Hello everyone!
As university (or college if you are in America) is starting soon, I thought I should write a post on how to survive university (or college).
This would be the first of a four-part series on productivity that I would be writing about every other Sunday.
So let's get to it shall we?
Tip #01: Get yourself organised!
I always have an organiser with me to record the things that I have to do and organise my time. I will be posting on the different types of planners (digital and physical) over the next few Sundays, you can look forward to it!
Have a to-do list and try to keep on top of it, I use my to-do on my phone for that. Now, I have a new planner that helps me keep track of my bills, readings, work and LNAT practices.
Tip #02: Prepare for Class
Always remember to prepare for class by reading the required readings, and reading the background readings or doing your research.
Make sure to note down any important information--concepts, definitions or facts, and supporting evidence. I tend to look out for what the point or argument the author/researcher is making and supporting evidence for every point/argument.
I also note down what I do not know (things that I don't know after researching), which I will make a point to clarify with the Professor after the lecture or during the break.
Tip #03: Have Separate Files for Each Subject
What Dorothy Wheels does is to get a few binders for each subject. She keeps her notes, readings and homework in separate folders. I think this is especially useful if you have a lot of physical copy of notes or work.
However, what I do is to have a file for the academic semester. Within this file is are 5 separate files for each subject I am taking for the semester and labeled according to the subject code.
In each of my subject files, I have a folder for project work, individual assignments, weekly readings, the course outline and any other material for the course.
Tip #04: Review the Lecture
After every lesson, I would review the lecture and the notes I took during the lecture. I would compile these notes into a document, which I would then use during my revision before finals.
This document would then be streamlined during revision week and I would later turn that into a mindmap to better help me remember any information.
Tip #05: Work Hard, Play Hard
When it's time to work or study, place all your focus and energy on that. Try to keep yourself off the Internet or away from your phone. Shut down all applications or turn off all notifications except the ones that are relevant to what you're doing at the moment.
I find that waking up early is the best way to get things done. I'm not sure where I saw this but apparently our brain functions best in the morning and dwindles off into the night. So if you are a night person (which I was until very recently), I would recommend sleeping early and waking up at 4 am to study and get things done.
When it's time to play, go all out. There is no use stressing about work and school when you're out having fun. Take the time when you're out to relax and rest.
You could also reward yourself after every chapter you've covered with some social media time, or for me, it's YouTube time. YouTube's phone app has a feature that alerts you when you have watched over 10 or 15 minutes of videos; you can adjust the time to suit your needs.
Anyway, to sum it all up, here's an infographic for you!
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