Really? You saw the title and you still clicked on it.
You have finals to study for, a deadline to meet, or a day that should likely be spent productively hauling through something not found on this website. But here you sit. You must be stopped. This listicle will not indulge your procrastinatory plans. Instead, it seeks to boost your productivity, if only briefly, even if futile.
1. Firstly, the rest of this article can be read in one minute. Make sure you’ve really got that minute to spare.
Good? OK.
2. Download this app.
3. Set up Self Control, the app to force you to exert what power you apparently cannot of your own will, to block your favorite distractions for a certain amount of time. Be warned that once set, even if you restart your computer, delete the app, and cry a liter of tears, it will not unblock those sites until your pre-established time is up.
4. Make a list. Like a to-do list, except more urgent. A DO-THIS-NOW-OR-YOU-FAIL-AND-DON’T-GET-CREDIT-FOR-THE-CLASS list. Capitalize, bold, and underline tasks as necessary to create the sense that you’re yelling at yourself.
5. Don’t f*@# around. The more efficiently you study or work through that too-many page paper, the more sleep you’ll afford yourself. Don’t sacrifice your dreams.
6. If music keeps you in the Zone, do work to a motivational playlist, assuming you haven’t blocked your music source of choice in step 2.
Recommended for calm, classical taste to keep you focused:
https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/0Ex...
For a steady beat to keep you awake:
https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/0cZ...
For last-minute cramming:
https://open.spotify.com/user/filtr/playlist/6jGob...
7. Caffeinate. Studies that I really liked in that one neuro class I took show that controlled levels of caffeine and chocolate consumed while studying help enhance the effectiveness of learning and memorization.
8. Really, seriously sleep. Your brain needs those REM cycles to process everything you’ve pushed into it while awake. Too stressed to sleep? Try this: app
9. Take breaks when you need to. Breathe deeply. Talk to humans. Laugh at something other than your chances of a 4.0. Or do yoga.
10. Return to work after breaks. Conquer finals. Be the master of your fate.
