#heyhcazz

Tip 11 - Video Yourself or Do a Timelapse

I actually discovered this strategy not that long ago but now it is absolutely one of my most valuable strategies. The best thing is that it is so simple to do!

It really works well because the video puts some pressure on you to look like you are studying. You can't stop in the middle to play with your pen or stare into space. You just have to keep going so you power through work.

It's also so satisfying when you are finished to see visual proof of how much you have completed!

Tip 12 - Accept that Some Days You are Going to Get Very Little Done

This may seem a little bit odd to put on a post that is meant to avoid getting nothing done but it’s actually a very important thing to remember.

Sometimes you need to take days off because otherwise, you are going to burn out. Some days you are just not going to be in the right mindset for studying because maybe you are exhausted after a big exam, or you have a headache or you feel unwell.

You just need to accept it, draw a line under it, take time for yourself, and resolve to work tomorrow once you feel a bit better. There is no shame in taking time to make sure you stay healthy.

If you can, try to get your quickest, easiest task done so you have some sense of accomplishment.

Tip 13 - "Churn It Out and F*@k Off!"

This was my mum’s motto when she was studying and working in academia. She recently told it to me when I was getting stressed about all the big tasks during online school.

Like I'm certain many of you are too, I am a perfectionist and I always want to hand in my very best work and put 100% into everything. But honestly that is impossible.

Some days you just need to get stuff done and if that isn’t your very best then it doesn’t matter too much because at least you did it. It's also probably better than you think it is. Once you get it done you can just forget about it and move on.

Tip 14 - Ask a Friend or Parent to Check Up on You

When you are studying by yourself, it can be hard to motivate yourself because you know that no one is actually going to check whether you made those notes or did the reading.

So ask a friend or someone you live with to check whether you’ve done the work or get them to read essays. You then get an external reason to study or do your tasks because you need to show them something.

Tip 15 - Rephrase How You Think of Tasks

When you think that ‘I need to do this task’ or ‘I have to get this done’, a lot of the time this causes unneeded stress and anxiety. Also, it makes it seem like you are being forced to do something and human beings generally don’t respond well to that.