time to lock in
It’s the middle of semester, assignments are starting to pile up, professors are beginning to discuss midterms, no wonder you may start feeling overwhelmed. It’s easy to ignore your tasks and enjoy time with your friends – and you totally should. However, in order to maintain your status as an academic weapon, it is pertinent to maximize your work time. In the era of distractions, it is not your fault to be another victim of today’s culture of multitasking, taking on too many responsibilities or bed rotting when life feels too much. Although it is important to give yourself grace, by following these simple tips, you can stay on top of all of your academic pursuits and have more time for yourself with less stress.
Time Block
Time blocking means being intentional about your work sessions. By planning out your week, mapping out all of your assignments for each class or obligations for extra curriculars, you can adequately allot time to each task. Additionally, it is less likely you will get overwhelmed by a mile long to-do list by chunking out the work over the entire week. As each day comes, treat your work session as an appointment and give yourself one-on-one time with your work. Plan around your work time, not the other way around.
Start with the hardest
It may be tempting to get the easy tasks out of the way. However, this strategy might be the reason you continue to get bogged down by the big assignments. Instead, work on your hardest, most daunting tasks first. This way, all of your energy goes into these assignments and ultimately making them easier to digest and work on. Added bonus – once you finally finish that large assignment, you will immediately feel more motivated to knock the easy things out of the way.
Turn off Notifications
Shall I say anything more? Turn off your phone, put your devices on do not disturb. Even better, let your friends know that they can reach you in an hour. It may seem that you need to stay connected just in case. However I can promise you that all of the Instagram Reels and funny memes your friends send will still be there when you are finished.
Single Task
In this day and age it is normalized to constantly be multitasking. It may appear that by doing so you will be able to accomplish more in a short amount of time. Instead, your mind is constantly jumping back and forth between tasks and unable to devote its entire energy and attention to anything. It is better to focus on one task at a time and give all your effort into making sure you are putting forth your best work before moving on.
Clean Desk, Clean Mind
It has been proven time and time again that having a clean workspace helps to mitigate distractions. Starting off your work session by ensuring you have a cleared off desk will help you stay focused on your work materials and free your mind from being directed towards other tasks.
Optimize Your Energy
The best way to maintain your focus is to make sure you have sufficient energy to get your work done. As a busy college student this can be wickedly challenging, however by prioritizing your needs, you will find yourself able to be way more successful in all aspects of your life. Start with the classic four: move, sleep, eat, and hydrate. Make sure you move your body, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day on a walk around campus with some friends. Get adequate sleep. Relying on energy drinks is not good for your body or your wallet. Eat nutritious meals that satisfy your cravings and hit all of the major food groups. Who doesn’t love a plate full of color. Lastly, drink your water. Keep a full water bottle with you at your desk for an easy reminder.
All this being said, it can still be hard to maintain your focus on assignments, especially if they don’t spark your interest. If you find yourself wandering, acknowledge it, allow it to happen and gently allow yourself to refocus. Breathe, write down your next task then set a 10 minute timer as a promise to stay focused for just a little bit longer. Who knows, maybe that’ll be all the motivation you need to work for even longer.