During those rare moments that my motivation is off the charts and I’m looking forward to studying, focus comes effortlessly. Most of the time though, I need to ~gently~ nudge myself to keep doing whatever it is that needs to get done. If at any moment I’m lacking the willpower to push myself, I find that getting rid of distractions and incorporating rewards helps me be productive without hating what I’m doing. I like to do this by:
Making a Checklist
Not only does making a checklist help me organize what I need to get done that day, but it also allows me to reward myself by drawing that satisfying little check after I finish a task. I always start with an unrealistic list which includes what I want to get done that day but know probably is too much, and then using that list, I make a realistic list. Making that realistic list is key in feeling like I was actually productive by the end of the day since it’s more rewarding to look back and see most, if not all, boxes checked off rather than just one or two.
Setting my Phone to Do Not Disturb
I prevent any notifications or calls from coming into my computer and phone by switching on Do Not Disturb and/or airplane mode. Personally, I like to set my laptop to Do Not Disturb and turn my phone to airplane mode so that I can use the internet on my laptop but can’t refresh anything on my phone. The whole idea is to cut down on distractions that will pop up temptingly once I’ve begun working.
Listening to White Noise
Personally, I can’t study with music 🙁 so finding the right white noise to listen to is my version of making the perfect study playlist. I like studying to sounds of a coffee shop, an airplane cabin, a rainstorm, or a crackling fire. (The links are to my go-to videos!)
Playing a Study With Me Video
I love study with me videos, especially live ones, because it's like having a buddy that inspires me to stay focused but can’t distract me. If the video is a livestream, even better--I see the person working hard in real time and sometimes chat with the other people during breaks about what we’re studying. I wish more people would do study with me livestreams because I find them incredibly helpful, especially when I’d rather be doing something social than studying (check out a study with me video I made). If you haven’t watched one before, I highly recommend playing one next time you study or work.
Using the Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro Method is a time management technique that uses 25 minute intervals of working broken up by short and long breaks. The person who developed it, Francesco Cirillo, recommends using a physical timer to keep track of the time, but I just use my phone. Referencing the list I made earlier in the day helps me figure out what task I should focus on during each stretch of study time. The fundamentals of how to use the technique are as follows (Mr. Cirillo's site goes into more detail if you're interested):
- Pick a task you want to complete
- Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on that task until the time is up
- On a piece of paper, record that 25-minute study session (with a checkmark, tally, dot, etc.)
- Set a timer for 5 minutes and take a break
- On a piece of paper, record that 5-minute break
- After every four study sessions, take a longer 15-minute break
- Repeat!
Conclusion
These methods always help me get work done without going (too) crazy, but I'm sure there are even more tips and tricks out there to make studying more exciting.