it your best go, in the way that you see best for your studies and don’t focus on anyone else.

3. Plan Nice Things For Afterwards: Circle that final deadline or exam in red and get ready to do lots of lovely things from then on. Plan in a couple of days out with your family, decide on a restaurant you want to go to with your friends and save a new series of Netflix ready to go once you are done. Having all of these exciting things to look forward to really helps you when you get caught up in a slump of work.

Best of luck, you got this!

Amy