#studyhabits4life

I’m pretty old-fashioned. I prefer a paper planner and a paper journal. But, with so many classes and assignments and word processors all being online, distractions are everywhere! So here’s a list of apps I use (almost) everyday to keep me on the path to success.

Goodtime Productivity Timer - I swear by the Promodoro Timer method. At first, I thought it was stupid and the breaks were a waste of time. But I wrote a whole paper while using the timer, and it really works. I prefer this app over other timers because I don’t like having to type the task in at every session. What if I have multiple tasks? What if I finish a task halfway through the timer. I, personally, feel like a cheater if I switch tasks.

Posture Minder - I have issues with my joints (at 19, I know, right???). I found how much better my rib cage and my back feels when I sit up straight. So I have this app that reminds me at an interval I set. It also used the phone’s accelorometer to know what angle the phone is at to determine if I’m slouching to use it. 

Water Drink Reminder - I’m really bad at remembering to drink. REALLY bad. I’ll suddenly have a super headache and not know why. And especially because I’m physically active, I need to drink water. This reminds me every hour to drink something, and I can track what I drink. A reminder will say something like “You’ve had x much today, and only need y more to reach your goal!” I find it pretty motivational.

TimeTune - I’m the kind of person who will forget what I need to do once I get freetime. This app feels a lot like a Google Calendar, except you can schedule more than events and reminders. There’s programs, routines, timers, reminders, and events. And you can color code and set reminders for everything. I like to plug in my schedule (classes, work, etc) and then in free moments, I put a reminder such as “Do x, y, or z during this time”. I give myself options, but only those options. But don’t worry, I leave myself actual freetime, too!

Other apps I use that aren’t specifically productivity:

Headspace and Stop, Breathe, Think (meditation apps)

My school’s app that allows me to check grades, finances, etc.

GUYS I HAVE A WEBSITE

i really hope this website doesn’t die off. I hope for it to become a productive community. 

This blog will not die off because I have a website. Things will still be posted both here and there. Some will be duplicates, some will be exclusive to one media, so check in on both every so often.

You made it! Congrats! Whether you are on winter break from middle school, high school, college, work... or whatever.... You made it! Time to relax!

Although you do deserve that peaceful break to catch your breath from the rushing semester, don’t let all that work you’ve done bettering yourself and keeping yourself organized fade away!

What I’m doing over break is making a weekly to-do list. Nothing has a hard deadline, but I’d really like to do it before the weekend. It gives me a purpose. Otherwise, I’ll sit on Pinterest and YouTube and Tumblr all day. I write that I want to practice x amount of hours, I want to exercise x amount of times, I need to go to these places for this reason, etc. 

I also am continuing to log my water, sleep, and spending. Just because it’s Christmas, doesn’t mean I can blow my entire savings account (I did enough damage over the semester before logging my spending). 

For the love of all that is good, please don’t sleep in every day. I know that a voice in your head has been telling you the same thing, but here I am, an external source, telling you it’s a bad idea. If you go to sleep at 1am and wake up at 10 or 11 am every day, you are going to sleep through everything when break is done. Sleeping in is for the weekend (or if you get sick. No obligations means you can do this because it’s important to your health). My alarm is currently set for 8am. Sometimes I take an extra 15 mins, but no more than that. I want to be able to get up and ready for my 9am in January. 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so don’t buckle down and focus like you did during finals. Take this time to catch up with friends and family you haven’t seen. Remember: this break is for you. Take care of yourself, socially, mentally, physically, everything.