Stuff. Our generation is moving faster than any other has in the past, and it seems like everyone is caught up in the race to accumulate increasingly more stuff. This obsession with materialism has extended beyond the physical realm. With unlimited access to the most dangerous and distracting consumer trap, the Internet, young people essentially have the world at their fingertips. With the world so easily within reach, how can a college student possibly start studying? The social media web of friends, followers, likes and reposts is constantly calling out to us, and there is little that can stop us from succumbing to the alluring voice of the Internet.
This article is not intended to be another preachy essay about the horrors of consumerism and the adverse effects of the Internet on the brains of our generation. This is simply an article inspired by the madness of hours and days of just preparing to study for the finals that are around the corner. I am writing to inspire you to actually start hitting the books instead of procrastinating.
With that, I present to you: minimalism, defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme sparseness and simplicity." The modern word is associated with a lifestyle rather than solely an artistic style. And the word in the context of finals is a temporary concern rather than a permanent lifestyle. Here are some ways to incorporate minimalism into your studying this last stretch of the semester.
Keep your workspace as clean as possible. A messy area may lead to unnecessary stress and therefore lower rates of productivity. If you’ve seen the pictures on Instagram (and I have no doubts you fellow social media fiends have) of the beautiful all white or B&W themed workspaces, I’m here to tell you there is a reason these scenes are considered aesthetically pleasing. Having less clutter to worry about keeping organized can free up space to focus on the actual work.
Do not fall trap to the classic exams period sweats. Many students use studying as an excuse to wear their pajamas in public. I don’t think it’s too radical for me to say that wearing the clothes you slept in is not exactly the best course of action to stay awake. Instead, opt for a comfortable, neat uniform. Whether its leggings, a dress or jeans every day, stick with the theme so there is one less thing to think about in your day. Some of the greatest thinkers preached a uniform for consistency.
Set clear and concise goals for each day. Try not to clutter your schedule, and instead focus on one task at a time for maximum effectiveness. Over-planning every minute detail of your day to stay productive may actually have the opposite effect. Stay focused on your end goals each time you study.
The last and most difficult step is tackling the Internet. An important part of a regular minimalist lifestyle is to purge social media and cleanse your network. However, it may be difficult and way too time costly to completely organize your media platforms. I suggest unsubscribing to a few of those websites whose emails you click through but always jump at the notifications for. Leave or silence those Facebook groups and chats that are always sending notifications you never read. Just leave room for what you care about, and you’ll have that extra space to study for those finals as well. Now go forth, and maximize your final grades!
