8 tips to boost your productivity

Being a student is quite challenging with managing study, social and personal time. Nailing productivity is one of the most important skills you can develop as a student and this is why we gathered here some techniques and tips. It is worth keeping in mind that everyone works in a different way, so you can experiment with some of the tips and figure out what works best for you. These tips may bring an improvement in how you manage your workload and ensure that there is time for everything.

1. Track your time

Tracking your hours can be very beneficial towards better time management. You can start by breaking down a big project into smaller individual tasks. Depending on each assignment, you can allocate your time differently and write down the time you start and finish your tasks. After a while, you will be able to predict how long a task is likely to take and plan your whole study time accordingly. In this way, you can minimise time waste and feel more confident about your study habits. Time management is essential to many professional roles and increases your productivity and also helps you in your future career.

2. Create a work routine

One of the best ways to maximise your productivity is to create a work routine in order to wake up, work and have breaks at around the same time each day. With assignments and deadlines, it is not always easy to get to sleep at a decent hour each evening,, but it is important to wake up at the same time every morning in order to start your day on the right foot. Along with regulating your sleep, eating your meals around the same time each day is very essential for both your digestive system and productivity levels.

3. Take regular breaks

You may think it is a cliché but taking a break can actually increase your productivity. If you study for long hours, you probably cannot perform at your peak. By pushing yourself and your mind further, you may end up being more tired and stressed. Regular breaks will rest your mind and handle all this information. Whether it is five minutes every hour or 30 minutes a few times a day, find a break schedule that works best for you.

4. Set achievable goals

Setting yourself goals is a perfect way to motivate yourself and push your needs. However, setting too many goals can be overwhelming and the fact that you may not reach all of them can be counterproductive. In the beginning, start with some easily attainable goals (e.g. have a walk before starting your class) in order to set the ground, and then, the rest of your goals will feel more achievable when you reach them.

5. Find a suitable workspace

People can function best in different places, so find the most comfortable place. Whether it is a library, a cafe, or in your room, find a place that will be your dedicated workspace. It may seem obvious to you, but choosing your workspace can make a big difference in how much you get done in your day. Some people work with music or with friends around but sometimes distractions can get in the way of staying focused. Find your work zone and give yourself plenty of space and feel comfortable.

6. Remove possible distractions

You can maximise your productivity by finding a workspace free from noise and possible distractions. Turn off your TV and keep your phone on silent or airplane mode. Even if social media is a way to wind down and relax, it can also have a completely different effect on you. Sometimes you may feel the FOMO (fear of missing out) while you are studying and some of your classmates are outside having fun. Or we all have been in the situation where we said “I'll be on Instagram for five minutes” and then we end up scrolling for hours and hours. Next time, you can try disabling your push notifications for social media which can really help with your concentration. Every time you have a look at your phone, you are directly dragging yourself out of your productivity mode and it always takes a while to get back into it.

7. Finish a task before starting a new one

We have all been in this situation where we said “I cannot deal with this right now, I will leave it aside and study something else”. But sometimes, it can be really annoying having unfinished tasks on your mind that you know you have to do at some point. The key is to prioritise your work and focus on getting things done before starting another task. Even if it is something that takes one-two minutes, do it straight away. Achieving mini-tasks will give you the feeling that you are staying productive and motivated.

8. Celebrate your success

The most important tip for boosting your productivity is to always celebrate your success after a study day! Part of being productive is knowing when it is time to stop and enjoy the rest of your day. When you are done for the day, celebrate your daily achievements and relax!

As we mentioned at the beginning of this listicle, these tips are not “one size fits all”, so experiment with them and see what works best for you! Good luck!