The end of the semester is coming up. In fact, it's in about five weeks! Crazy, right? You're probably busy wrapping up the things you have to do with your friends one last time before summer begins and are applying for jobs and internships and are planning fun vacations and packing up your dorms, etc. But you're also probably wondering how you're going to finish those three papers, four finals, two projects, and countless assignments that are due before the end of the year. Well, fear not, for the following ten tips are sure to inspire some productivity and motivate you just enough to reach the end of the school year without stress bringing you down!
1. Don't nap.
While in theory, napping is amazing… actually, napping is amazing. We all know this. But sometimes, it is unnecessary and only used as a way to procrastinate work. Unless you aren’t getting enough sleep (see point 9!) or are really exhausted and need a break, try not to nap so you can finish your work in one fell swoop.
2. Go to the gym.
The point is not to get in shape or be healthy (that’s a bonus), but to start your day off right. If you make time to go to the gym for an hour in the morning or afternoon, you can bet that your day will improve. Whether the productivity stems from the endorphins or just the fact that you went to the gym and feel like you accomplished something, it’s worth a shot.
3. Make a to-do list.
Maybe you’re the kind of person who can hold everything in their head and knows all the due dates and every time commitment they have planned for the next three months—whatever. Everyone needs to make a To Do List every once in a while. You can jot it down really fast on your way to class, type it up on your cell phone, or organize and color code it for efficiency. Whatever way appeals to you, write down everything you have to do and enjoy crossing the items off as you finish them. It’s a sure way to motivate!
4. Make a study schedule.
This is the same idea of a To Do List, but it’s a little more organized and not subject to change. Some people can end up with To Do Lists that never get finished because they don’t know where to start or don’t know what items they can make time for on a very busy day. This is when making a schedule can do wonders for your productivity, as having a designated time slot for each area of study will ensure you are only focused on that one subject. After lunch, you spend an hour studying for your midterm, two hours writing a paper, another hour meeting with a professor, etc. until all your work for the day is planned our and finished.
5. Don’t procrastinate.
When you get an assignment, see if you can start it ASAP. You can work in conjunction with your study schedule and see the days where you have extra time that can be devoted to this task. It’s hard to start something that isn’t due for a while, but you’ll be a lot less stressed when that due date comes up.
6. Put away the electronics.
Charge your phone in the bathroom, keep only the tab you are currently working on open on your laptop, etc. Do whatever you have to do to limit distractions.
7. Listen to Spotify’s study playlists or make your own.
Spotify has a variety of playlists available to students when they want music to put them into study mode. Whether you like intense or soft classical music, fast- or slow-paced movie/video game scores, or smooth jazz to motivate you, they probably have a playlist that’s perfect for you. If you like a varied amount of music when you study, make your own!
8. Take a break.
Sometimes it helps to be unproductive for a little bit. If you’ve been working for a while and feel as if you’re entering a slump, take a short break to relax your mind. Go for a walk, meet up with friends for dinner, or take a shower! Once you feel reset and refreshed, get back into the grove.
9. Take care of yourself.
It’s never healthy to not eat or sleep, especially when you have a lot to do and a lot of stress. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, regardless of whether you accomplished as much as you wanted to, and start the new day with a healthy breakfast. In college, it’s hard to make time for things that make our lives easier, but our health should never be sacrificed for an assignment (even though we all do it pretty much every day of our lives)
10. Organize your space.
Whether you’re studying at the library or doing work at your desk, make sure to have a clean and organized workspace. Have everything you need to use out and open so you don’t waste time looking for it. For your desk at home, keep a clean workspace by filing any loose papers and keeping clutter off your desk. It there’s nothing to distract you or add to your stress, you can focus on the task at hand.