Exams are fast approaching and for any girl who is a student being productive during this time of the year is very critical, so that you can pass/ace those exams. Being busy really doesn’t matter but what you should be asking yourself is, “Am I being productive or just busy with things that are not adding any value or taking away from how productive I can be”?
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Well if that is you (always busy but never productive) then this post is for you. I’ll be sharing with you some Productivity hacks I used while I was a student during exam time that helped me stay at the top of my game.
Hack 1: Learn how to prioritize
Learning how to prioritize your studies is critical. These comes a time where you need to make sacrifices and choose your studies over partying. Doing that will help you ace your exams because you are making a conscious decision to focus on preparing for your exams, rather than entertaining social event.
Hack 2: Choose a study method that works for you and stick to it
There are a lot of study methods out there, and you should experiment with a few until you find one that works for you. I personally used to prefer writing notes on a note pad because physically writing down my notes helped me study better and it actually assisted me with storing information a bit quicker in my long term memory. Keep in mind that it is also important for you to take notes during class, as that will help you learn how to effectively summarise your textbooks and study to understand what the author of the textbook is trying to teach you.
When writing your notes NEVER copy and paste the textbook, because if you do that you are preventing yourself from learning anything and stopping your brain from critically analysing information.
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Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.
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Hack 3: Keep a to-do list
A to-do list will help you keep track of your day-to-day activities, analyse where most of your time is going and also identify how you are wasting time. When exams are approaching preferably one (1) month prior create a timetable (to-do list), and dedicate 4-5 days where you will follow your timetable at all costs (preferably Monday – Friday) without any excuses. That will keep your Productivity Levels Consistent because small actions repeated everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.
Hack 4: Use productivity tools or APPS
We live in the 21st century and life has never been easier for students, like it is now and you need to use that to your advantage. If you are finding it hard to remain productive then utilize productivity tools or apps. Instead of using your phone for entertainment purposes, turn it into a productivity tool that will help you utilize your time effectively.
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Don’t be busy, be productive.
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Hack 5: Don’t multitask
For many years we have fooled ourselves into believing that we can multitask, however that is far from the truth. Our brains are simply not designed to multitask, as the brain can only simultaneously focus on accomplishing one task at a time. Hence, when you are studying, don’t watch TV or scroll through Instagram at the same time, because you won’t allow your brain to focus on the important task at hand, thus, affecting your productivity.
Hack 6: Set a timer for you tasks
When you are studying set a timer for each module. It’s recommend to study each section of work for 45 minutes with 15 minute breaks in between. By doing this, you are keeping/establishing a routine that will keep your productivity levels consistent throughout the day and the 15 minute periodic breaks will help your brain recharge and ready to proceed with the next task.
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My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.
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Hack 7: Get enough sleep
Lastly, as a student there is nothing more important than ensuring that you get enough sleep (approximately 6 – 8 hours). We are all guilty of this because we tend to think that sleep is not important and all we want to do is study non-stop when exams are approaching. So don’t neglect your sleep as your brain needs to rest, recharge and use this time to store all the information you learnt throughout the day in your long-term memory.
That’s it for today, thank you for taking the time to read my content. Follow me on Instagram @charmaine_gumede.
Until next time…XOXO!
