Productivity Tips and Quotes to Kickoff Your Spring Semester
By Ellice Ellis ‘18
If you’re struggling to find the motivation to get things done, you’re not alone. These days I dread starting my homework, doing a reading or even waking up for class because it forces me to face the fact that there is work to be done. Here are a few motivational tips and quotes to get you out of bed and hopefully in Leavey (or your preferred study room).
1. Block Out Distractions.
Your goal while doing assignments, attending a meeting or doing whatever is important that you have to do should be to focus on focusing. When doing homework on my computer, I sometimes find myself online shopping, reading random articles or taking Buzzfeed quizzes. You’ll be surprised at how much time you waste feeding into distractions and how productive you can become once you block them out.
If you do not have the willpower to be self-accountable and block out these distractions yourself, there are several technology solutions for blocking out distractions. See this blog: https://zapier.com/blog/stay-focused-avoid-distractions/ for dozens of tools to help.
2. Master A Calendar
Planning your days out and mapping out assignments ahead of time is a great way to maximize your time and stay ahead and on top of deadlines. Take every syllabus you’ve been given and write down every due date that’s there. Do you go to regular club meetings? Write those down if you know the dates and times in advance.
The worst feeling is missing an event, showing up to a test ill-prepared or forgetting an assignment because we’re not aware of the exact date. Keeping a calendar has helped me to squash my procrastination habits and accomplish my goals.
3. Find Your Purpose
It’s easy to get caught up in the mess and slump of everyday tasks if you feel as if they have no meaning. Your productivity can tanks and you can lose motivation the tasks you do don’t feel meaningful. Try to reframe something you have to do in terms of your core values and assess how its connected to a bigger picture.
For example, a reading for class might seem meaningless but its probably material that will be on an exam and knowing it can help you secure an A. Getting A’s in classes can lead you do secure good internships, get into graduate school and more! See what I did there? Its easier to do your reading now because it’s about more than Chapters 3 and 4, it’s about getting into grad school.
4. Stop Waiting for Motivation
Like Nike said: “just do it.” When you really want to achieve something, relying solely on motivation is like living with your head in the clouds. Hard work is about making commitments, planning and buckling down to get the work done.
I try to see doing my homework, going to the gym, working on personal projects as habits rather than daunting tasks. With positive habits, once you see the positive results it will be easier to stay committed and continue on a pathway to success.
5. Be Selective With Your Time
You should not only say yes to less and but also reject tempting opportunities if they are not helping and feeding your goals. Why? Because you want to have enough time and energy to focus on the things that truly deserve your attention and efforts.
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