Tag Archives: productivity

Study Tips That Actually Help Me

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Studying can seem extremely overwhelming, especially when you are overloaded with other activities like sports and homework. It is easy for a teen to procrastinate or feel unmotivated to be productive, but over time, I have discovered a couple of study tips that help me stay focused without frying my brain. These tips may not work for everyone, but they have helped me a lot.

1. Break studying into smaller sessions

Studying for hours on end does not always work for me. These days, the attention span of people has significantly decreased over time because of stimulation from phones, the internet, multitasking, and stress. According to the American Psychological Association, a study done by Gloria Mark, PhD, of the University of California Irvine, shows that people could focus on a screen for an average of 2.5 minutes, which dropped to 75 seconds in 2012, and is now under 50 seconds (roughly 47 seconds in recent studies). Short sessions help me stay focused and avoid burning out. Having breaks in between is important as well, but you should go for a quick snack or walk instead of doom-scrolling on social media.

2. One Tab Rule

The one tab rule is a good way to maintain focus. You should allow your mind to concentrate on one task and one screen. Multi-tasking is a horrible way to get things done. It increases stress, depletes your mental energy, and increases the likelihood of making mistakes while working. When you multitask, you are just switching your focus between short time periods, and preventing yourself from getting into a “flow state.”

3. Moving Around

Movement resets mental fatigue. People talk about the physical benefits of exercising, but they also forget about the massive cognitive benefits, too. You should exercise daily, even if it’s just a 10-minute walk after a study session.

4. Time Block Your Entire Schedule

It is important to manage one’s time wisely. Even if you do not follow exactly what you schedule, having an idea of what tasks you need to complete for the day and estimating how much time each task takes is a great way to help with productivity. You can get more hours of sleep by knowing when to get things done during the day. If you do not assign a time for a task, then it does not exist.

5. Blur Test

Instead of just reading your notes and trying to memorize the information you read, you should be able to recall the information that you study. A great way to do this is to grab a blank sheet of paper and try to write down as much as you can about the topic you are studying. You can do this over and over again until you know everything in your notes. This way, you can ensure that you will be able to recall the information during an exam.

Everybody uses different techniques to study. The most important thing is that you find certain habits that work for you. Small changes like these tips that I have provided can make studying feel less stressful and more manageable.

The Pomodoro Technique: A Time Management Method

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With lots of assignments and tests piling up, I as a student have been very stressed out recently. Stressing all the time hasn’t helped my productivity or time management; I think I’ve spent more time worrying about schoolwork than actually completing it. Thus, I’ve been trying new study methods, and one has really worked for me.

The Pomodoro Technique is a study method for time management that breaks long study hours into 25-minute periods of focused work followed by 5-minute breaks. Here are the steps in a more detailed form:

Step 1: Identify the assignments you need to work on.

Step 2: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on an assignment without getting sidetracked.

Step 3: When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break.

Step 4: Work for 3 more work intervals, or pomodoros.

Step 5: Take a 30-minute break and begin the study sequence again.

This study technique worked really well for me! I was able to complete many assignments I had been procrastinating on and not get distracted by my phone or other distractions the entire time. Something that helped me was making a to-do list and highlighting the tasks of the highest priority. With my phone as the timer, I found that I was much less distracted by it, because each time I opened my phone, I saw the timer and was reminded to keep working. Using a timer works very well for me, as it motivates me to concentrate and get as much work done as possible before the timer sounds. Also, I think a 5-minute break is a great time frame to get up, stretch, and get a quick snack before getting back to work without getting distracted.

All in all, the Pomodoro Technique was a very helpful and successful study technique in my experience. It allowed me to stay motivated and productive while working for multiple hours and completing many assignments without getting sidetracked. Hopefully, it works for you too! If you’ve been feeling stressed or have trouble managing your time efficiently, give it a try!

Lam T.

Time Management

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As finals slowly approach, I have often found myself stressed with school and sports. Balancing school, sports, and extracurriculars has proven to be a struggle in my life and many others. Learning how to manage time has proven to be a beneficial skill in life, but it is challenging to learn. 

Here are two ways you can master time management:

  1. Creating a To-Do List
  • There’s a reason why creating a To-Do list is so popular: using a To-Do list can help you keep track of homework, upcoming projects/tests, and chores around the house. To-Do list lets you plan your study time and mark what you complete. Using a list helps you monitor your assignments. A bonus is that checking off a task is a motivator to finish homework.
  • If you prefer to keep track of your To-Do list online, there are many websites (and apps) to do so. I enjoy Pomofocus; this website has a To-Do list and a Pomodoro timer. This leads me to my second point–use a timing system!
  • Benefits: Checking off tasks creates a sense of accomplishment, limits stress, and lessens procrastination.
  1. Utilizing Timing Techniques
  • A timing system allows for the allotted time of working and breaks. The Pomodoro Strategy arranges 25 minutes of work time and 5-15 minutes of rest time. This enables users to have time for work and breaks. Studies have shown that people with gaps between study sessions are more productive than those without. 
  • The Pomodoro Technique has helped me set realistic goals when studying by creating small steps that gradually build up to my main objective.
  • Benefits: Increases accountability, reduces distractions, and improves productivity.
  • An extra note: Looking ahead in the next week or two is essential when planning your study time. This can help you stay on top of upcoming tests and projects.

