Spring is here and with the weather (finally) getting nice and summer upon us, it can seem more difficult than ever to concentrate and get all of your work done. I mean let’s be real, who wouldn’t rather lay by the pond with friends over writing a paper on these warm sunny days? If you have spring fever and are struggling to stay focused on your schoolwork, here are 3 ways to help you be more productive:
Make a “Must Do” List
You’re probably familiar with your classic to-do list, which I used to make every day to keep track of what needed to get accomplished that day. I recently switched over to making “must-do” lists because I found that I was making huge to-do lists and checking off the things on my list that weren’t very important. With a must-do list you write down 2-3 things that you absolutely have to get done that day, such as finishing a paper due the next day. A must do list forces you to focus only on the tasks that have to be finished that day. I find making a must-do list to be much better than making a long to-do list because, with a to-do list I would check off things like finding a birthday present for my roommate (whose birthday is still two weeks away) or organizing my desk. Making a must-do list forces you to actually get the stuff done that matters.
Find the Right Working Environment for You
Where you work has a huge impact on how productive you are, so it’s important to figure out where you are the most focused. Be honest with yourself. If you know that you will be tempted to talk to every person who walks by you in case (or you find listening to the people near you is more interesting than the reading you need to do) don’t go there to crack down on your work. Maybe you get a lot of work done in your room, or maybe you’re like me and end up lying in bed on your phone (or better yet falling asleep) or talking to your roommates instead of doing your work. I personally find that I can work the best on the third floor of the library where I can go back and forth between a table where I can spread all of my stuff out, and a comfy seat in one of the front windows. Try working in a few different places and see where you are able to get the most work done, and you can count on this place to be your go to for homework..
Set a Timer
I can’t tell you how many times I have sat down to do homework and have completely lost track of the time (especially in the art studio). I find myself spending an hour “reading” for my class that consists of me frequently going on my phone and getting up to get coffee or socialize. This drags out my homework and I always end up wishing I had just focused and gotten it done. I find that when I set myself a time constraint to focus on something I am much more productive. Try setting an alarm for 25 minutes and really focus on that homework assignment for that 25 minutes. Once that 25 minutes is up allow yourself a 5-minute break to check your phone, get a bite to eat, grab a coffee and then set another timer for 25 minutes and repeat. This method is great because it breaks your work up into small more productive, manageable chunks.