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Student life: Tips and tricks to improve your productivity

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Today all the information and resources we need for a more effective study process are a click away. Still, lack of productivity is a widespread issue, and you can experience it when you least expect it. Whether you have a job or are a student, keeping on track with daily tasks may be difficult because distractions are everywhere, stopping people from getting the results they want.

When you enter college, you are full of enthusiasm, new ideas, and good intentions, but all the work you must do can discourage you. Some of the tasks you have to take care of while in college are homework assignments, exams, projects and essays. Trying to finish all these on time can overwhelm you, neglecting to rest, taking care of yourself, and your social life.

As a student being productive may seem the biggest challenge. Imagine you start studying, and after 15 minutes, even birds chirping seems more interesting than the topics you need to learn. Sound familiar? If the answer is yes, you may wonder how you can focus on your tasks and avoid distractions while studying.

Here are some suggestions about how small habits and useful tools can improve your studying experience and increase productivity.

Find more about your learning style

Many students struggle to find better options for their learning experience and wonder what they can do to improve their productivity. A great boost for your productivity is finding your learning style and understanding how your brain processes information efficiently.

The basic learning styles are:

  1. Visual style. It is based on observation, and you can ease your learning by using boards, pictures, diagrams, brainstorming on paper and infographics.
  2. Auditory style. It is based on listening, reading aloud and listening to lectures or speeches being the best techniques to increase productivity.
  3. Reading/Writing style. It is based on reading and writing skills, being the right style if you quickly absorb information when you read and write.
  4. Kinesthetic/Tactile style. It is based on socialization, and if you are a social learner, love teamwork and communicating with your mates, the kinesthetic style is the best for your productivity boost.   

Prepare your study environment

Your study environment is essential for your creativity and productivity. An organized space reduces distractions, increases your focus and gives you more inspiration. Whether you choose to study at home, outside, in a café, or a library, try to choose quiet places that make you feel comfortable.

An outside study session, in a park, for example, is more appropriate for tasks that don't require high focus, such as reading a story for a resume or writing an essay about your favorite movie. Cafes and libraries are great study environments for group projects and teamwork, but be careful because meeting your mates can easily distract you from work.

If you prefer self-study, then opting for a home-based study mode may be the best choice for your learning journey. Make sure you provide note-taking tools and have a computer at hand all the time. A desk and a comfortable chair are a must because staying in bed or on the floor while studying may not be very productive. Also, adding some home decor and natural elements such as paintings, plants, and even candles will help to increase your creativity.

Make use of technology

One thing's for sure: technology makes everyone's life easier. As a student, using the right tools while studying may be a life-saver action. There is an app or a tool for everything: time-management, taking notes or creating detailed schedules, rearranging PDF pages or converting documents to PDF format. For example, you can read, convert, add, edit information and scan your documents using PDFChef. The best part is many of these online tools are free, so that you can use them anytime. Just be sure you choose suitable apps for your intelligent device and get to work.

Consistency is required  

Being consistent is the biggest challenge when your university work overwhelms you. You have a lot of assignments and tasks to resolve, and you don't know where to start. Well, there is a solution; choose to plan your study days and stick to the plans you make. Keeping a diary helps you sort your tasks and identify priorities.

Here is an example of three days plan:

  • Monday: Research and sketch your essay's format;
  • Tuesday: Writing introduction and essay's body;
  • Wednesday: Conclusions and review.

Scrolling affects your consistency as well, so avoid using social platforms while studying because they are the biggest distraction. Make sure you disable push notifications when you want to study. Messages and notifications will pull your attention out, and checking your phone every few minutes disrupts your focus.

Create healthy habits

Healthy habits are useful tools that help people maintain their energy. While in college, you must set your mental and physical health as your maximal priorities. Don't put too much pressure on yourself if you miss an important deadline or your grades are not what you expected. To err is human, so take a deep breath and keep up with the work. Your results will be excellent if you take care of yourself first.

Some of the healthy habits you can create for productive study sessions are:

  • reward yourself any time you finish studying a chapter;
  • eat healthily;
  • get plenty of sleep;
  • take regular breaks; you can take a walk or grab a snack to increase your energy level.

Create a study routine

Studying for your exams may be challenging if you don't have a routine that keeps you engaged in the learning process. You can maximize productivity by establishing habits and a schedule you respect each day.

You can keep up easily with your tasks if you respect some important steps. For example, wake at the same time from Monday to Friday and set your study hours in the morning. You can take your Sunday off to have time for your hobbies and other relaxing habits, such as long walks in nature or spending time with your family.

Following the seven steps presented above, you can organize your thoughts and boost productivity. And don't forget, you have this, so set your goals and start working for them today.

Study Habits, Study Routine, Apps to help, Student, Education, Learning Styles, Study Environment, Mental Health, Stress, College, Homework, Technology

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