kayla

Tiny beds for tiny hamster

going to bathroom 2 hours after deciding to go to bathroom

staying awake all night for literally no reason

being on the ground

A Guide to 6 productivity apps 

Hi guys, this is my 6 favourite productivity apps that I use for school and work. I recommend these 6 apps because I think that it helps me to organise my work and also keep track of my habits. 

>>> set a little bit to do each day!! homework, study, anything! ik you have a lot to do and it seems like a whole heap of impossible at the moment, but once you do that little bit you’ll find it easier to keep on going. if not, then that’s okay, you’ve already done your small bit of productivity and you can go again for the record tomorrow.

>>> put your goal up somewhere you can see it everyday. every time you think of procrastinating, see it and remember it and how much you want to achieve it.

>>> get the app forest for iOS/android. it’s only $3 and its well worth it for all the time you’ll save that you’d be otherwise looking at your phone. also the free chrome extension so you don’t procrastinate on websites you shouldn’t be on.

>>> start your assignments the day you get them!! i can’t stress this enough. you don’t have to do a whole heap, but it’s so much easier once you’ve done the first bit to keep on going from where you left off, especially on off days.

>>> pick the topic of your assignment first up. this overlaps a bit with the last one, but personally, this is the hardest bit for me – i’ve spent so many weeks trying to pick a topic, just to do it a few nights before. once you’ve picked your topic, every time you hear something on it, your brain will subconsciously save and gather the information for you, and you can use that for your assignment.

>>> play ambient noise in the background! tide is really good, and so is relax ms, both available on iOS for free (you’ll have to check for android). there are also heaps of other noise apps, just search them up (i usually search sleep noises). i normally play music to study to, but on days where i just can’t concentrate, i usually just end up singing along. ambient noise really says, you’re here right now, and this is what you’re gonna do.

>>> take! care! of! yourself!! there’s no point in doing assignments if you are literally too tired to focus, or too hungry to think, or even just stressed about your day at school/uni. take some time out. sleep, eat, meds, water, and if it helps, put on a face-mask and do some journalling. get all the bad vibes out.

Doing well is much easier said than done. The best tip I have is to just do the work. It’s going to suck, but there’s no secret other than doing the work. Though, there are ways to make doing the work easier!

I. Time Management

Have a planner to gain a general idea of your week.

Schedule your time for studying but also schedule time for breaks.

Every morning I check what needs to be done for the day.

I treat college as a 9-5 job with a lunch break. This may not work for everyone, but this thinking allows me to be done by 5, and I usually finish everything for the day by that time.

Take a break after you finish an assignment. Allow yourself to feel proud for finishing and give yourself a reward.

Break up projects into smaller parts, this is incredibly important. It’s easier to do an outline, then a few paragraphs rather than doing an entire essay at once.

It’s not time well used if you don’t focus on the task at hand. If you’re having trouble, get rid of distractions using apps that limit phone/internet usage.

Don’t waste time on techniques that don’t work for you. I don’t rewrite notes, it doesn’t help me study. Instead I do extra textbook problems or I watch a video on the topic. 

Sometimes it’s hard to motivate yourself to do the work, to study. Then just do a single problem, a single page or paragraph. Usually starting is the hardest part.

II. Studying & Learning

Be present during class by asking questions and answering problems.

Use phone-locking apps like Forest if you need to to stay focused on the class.

Skim lecture notes ahead of time. You don’t need to take notes on them, the professor will tell you what’s important.

It’s ok if your notes aren’t pretty as long as they’re functional.

Practice problems until you can’t get them wrong.

Try to teach the material to someone else. This will show holes in your understanding. Pretend to teach if you don’t have a friend in the same class.

If you need, study in the library. Honestly, studying at my desk in my dorm has worked just fine for me though.

Do the homework, there’s no way around it. This is probably the biggest tip here. Do the work.

Actually do the homework, don’t just copy answers. Understand the answers. You can’t copy on a test.

Speaking of tests, do as many practice tests as you can find. Once the real test comes around, you won’t be as nervous and it should feel familiar.

Nice pens and notebooks aren’t required. However, spend a dollar and get a pen that writes well enough that you’re not wasting time during class getting it to work. (I’ve been through this)

Do the extra credit. There’s no reason not to, and your grade will thank you.

Go to tutoring, not everyone knows everything. You might even make a new friend since most tutors at my school are also students!

Realistically, you don’t need to do every reading assignment as long as you know what your professor tests on. If you don’t have the time, its fine to only skim the assignment.

Make study groups. If you don’t have a friend in the class, it’s as easy as asking “want to work on the homework together?” In my experience, most people are happy to work with you.

Go to your professors office hours if you need help. Your professors are a valuable resource.

Ask your friends for feedback, I do this all the time.

III. Treat Yourself

Sleep and eat well. Coffee is not a breakfast.

Please, don’t force yourself to cram a subject overnight. This is where time management comes into play.

An over-stressed student is a bad student, but a little bit of stress is healthy.

Find what motivates you. Personally, I wish to become a researcher so I work hard towards that goal to get into a good grad. school.

You don’t have to join a club. I’m not in one, and my social life is just fine since I spend time playing games with friends at night.

But join a club if you want, even for a single day. You might meet some friends.

Really do whatever you want with regards to your social life. Do what’s comfortable for you.