Do you spend hours studying but still fail to achieve success in your exams? Do you have a lot of homework to do but are unsure where to begin? Do you think you could achieve much more by putting more effort into studying?
If any of this is the case, don’t worry; in this article, we’ll give you the 15 best ideas to increase your productivity as a student so you can do better.
But before we proceed, let’s define what productivity is.
What is Productivity?
Productivity refers to the relationship between the outcomes gotten and the time required to get there. We could interpret this sentence to mean that we are productive when we produce the best results in the shortest period.
For example, you decided to study on a Thursday afternoon. You started by choosing a topic, then you move on to reviewing, schemes, annotations, etc. After some time, you are satisfied that you have read well and have a good understanding of the subject you were studying. All of a sudden, you check the time and become surprised because you realize that you don’t have enough time to study the remaining subjects. Have you experienced this before?
In conclusion: Your efforts have not been productive.
How do you then be productive?
It’s simply by being able to finish the most tasks in the shortest period. As you can see, it is important to understand how productivity and time usage are related. Now let’s get right into the best ideas to increase productivity.
15 Best Ideas To Increase Your Productivity When Studying
1. Make a to-do list
Create a list of all the unfinished business/tasks you have. Be as specific as you can to ensure that everything is in place and there are no last-minute errors. Always have the list with you at all times so that you will always be aware of the tasks you have unfinished.
Based on the subject or the kind of task you have for the day, you can categorize the tasks into the list. Numerous applications can help you manage your tasks. Try different options until you discover the one that best meets your needs.
2. Prioritize
It is also advised that you group study tasks in order of their priority or importance. This will help you understand which tasks should be completed first and which ones can wait. To become better and to tell what is important from what is urgent, you can implement the Eisenhower method, which is a very straightforward and practical strategy.
To put this method to practice, you must divide your daily study tasks into four different types.
1. Urgent: These are tasks that are urgent or important and must be completed right away.
2. Non-urgent: These are tasks that are important but not urgent, they can be put off, but we must remember to plan and execute them.
3. Important: If there is someone you can assign important but not urgent tasks to, do so. If not, find a place where you can complete them on your own, but they are not a priority.
4. Non-important: If we have other tasks that are more important and urgent, we can ignore the non-urgent tasks.
3. Create a Study Plan
It’s time to design your daily, weekly, and monthly goals after you are certain of the tasks you must complete and the priority each one has. Knowing where you are at all times and where you need to be after some time will be quite helpful.
Create a study calendar as a planning tool.
It is now the right time to act. It’s time to carry out your plan now that you have one. And for this, you will need some resources/apps that will enable you to work more efficiently throughout the study. Would you like to learn what they are?
4. Make Good Use of These Apps
We are in the 21st century, why not make the most of this when you’re studying? Without a doubt, we are not asking you to play with your smartphone during the day. However, the truth is that there are a lot of apps that are excellent for learning. There are apps available to help you plan and organize your studies, increase your concentration while studying, take notes, manage and exchange documents, learn new languages, and more.
As you can see, there are countless options. Some of these applications include;
- Evernote
- OneNote
- Google docs
- Good note
- Google Calendar
- Todoist
- Ike
- Microsoft To-Do
- Be focused
- Forest app, etc.
5. Use Effective Study Methods
Some study methods are quite productive and can greatly help you in your academic endeavors and in boosting your performance as a student.
Quicker memorization, quicker reading, better summaries, underlining of notes, etc are some of these study methods, and each one serves a different purpose. You will be able to include a study method that will help you become a better student in your daily routine.
6. Create Your Schedule
Consider developing your study schedule. For this, it is advised that you consistently study in the same location and at the same times (as much as possible). After some time, this will enable your mind to get used to certain locations and times with learning, enabling it to enter study mode without serious effort.
For example, you might set your alarm to ring at a particular time (probably 4 am) at a particular table/room you have prepared for studying. If you keep up this schedule for 2-3months, you will realize that you will no longer need to wait for the alarm as your body will naturally adapt to that time and location.
7. Keep Your Study Area Neat and Organized
Amazingly, having a neat and organized study place is important for increasing productivity. This is because by arranging everything in its proper location, distractions will be prevented.
On the other hand, you must have a suitable study space that, if at all possible, is ventilated and lighted by natural light.
