University will be one of the best experiences of your life. You鈥檒l make new friends, learn new skills, get to know experts in your subject and have so many opportunities to take advantage of. To get the most out of the experience, it is important to stay motivated and be productive with your time 鈥� but we know that can be easier said than done!
Read our听eight听top tips, plus advice from our students, on how听to be productive and motivated at university so that you not only get the most out of your experience but also excel and prepare yourself for your dream graduate job.听
1. Plan your听days听听
It might sound听simple, but听planning听your time听each week will help you to achieve your goals.听Try adding things you want to do each day to your phone calendar as 鈥榚vents鈥� so that you have reminders of how you want to spend your time.听Or,听you can write things out in a planner or diary.听听
Student Olivia likes to write down her tasks听in her planner:听鈥淲hat I like to do is section it into two categories 鈥� work and life. I make my听鈥�work鈥�听tasks听specific听so听that听I know exactly what I am working on when I come to do听it.听Then my听鈥�life鈥�听section is anything听not work-related -听so if I want to go for a walk,听meet friends, watch Netflix, read a book or make time for a听hobby,听I听write that in too. I find writing out my schedule听motivates听me听and听it is so satisfying to tick things off!鈥�听
2. Have a听routine听听
You need a routine that works best for you. Try to get up and go to bed at similar times to give yourself that structure and routine so you can make the most of your weekly plan and organise your time effectively. Talking about her routine, student Olivia says,听鈥淪tudy when is best for you. For me, my mornings are my most productive time, but that could be completely different for you. What I personally do is set an hour timer on my phone and work as much as I can in that hour, and then take a short break.鈥�听
3. Know your听deadlines听
As soon as you get听your听assignment deadlines, add them to your calendar and听make a plan听of how you will meet that deadline.听听
Assignments can be a variety of听group project work, short or long essays 鈥� each one will be slightly different and听will require听different preparations, so it is important that you allow yourself enough time ahead of each deadline to get the work done. This leads us to our next top tip鈥�听
4. Break down tasks听听听
It always helps to break down the tasks that you need to complete into smaller and more realistic听ones.听For example, ahead of an assignment deadline, you听might want to听dedicate one day to research, one day to writing the introduction and听another day to writing the first part, and so on.听One of our students, Paula, shares her advice:听
鈥�What helps me to be productive is to divide tasks into smaller ones. Instead of setting one big task, I divide it into different days and times to make it more manageable and achievable.听Also,听it is听important to set realistic goals 鈥� there鈥檚 no point setting unrealistic goals if you know you are not going to achieve it and you will be overwhelmed and frustrated.鈥�听
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5. Take a break and reward听yourself听听听
Make sure you have a schedule that factors in regular breaks and reward yourself for what you have achieved 鈥� no matter how big or small. Student Althea says:
鈥淲hen you study it is听really hard听to feel rewarded, so you have to reward yourself. What I do is set some objectives each day. I spend 35-45 minutes studying and have two playlists that I listen to, with no instruments just soothing music to avoid distractions. I set a timer and when it is听up听I reward myself and take a break for 10-15 minutes, but no longer. Then I do it over and over until I achieve my objectives for the day, and when they have that鈥檚 when I reward myself again by finishing and watching a movie or eating some treats!鈥澨�听
6. Limit your social media听activity听听
Social media and what鈥檚 on your phone听can take up a lot of听head space听- how many times do you subconsciously start scrolling without realising, especially while trying to study?听Setting app limits on your听phone, or听dedicating听only听certain times of the day to checking social media could be valuable in giving you more time to study and focus on yourself.听
Also, checking your phone and social media can be a huge distraction when trying to work, so it might help to leave your phone or tablet in another room or in your bag while studying.听
7. Eat the right听foods听听
Knowing how to make quick and easy snacks and meals is key to feeling well and motivated. When hunger strikes, it is so easy to听grab听some crisps or chocolate but that isn鈥檛 giving your body the fuel it needs to feel good 鈥撎�and also听probably isn鈥檛 making you feel any less hungry!听听
Having quick and accessible go-to meals and snacks is a must for feeling good and having the right energy to go out and get things done.听Also, make sure you have a water bottle听with you at all听times听and aim to drink 2-3 litres per day to stay focused and motivated.听听
8. Stay听active听听
It can be easy to wake up, watch a bit of TV and then try to work straight away. But听actually听factoring in a short walk, jog, yoga, HIIT workout, gym session or something to get your body moving 鈥� no matter how big or small can really make a difference to your day.听Althea says,听鈥淲hen you wake up spend 20 minutes doing exercise. You could do yoga, Pilates, go for a walk 鈥� if you鈥檙e feeling adventurous go for a run or cycle. Of course, there are many trainers on YouTube too. Eat something, hydrate and you鈥檙e set!鈥澨�听
As with work, factor in the time to do it when best suits you 鈥� maybe a听late-night听gym session suits you or a long walk when you first wake up. Whatever it is, do what works best for you.听