Final Notes!

Since I have used these strategies in school, I have never missed an assignment and had time to study for exams. Though these two tips seem like small factors in the large scheme of things, setting a To-Do list and timing techniques significantly improve time management.

Organizing your time is essential to being a successful student, employee, and athlete. Using these methods will help you maximize your productivity in a small amount of time.

Thank you for reading!!

– Gwendy M.

Back to School: Tips for Productivity

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The school year has just started, and like most high school students, I’m slowly getting used to having homework every night again. Often, I allow myself to get distracted or put off my homework until the last minute. This year, I’m determined to have a successful academic year and a mostly stress-free school life by staying focused and productive. So, for everyone like me out there, here are some of my tips to be productive in school and at home for this coming school year.

1. Work in a distraction-free environment. I prefer to work in a quiet area and put my phone in a different room or on “Do Not Disturb” so that I’m not tempted to check it every time a notification pops up. It’s easy to get distracted and lose track of time when you’re on your phone, so make sure it’s not a distraction when you’re trying to get work done.

2. Keep track of assignments, tests, and deadlines. I recommend having a planner/calendar and writing down your assignments and due dates so you can plan accordingly. This helps me to make progress on my assignments every day instead of letting them pile up. Daily to-do lists also work well for me, and the satisfaction of crossing out tasks after completing them is always great.

3. Get work done at school. To minimize homework, use your study hall/tutorial period as well as class work time wisely, and get as much work done as you can. That way, it won’t become homework and you will have more free time or time to complete other assignments.

4. Take periodic breaks. Working can get tiring after a while, so it’s healthy to take a step back from your assignment and stretch, get a drink of water, and/or have a snack to fuel your study session. Be sure to get back to work afterward!

5. Tackle the most difficult tasks first. Completing your harder assignments first helps you get into the zone and complete your other assignments more efficiently. Personally, completing these assignments gives me a sense of accomplishment that motivates me to continue working.

6. Create a plan for your study sessions. Decide beforehand a window of time to work during (based on what time you feel most productive or when you are free) and which assignments you plan to spend time on. Creating a plan helps you stay organized when working and not wait until the evening to do all your work.

All in all, don’t get sidetracked, and stay organized and focused when you are working. Hopefully, you found these tips helpful and can apply them to your study sessions. Good luck in the upcoming school year!

-Lam T.

Tips to Stay Focused and Avoid Procrastination

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As a student, musician, athlete, and lazy teenager, I regularly have lots of work to complete. Sometimes in the past, it has piled up due to my astonishing procrastination skills, and I have had to complete it stressfully at the last minute, or not at all. To avoid this, here are some tips to stay focused on your work and to avoid procrastination.

1. Eliminate any distractions. Work in a quiet area and avoid listening to distracting music to maximize your efficiency.

2. Create work plans. To-do lists with deadlines are essential to getting your work done in an organized way, and setting a plan for how you will work at a given time is also important.

3. Take short breaks. To avoid getting burned out by huge workloads, take breaks to refuel your mind and body. However, don’t get carried away! Time your breaks and make sure you get back to work.

4. Reward yourself! To further motivate yourself, give yourself a reward for working hard for a certain amount of time, completing a task, or just being productive in general.

In summary, procrastination is a huge roadblock for productivity and focus. Luckily, we can avoid it with these helpful tips! Hope this helps!

-Lam T.

Coping with Stress and Emotions

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Lately, in my personal life, I’ve been experiencing a lot of stress and emotional mood swings, so I thought I’d share how I’m dealing with it. As a teenager growing physically and emotionally every day, I’ve recently been feeling a lot of confusing and unexplainable emotions. I’ve also been extremely stressed with school and the excessive workloads I’ve had to deal with, especially as the school year begins to come to a close.

With the help of all my loved ones, I’m doing much better now and I’m really enjoying myself amidst all the homework and stress. Without further ado, here are four ways to deal with stress and difficult emotions.

1. Write it down! When you are feeling stressed or confused, try writing it down on paper, whether it’s in a long paragraph of thought, a free verse poem, angry bullet points, or indecipherable scribbles. It feels great to release your thoughts and emotions, and you can really get creative with a pen to paper. Also, you can just throw away or shred up the paper later!

2. Talk to someone about it! One thing I’ve realized is that keeping secrets to yourself will not help. Bottling up emotions just consumes you and makes you feel so much worse, and you will feel disconnected or isolated from your loved ones. Mine have always been there for me, and I’ve found that they definitely have my back, and I can trust them and just have a nice long talk about my life with them. Talking to someone you love is a huge help.

3. Do something/find something you love! One of my favorite ways to spend my free time is listening to music. I love music because it puts me in a good mood and takes my mind off of whatever is going on at the moment. Do something that makes you happy, like reading a book or watching a nostalgic movie!

4. Don’t get distracted from your work! When you’re doing homework or trying to get something done, don’t let yourself be distracted. I’ve found that in the past, having my phone beside me when I’m working is an extremely unproductive arrangement. Every time I get a notification, I pick up my phone and can’t put it down for a long time. Recently I have been putting my phone far away from me when I work, and I’ve been so much more productive. Also, in the cases that I am productive and get a lot of work done, I’m really happy with myself and I allow myself to feel good and have a good day.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

-Lam T.