Have you been feeling unproductive and unmotivated? If your answer is yes, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s that time of the year again: the weird transition period where the novelty of winter and spirit of the holidays are long gone, but spring and the sunshine are not fully here yet. Everything feels… kind of eh. School just seems like an endless continuum and there’s lots of work to be done, yet no motivation to actually do any of it. We’ve all been there, and most of the time, it’s hard to dig ourselves out of that hole. However, this spring I say we’re going to get ourselves out of our ruts and enter our productivity era: here are five simple and achievable ways to do so.
1. Put that phone AWAY
Yes, it’s a hard pill to swallow. Many of us are obsessed with scrolling through social media or prefer binge-watching a show or movie instead of doing work. Honestly, who doesn’t? However, social media and our phones in general were literally designed to suck us in and keep us scrolling, making it just so hard to stop. But because of this, you’re wasting hours on hours on your phone, when there’s so many other things to do. Putting your phone away helps you reconnect with your environment and focus on the task at hand. I recommend putting your phone in another room or letting a friend, teacher, or parent hold onto it while you’re doing your work. out of sight, out of mind is key.
2. Change up your work environment
Oftentimes, we fall into a routine of doing our work in the same environment everyday. While having a designated place to do work is great, we can sometimes become a little bored and distracted in our current work spaces, especially if that space is your room. Changing up where you do your work can help gain a fresh perspective and stimulate new ideas, and the novelty of a new space can help you feel more focused. At home, this new space may be a dining table or couch; at school, check out a staff member’s office (with permission), the conference rooms, or the AAC. If you’re feeling adventurous, take your work to a local library, cafe, or restaurant.
3. Utilize the Silent Reading Room
The silent reading room is one of the best places to get work done on campus. As the name suggests, the room is completely silent and specifically made for students to get work done. Something in the air in that room and the warm lighting puts you in the mindset to lock in, and the constant typing and pencil writing sounds really help set the mood. The silent reading room is open from any time the library is open — normally 7:45 am to 6 pm and 7:45 am to 4 pm on Fridays — so it’s a great space to do work any time of the day.
4. Delete distractions from your computer
Alright, we’ve tackled the phone issue, but our computers are basically a bigger version of them. So many things on our computer can easily distract us: video games, texts, social media, shopping tabs, and literally the whole internet is at our disposal with just one click. While it’s practically impossible to get rid of all the distractions from your computer (which would basically mean taking out all the fun) there are a few things you can do. Separating your school and personal profiles, unpinning video games from taskbars, and simply going on do not disturb can make the biggest difference.
5. Make a checklist or schedule
Sometimes all we need is a little structure. Making a checklist with achievable goals and scheduling out your time will help you visualize what you need to do, instead of the daunting task of a broad “finish this project.” Having a plan laid out will free up some space in your brain to actually focus on completing your tasks, making yourself less mentally burdened and more productive. In the end, these goals can help hold you accountable and give you something to work towards.
If you’re ever feeling stuck in a rut, try out a few of these tips! Most of all, take care of yourself first and put your best self forward to set you up for success. Spring is coming Lakesiders, so let’s do a little spring cleaning and get ourselves ready for the final stretch of this school year.
