How To Be Productive When You Have A Lot Of Work To Do

Blog and Graphic created by: Emily Niedermeyer

As a college student, life can get hectic. Schedules are packed full of classes, clubs, social activities and of course, homework. After a full day, it can be hard to sit down and complete tasks. Conversely, when you have an entirely free day with a long list of assignments to complete, it can also be hard to focus. Here’s some study tips to be productive when you have a lot of work to do.

*Everyone has different study habits and different headspaces in which they feel productive. Some of these tips may work really well for some, and not for others.

1.) Complete Hard Tasks First: Don’t save your hardest assignments for when you’re exhausted and ready to go to bed. When you complete your most intimidating tasks first, you pass the rough patches and guarantee smooth sailing for the rest of your study time. Stressing right before you go to sleep isn’t ideal, so save easier tasks for when you’re ready to go to bed. 

2.) Get Out Of Your Dorm Room: I know your bed is comfy but it’s not ideal for studying! Dorms are surrounded by personal distractions and for many, getting work done is not easy. Finding somewhere to study that encourages a productive environment is a great way to get you in the right headspace to complete a lot of work. 

Similarly, the amount of activity going on around you also influences your productivity. Some might thrive in busy environments; for others, the quiet library might be more ideal. Noise canceling headphones are also a great way to tune out all of those distractions and noises around you; you don’t even have to have music playing. 

3.) No Electronic Devices: One of the most distracting things to any college student nowadays is your cell phone. Whether this means turning your phone off and face down next to you or physically placing it out of reach, detaching yourself from your phone and other electronic devices is important to stay focused.

4.) Make A To Do List: Visualizing everything in front of you in a list can be very helpful when you have a lot of tasks to complete. When you know exactly what you need to do in what order, scheduling like this offers a lot of organization. Plus, the act of checking off a box and scratching a task is so rewarding.

Sectioning off your day hour by hour might also be an option if you prefer a very organized, structured day. Having an agenda or planner that allows you to schedule study times might be ideal. 

5.) Have Incentives: If you complete your work, reward yourself! Whether it be time on your phone before heading to bed, small sweets, social time with friends, or some tv time, incentives are great motivations when studying.