Being productive is necessary for students to succeed in class, whether they need to complete a project due the next day or study for an upcoming test. However, being productive isn’t always easy for students, as many sometimes struggle to get work done. Fortunately, there are many tried and true methods of increasing one’s own productivity.
A variety of sources, including an article by Sarina Schrager and Elizabeth Sadowski and a study by Andrea Wershof Schwartz and Sonja R. Solomon, talk about a few widespread methods. One of the most widespread methods recommended is to create a to-do list of tasks to get done. In order to work efficiently, students need to know what tasks to do in the first place; a to-do list helps them get their priorities in order.
Of course, knowing is only half the battle; focusing on these priorities is also important for productivity. Sometimes, students will “multitask,” the act of focusing on two or more activities, in order to be more productive. In reality, multitasking reduces productivity because the human mind has trouble focusing on more than one thing at a time. Students, therefore, should attempt to finish one task before moving on to the next. Removing interruptions is also important to improve productivity, so students should close any distracting apps and put their phones on silent. However, music could potentially help some students who might have difficulties focusing or tune out background noise.
Another technique to help students study is the Pomodoro® Technique, which was created by Francesco Cirillo. It involves using a kitchen timer to break work up into 25-minute intervals called pomodoro (the name originates from the tomato-shaped kitchen timer originally used in the technique, as pomodoro is Italian for tomato). After each interval, one takes a short break. After four intervals pass, the person takes a longer break, and the cycle repeats. (Graphic/Yechang Liu)
