Second semester has been absolutely hectic. With the semester being shorter, classes seem more fast-paced than usual and it can get overwhelming. It is also the time of year when a lot of students start to lack motivation and feel less productive. I know we’re all ready to end the school year, but here are some things you should get/do to end strong! You could even consider these ideas to stay productive outside of school and apply them to your regular day.
- Blue Light Glasses
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These are by far one of the best investments I’ve made. We are constantly exposed to blue-light from online schooling and being in front of technology all the time. Blue-light emitted from LED lights, computer/laptop monitors, smartphones, televisions, and etc. can cause eyestrain. This often leads to fatigue, dry and sore eyes, bad headaches, and difficulty concentrating. So, I highly recommend getting a pair of blue-light glasses! You can easily find some on Amazon or elsewhere online. I got mine from Quay and they’ve been working great. For people who already wear glasses, some prescription glasses allow you to add blue-light prescription as well.
- Flora
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I recently found out about this app through a friend and it’s been super helpful! Flora is a productivity app where you can set a time to focus on a task. During that time, a virtual tree will be planted and if any other app is opened the tree will die. These virtual trees can sometimes be upgraded to a real tree too! Additionally you can set money (that you will lose if you get distracted with your phone) to stay on task during that set duration. Flora partners with communities around the world and real tree planting organizations and offers options to get a membership where you can plant real trees in impoverished communities!
- Proper lighting
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This may sound super simple, but the lighting in your environment can greatly affect your productivity. This is one I greatly struggle with myself. Try to always opt for natural sunlight as lighting. Vitamin D from the sun is so important for your body. Moreover, artificial lighting can produce blue-light – making you even more tired. During the night, use warm (yellowish) lighting instead of white light as it is better for your eyes and allows you to relax.
- Lots of Water
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This one is always neglected; I’m guilty of this myself. I’m always staying at my desk constantly sitting which makes me super tired. Hence, it is so important to eat well and to stay hydrated. I started to keep a water bottle next to me at all times so it’s easier to sip on and not get lazy to get water. It will make a huge difference in your activity levels and will make you feel less tired!
Remember that we’re half way through the semester and we got this! School is not the only reason to be productive, strive to keep these up regularly. Hope these help! Good luck!