Consider the fact that you will be spending a lot of time in your study space, which is why it is crucial to attend to even the slightest detail. Having everything under control will enhance your experience and stop you from devoting too much time to unimportant things.
8. Do Your Tasks One After The Other
Put an end to trying to achieve everything at once. Being completely focused on what you are doing is one of the key tenets of productivity, which is why the idea of multitasking is so incompatible with productivity.
If you desire to do something, strive to give it all of your focus and effort. After finishing, you proceed to the following item on your list. Keep in mind that you must adhere to your plan and roadmap as closely as you can.
9. Identify The Times When You Learn Best
If you’ve been studying for a while, you’ve probably noticed that your performance varies depending on the situation. Finding your ideal study period can make it much easier to organize and execute the time you set aside for studying.
Some people’s peak attention periods are at night, others’ peak attention periods are in the afternoon, and some even claim that the first thing in the morning produces the most. Pay attention to yourself, recognize when it’s the easiest for you to focus, and take advantage of those times.
10. While Studying, Take Brief Breaks
It’s most likely that you’ve engaged in a study marathon during which you sat still for hours non-stop. Now, consider something. Did all your study produce the desired outcome? Most likely not. This is because taking breaks to rest, clear our minds, and move around helps us focus better during study sessions.
If you wish to increase your productivity while studying, take brief breaks.
Other factors can help you increase your productivity in addition to planning and studying. To give our best effort, it’s important to maintain healthy eating, exercise, and sleep habits.
11. Eat a Balanced Diet
Unbelievably, maintaining a healthy balanced diet is crucial if you want to increase your productivity. Why? Essentially for two causes.
First and foremost, because the food itself contains nutrients. You’ll see that having a banana as a snack is always preferable to having a bag of chips.
Secondly, for the obvious reason that we cannot allow dyspepsia to distract us during a study session.
Therefore, make an effort to consume a healthy, balanced diet during study time, including fresh food and nutritious snacks. Don’t forget the water, either. Keep in mind that you should occasionally hydrate your body and brain by drinking water.
12. Engage in Physical Activity
However, we’re not suggesting you join up for the next marathon race or CrossFit. We only advise you to continue being active. You can enroll in dance lessons, go for vigorous walks, etc. A little physical activity will benefit your mind and body, release endorphins, and relieve tension.
13. Get Plenty of Sleep and Rest
Remember that you need to get at least eight hours of sleep each night since sleep is the time your body uses to restore itself and it has been discovered that when you sleep, your brain consolidates the knowledge it has gained throughout the day.
Additionally, if you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll be less productive and perform worse the next day. The greatest thing you can do to prevent this from happening is to go to bed early and get enough sleep.
Forget about reading on your iPad, checking email on your phone, or watching TV from your bed. Read a book about all life, complete with sheets and bookmarks, if you have problems falling asleep. Before going to bed, try some relaxing techniques.
At first, changing this could be challenging, and you might be tempted to jump out of bed and resume watching your favorite shows on the couch, but you must maintain your determination. Before you realize it, you’ll have developed this new routine, improved sleeping patterns, and increased productivity.
14. Wake Up Early and Enjoy The Day
Have you heard that getting up early is a blessing from God? According to studies, waking early boosts productivity. Consider that the morning hours are when we are most active and energetic. These hours are also typically quiet, so why not make the most of them?
Set the alarm for a few hours in advance, wake up when it goes off, and don’t slack off. After a thorough shower and breakfast, go moving. If exercise is your thing, do it. If you make it a regular part of your day, you’ll notice that you’ll start the day strong and have much more time for everything, especially your academics.
15. Acknowledge Your Hard Work
Consider your study routine to be a personal workout program, and assign yourself certain goals to complete in the allotted time. Reward yourself when you reach any of your own goals. We’re not talking about fantastic presents or awards.
It can be enough to do something as simple as go for a walk in your favorite park or have coffee with a friend. These little incentives will help you stay motivated and increase your productivity while studying.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible that you might not be able to use all these techniques and ideas all at once. We advise you to make little, gradual changes to your routine rather than incorporating them all at once.
Put a few of them into practice to start, and if they are effective, gradually incorporate more of them into your study routine. You’ll notice how, in less time than you anticipated, you were able to increase your productivity and improve your study practice.