With exam season just around the corner, many of us are feeling the online burnout with having to be home all the time. Here are some of my favourite habits that I have adapted to when starting to study for my exams.
1. Study Jams
While some people need complete silence in order to study or do homework, I am the complete opposite. Growing up with 3 younger siblings, I got used to studying with noise in the background. Now in university, I listen to various instrumental music compilations to help me focus better. Some of my favourites can be found on Spotify, specifically Instrumental Study, Reading Soundtrack, and Study Music 2020. I will also put on ‘music box editions’ of songs, which is current music set to music boxes (which is the cutest thing to listen to!).
2. Proper Lighting
You might not notice it, but harsh lighting and staring at a screen all day really does affect you. Try to find areas that are well lit with natural light or look into daylight light bulbs, which are not like normal bulbs that produce a yellow tone and instead have a brighter, less harsh light.
3. Eliminating Distractions (or Minimizing Them)
We all get distracted, mostly by our phones (or maybe that’s just me). What turns into a 5-minute break ends up being an hour of you scrolling mindlessly through Instagram. While it is hard to fully eliminate distractions, there is a helpful app that you can use. Forest is an app that plants a seed when you start studying, and the longer you stay off your phone, the bigger your tree grows. If you try to access different apps, the tree “dies” and you have to start over. The amazing plus side to this app is that with every tree you plant, a REAL tree gets planted as well!
4. Designated Study Space
This space is up to you, but it should be free of distractions. While your bed may be comfy, it’s probably not the best place for you to retain information. Even if it’s just a table with a calendar above it, having a space separate from where you normally spend your time is important. Pre-covid, I would try to find different offices on campus to study, changing my location. Now, I change things around my desk, such as inspirational posters to little decorations that make the space my own.
5. Maintain Connections with Others
While you may spend all day studying, it is important to stop and talk to others, virtually or over the phone. Setting up video calls, even for a short amount of time, will greatly improve your mood during these tough times. Personally, I video chat with my friends about once a week, just for a short check-in, and I joined an online book club that meets once a month to talk about books and life in general. While we can’t meet in person, just talking to others really brightens the day.