I’m not a procrastinator when it comes to school. I hate having assignments floating over my head waiting to be finished and submitted. I like to get all the homework done that I can by Tuesday–Wednesday at the latest. This doesn’t come easily though. I need a perfect list of things to get me through a night of locking in.Â
1. Headphones
This feels like an obvious one, but it’s necessary to make me tune everyone else out. I usually don’t play music or listen to podcasts when doing homework, but the second I put my headphones on, it’s a signal to my brain to start working. If I do listen to music, I like to listen to Ashe, The Beatles, Labi Siffre, and Carole King.
2. A caffienated drink
My newest obsession has been Bubblr’s…I drink one almost every day. It is the perfect balance between an energy drink but not feeling like I’m going to have a heart attack for the amount of caffeine I’m consuming. My other favorite drink to get while studying is an iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso from Starbucks. It’s perfection in my mind and gives me the courage to get stuff done.Â
3. Comfy chairs
If I am spending a few hours at the library, you will NOT find me in a stiff, wooden or plastic chair. I will be in the cushioned chairs that are almost too comfy and make you want to fall asleep. Getting curled up into a ball on the big chair gives you the perfect study place. My only exception to this is if it is nice weather out and I have sit on a metal chair to soak up the sun. Along with a comfy chair, I need to be dressed comfy.Â
4. SWeatpants & sweatshirt
If I am not feeling snug and cozy, I will not feel good enough to lock in. Even if it’s 90 degrees out, the library will always be cold enough for sweats to feel like a supportive blanket on me. Showering beforehand is also a plus. Again, not feeling comfortable will not lead to a good study session.Â
5. A snack
Having something to snack on gives me the distraction of doing something that’s not school but not fully taking my attention. If i’m wanting a salty snack, I usually go with Cheez-its because they don’t make your hands all dirty while you’re typing and make a mess on your keypad but they still seem like a treat. For a sweet snack, cereal is my go-to. Cheerios or Cinnamon Life are the PERFECT snack foods that act as a treat for completing assignments.
6. Do not disturb on
My phone is my number one distraction when I study. Before I start doing assignments, I will give myself a five minute timer to get all my scrolling out of the way and then I will put on DND and set my phone not in my eye sight. (Literally just stopped to check my phone as I was writing this.) I’m going to admit, sometimes solitaire and cool math games distracts me too. Along with this, only having tabs that I need open helps me focus my attention on the goal at task.
None of these are wild tactics or tips to get ahead of your homework (they’re actually quite common), but they will lead you to success, especially with finals and exams coming up quickly.
What do you need to be productive studying?