As college students, we all know how hard it can be to stay focused on our studies. Constant distractions like Netflix, text messages, and the longing to hang out with friends can often make our academic goals fall to the wayside. It is up to us to use our tools and resources to make sure that we stay on track.
There are so many things that need to get done everyday. We have classes, sports, club activities, part-time jobs, and study sessions that we have to keep track of. Not to mention that we have to fit in time for eating, sleeping, and leisure activities in order to maintain a healthy mind-body balance.
There are effective ways to get these things done, but substantial organizational and planning skills are needed.
Methods to Aid in Organization
There is a direct correlation between organization and productivity. We all want to avoid late night cramming sessions and staring at black computer screens for hours at a time. In this post, I’m going to lay out three methods that I already incorporate daily that you can use to jump start your new, productive college experience.
Method #1: Pomodoro Method
The Pomodoro Method is determined to be one of the most effective study methods of the 21st century. Jia Feng, a researcher from the University of Birmingham, speaks highly of this method in her article entitled, “An Evaluation of the Pomodoro Technique for Stopping Procrastination and Behavior Change”. In it, she notes that the “Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management method, which [...] helps people use time flexibly and effectively [while improving their] work and learning efficiency”.
The Pomodoro Method utilizes 25 minute intervals of uninterrupted study time accompanied with a 5 minute break at the end of each interval.
The Pomodoro Method can be adjusted to your liking. When first using it, it is advised to set a timer for 10-15 minutes at a time in order to get your mind used to uninterrupted study. As you become better at the technique, you can increase the time accordingly. I personally like to use intervals of 25 minutes of study with a 10-15 minute break in between.
However, you should use whatever system works best for you! Play around with the times to find what allows for the best concentration. There are also printed and digital pomodoros available that can help aid you in the Pomodoro technique. The Productivity Planner and the Pomodoro Tracker are just a few examples.
Method #2: Color Coding and Effectively Highlighting
If you consider yourself a visual person, color coding might be for you. Assigning a certain class or subject to a color might make it easier to remember all of the materials that you need to bring in to class for a certain day. You could also color code your notes to highlight different ideas in your readings.
Highlighting is a very effective tool when utilized the right way. For example, you could highlight main ideas in red, items that you have questions on in green, and/or facts and statistics in blue. No matter what your system is, just make sure that it is consistent and that everything is highlighted in a way that makes sense to you.
Method #3: Schedules and Calendars
I’m a big to-do list person. I enjoy them because I like to know what has to get done, when they have to get done, and in what order. I always found that having a schedule helps me keep myself on track and keeps me from procrastinating. My Productivity Planner also helps in this regard, as it forces me to pick the top five things that I want to get done everyday. By forcing me to choose these tasks and prioritize them by importance, my days feel less overwhelmed and hectic.
It can also be useful to use a digital or print calendar. Some free digital calendars include the Calendar app on the Mac book, Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, and Tiny Calendar.
Do What Works For You
The most important thing to remember when it comes to productivity and improving your overall academic experience is to do what works for you. If you prefer to underline your class note instead of highlighting them, do that! Or if you prefer to type up your notes instead of handwriting them, that’s fine too. Everyone has a different learning style and study patterns, so take the time to figure out what yours are.
References:
- Jia Feng, University of Birmingham
- Michelle Baumgartner, 5 Tips for Color-Coding Your Notes
- Paul Minors, The Importance Of Scheduling