KTBYTE’s goal since the beginning has been to empower students and introduce them to a passion, not a chore. However, we are fully aware that the added workload from our classes is a difficult combination with the already-demanding levels of schoolwork and increasing technological distractions. So here’s a short article on some things we recommend if you are feeling stressed or anxious!
Put away your phone!
It’s addicting, it’s fun, and it’s also a complete-time drainer. Five minutes on your phone feels like a much shorter version of five minutes of studying. If you find that you are one of many with low self-control when it comes to technology, you can try managing your time by doing a 1:2 ratio with your hour. Allow yourself 20 minutes to do whatever you want – whether that IS browsing your phone, or even playing video games, but make sure the other 40 minutes are completely devoted to studying. You can break up the 20 minutes however you want, but taking the first step to regulate the limited time you have each evening will help you balance your responsibilities.
Listen to music…
Technology isn’t all bad though. In fact, it can be useful in some cases. The most important of which is easily the access we have to music. Music has been scientifically proven to improve focus, beat stress, and help to ease nerves. Specifically, lyrical or classical music has been shown to create a more productive environment for students to absorb information and retain focus. Furthermore, there is some research positively correlating music with intelligence. The research has been coined the Mozart Effect.
Give your brain time to absorb.
One of the largest learning curves in studying is the lack of spread. Too often students, including me, will end up cramming all their work together in one session. Not only does this not help, but it is also significantly damaging to your mental health. The smartest way to work is to create a schedule. Every Sunday night, plan your week out, spreading your study sessions over the week in short blocks. Think about it this way, if you are spending eight hours one night cramming for your test, do you think you would retain as much information for your exam as you would if you spent two hours every day for one week? Probably not – unless you have a photographic memory.
But of course, make sure to factor in your recreational activities, which leads us nicely to the most important point on this list…
MOVE!
Do not drop your hobbies to make time for your work. Hobbies allow your mind to rest, recover and improve your ability to retain information. Exercise especially helps to do this. After exercise, your brain releases a chemical called dopamine, which increases levels of happiness and other awesome stuff. You will find it easier to focus on the task ahead and also feel more awake and alert. Exercise also stimulates new brain cell growth and increased connections between cells – which can boost your memory!
The key to working well is not to work harder, it’s to work smarter, and the tips above will definitely help you to be one step closer to achieving that goal.