College makes up the best four (or five, we’re not judging here) years of your life! There are dozens of opportunities to get out, meet people, and try new things you didn’t even know existed before that moment! But amidst these adventures, there has to be some time for actual studying.
Courtsey of bit-of-news
It’s hard cracking down and getting into the zone, we know. Here are a few things to avoid when you’re meant to be studying because, no matter what you tell yourself, these bad habits definitely aren’t helping you.
Getting rid of those pesky notifications on your phone
Those little numbers in the corner of your apps are such a nuisance! Might as well see what Aunt Susie is posting about you on Facebook. It’ll definitely be productive to get rid of those notifications on Facebook, and Twitter, and Snapchat, and—
Courtesy of Wikia
Wait! How did we end up scrolling through Yik Yak?
If you’re the kind of person that checks notifications on your phone or tablet and somehow get sucked into mindless surfing, it’s time to make the sacrifice. Put that little screen away where you can’t see it light up. You’ll be much less tempted to check it constantly.
Taking a lunch break… for four hours
If you’ve been taking your “break” for more than an hour, it’s not really a break anymore. Don’t fall into the trap of the eternal break. Set yourself a time limit, and stick to it! If you don’t set an end time, you may lose the motivation to get back to the grind! Sometimes, taking a break from studying is a major boost to your energy and focus. Get up and walk over to Arnie’s, Umph, or Mac’s to grab a bite! Or if you’re not hungry, take a short walk outside to get some fresh air and blood flowing.
Making a playlist for studying while you’re supposed to already be studying
I’m a big fan of studying with music in the background, preferably with headphones to block out other distracting noises. However, it’s easy to make the music your distraction. Telling yourself you’ll start just as soon as you have the perfect playlist to get in the mood is only an excuse for you to continue procrastinating.
Here are a couple of free online playlists made just for studying!
Calculating how many days until the next break or holiday
It’s the last-ditch effort to do nothing productive while still feeling as though you’ve done something. Complicated as the math may seem, you’re still putting off the inevitable! The calculations will only leave you feeling like you’re drowning in your semester’s remaining days anyway.
Reading every article pertaining to studying you find online
We love having you here with us on Her Campus, but you’ve got some studying to do! You just read all of these downfalls to the great study struggle! It’s time to get back to work, and get that awesome GPA!