Picture taken by Thomas Lefebvre — https://unsplash.com/thomaslefebvre (Thanks Thomas!)

Getting Back to School

A guide to making this school year better than the last

Now that the school year has started, (and because I’ve always felt obligated to share unsolicited advice whenever I have the slightest feeling that somebody could benefit from it) I suppose there’s no better time than now to share some of the things that have benefited me in becoming more motivated, positive, and productive.

First I’ll cover a few of the methods I use every day that will allow you to get more things done while avoiding stress-induced burnout and still have time for yourself. Then, I’ll show you the tools you can use, as well as some alternatives, in conjunction with these methods to maximize the potential benefits. And if you read all the way to the end, you’ll find a collection of blogs, books, and mailing lists that you can use to further your own learning.

Methods

Preparation is key

Despite being told since middle school to use an agenda, it wasn’t until recently that I realized how powerful one could be when used properly. To modernize the idea a little, you can use an app instead of a physical agenda. One article that I feel covers this beautifully is “How to 10x Your Productivity Overnight” by Gregg Clunis. In his article, Gregg also mentions another article on the topic by Kevin Kruse that gives some great examples of people that use this strategy to great success.

Getting (and staying) motivated

For a lot of people, getting started is the largest barrier standing between us and our work. Two ways that I have found to be useful for becoming and maintaining my motivation are as follows —

  1. Make it apart of your daily routine.

This isn’t actually as hard as it sounds. The only thing you really need to do is schedule out a time to do whatever it is you need to do, and committing yourself to doing it, beginning and ending at the same time each day. The more often you do something, the easier it becomes to do. Eventually, you won’t even think about it.

2. Be lazy.

Use the things you would rather be doing as your motivator. Believe me, I would much rather binge watch Netflix and lay in bed most of the time, so naturally I reward myself with exactly that once I’ve finished my work for the day. Use your desire to become one with your mattress to do the things you need to do. After all, the sooner you finish, the sooner you can relax.

Staying focused

If you read Gregg’s article above, you might have noticed that he discussed something called the “Pomodoro Technique”. For those who haven’t heard of this, the Pomodoro Technique is a time management method based around the idea of working smarter instead of working harder.

To start, all you really need is something like a kitchen timer. Personally, I use my phone on airplane mode. The process is broken down into six easy to follow steps —

  1. Choose a task you would like to get done.
  2. Set your timer for 25 minutes and promise yourself that you will spend this time with your full, undivided attention directed towards the task you’ve chosen.
  3. Work continuously until the timer rings. In the event that you realize there’s something else you need to get done, write it down and continue working.
  4. Once the timer rings, put a checkmark down on a piece of paper. You’ve just completed your first Pomodoro.
  5. Take a short five minute break. It’s important that whatever you do during your break is not work related. If possible, leave the area you’re working in. Stretch, take some deep breathes, grab something to drink, or take a walk outside. It’s up to you.
  6. Repeat the process three more times. At the end of your fourth Pomodoro, take a longer break. 15–30 minutes is recommended.

One particularly powerful piece of anecdotal evidence supporting the Pomodoro Technique, the same one that convinced me to start using it, is an article by Chris Winfield titled “How to Get 40 Hours of Work Done in 16.7”. In his article Chris goes into great detail explaining the Pomodoro Technique, why he began using it, as well as the specifics of how he implements it in his work and the benefits he now enjoys because of it. If his story doesn’t quite convince you, Chris has gone ahead and created a 32 page eBook dedicated to helping you make the most out of this information as well as keep yourself accountable through the use of worksheets, tools, and even more resources. The Pomodoro Technique really is one of those things you have no excuse not to try.

Tools

Preparation

Staying focused

Other Productivity Resources

Note: These are all primarily entrepreneurial type blogs, though most of the information available on them should still translate perfectly fine to school life.