Advice for Students post lockdown … Mrs Dwight recently offered a workshop to Year 11 students on Managing Time, Stress and Motivation. Here are some of her top tips: 1.
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Attention management – go to settings and turn almost all notifications off your phone. If working on a computer, either close all other non-study tabs (YouTube etc…) or open a new window, so you can’t see them. Set a timer for a number of minutes and stay 100% on task until it beeps, then set another timer for a break, and repeat. • One study found 52 minutes work and 17 minutes break was the optimal time used by highly productive people. • Another great idea is the Pomodoro technique of 25 minutes work, followed by a 5 minute break. • If you feel really unmotivated, set your timer for 7 minutes, at least it’s a start. Put some headphones in and listen to alpha waves study music – almost guaranteed to enhance concentration.
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Get in the habit of making a list. • Write EVERYTHING down, as soon as it occurs to you – don’t try to hold things in your memory. • Devise a system that works for you – digital (Google Keep, or a specific list making app) or paper (get a notebook and write all your lists in one place). • Next, prioritise – code each item A (need to get done today), B (next level) or C. then go back over the A’s and number them A1, A2, A3 etc then B1, B2 etc – so you know the best order to tackle the items. • Keep it flexible – if you think of an item later, add it and feel free to rank it A 2.5 or whatever – i.e. between A 2 and A3. Get a system for writing deadlines – Google Calendar? A notebook/diary/year planner/physical calendar?
