5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity as a Student

 

As a college student, it isn’t uncommon to feel like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it in. It all depends on how you measure your productivity as a student. Spending too much time on one task, or eating a late-night pizza cramming in a group study session at 1 am are all activities that hurt productivity. The truth of the matter is that setting a schedule can keep you on task, even though that schedule includes chores, date-nights, and dinner with the family. All of these are as important as studying for an upcoming exam or writing your dissertation.

Keep reading to see what you can do to maintain productivity as a student.

Map out a calendar and create a daily checklist 

Thinking about everything you need to study for at once is overwhelming. Putting it down on paper puts things into perspective, and you may find that you have more time to prepare for the demands of classes than you think. Start by adding dates to a calendar so you can see what’s in store for you this semester. Set deadlines days before the actual due date of an exam or paper. Using these timelines, create a daily checklist of tasks to complete. Stress kills productivity, which is why you need to go above and beyond with your time management skills and stay on a stress-free schedule.

Track your time

Time management is critical when it comes to being a more productive student. It can be easy to get distracted on the computer with all the tempting sites and social media platforms to enjoy. Who says you can’t do both? Taking breaks is crucial to avoid burnout and stay focused. Time tracking apps can help keep you on a schedule where you won’t spend too much time either on a break or writing a paper. A few free apps to look into are My Hours, Timing, RescueTime, or use an alarm clock. When you get your grade back, you can review how you spent your time to see where (if any) you can make improvements.

Block out time for chores and errands

Chores are necessary evils that chew up time in your day. In addition to blocking out time to study, block out time to run errands, and complete other day-to-day chores. A quick tip for you is to run all your errands in one trip. It’s not uncommon to get distracted when running around town. Again, use an alarm to keep you aware of when you need to check out at the store and get back to studying. 

Get plenty of sleep

Jakke Tamminen, a psychology lecturer at the UK’s Royal Holloway University, is an expert on sleep. He says, “Sleep is really a central part of learning. Even though you’re not studying when you sleep, your brain is still studying. It’s almost like it’s working on your behalf. You can’t really get the full impact of the time you put into your studies unless you sleep.” Maintain a regular sleep schedule that suits your body’s clock. Not everyone is a morning person! For those that do struggle to wake up early, but enjoy their morning cup of coffee, you’ll be happy to know that there is a science behind sleep to coffee ratio. It’s a delicate balance that can help you get a good night’s rest and relax in the morning without all the jitters.

Eat a proper diet

Getting a good night’s rest and having a healthy diet go hand-in-hand. Eating well promotes a regular sleep schedule, and keeps blood vessels moving oxygenated blood to your brain. Look for foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants. Green leafy vegetables, fatty fish, berries, and nuts all have the right components to keep you going strong. Get creative at mealtime with these brain-boosting recipes from the Cleveland Clinic. Power pancakes? Yes, please!    

More strategies about how to be a productive student are revealed in our Personal Productivity Course. You’ll learn strategies to increase your productivity right from the comfort of your dorm room. Click the link to find out more today!