productivity methods?

[oran]

with school starting soon/already starting for some, i'm curious about everyone's methods for staying productive! these can be for work, school, chores, or even personal projects you struggle to stay motivated to complete (← girl with 284938 unfinished wips)

• i never really used to utilize a planner (mostly because i found myself too lazy to write in it consistently :')), but i've gotten a lot of use out of a digital calendar to keep track of deadlines! canvas has a feature that lets you export your coursework to add to a google calendar, which is really convenient :)
• it needs to be completely silent when i work-- i just can't have any noise when concentrating (on schoolwork at least..) it's a shame, 'cuz doing homework with music seems like it'd be a lot more enjoyable u_u
• kind of an odd one, but i quite like putting those pokemon asmr videos in the background- it's amusing but not distracting! it keeps me motivated and makes it fun to look up/switch tabs every now and again to see what they're up to x)

 

[staticmoth]

Having a date in my head for when something needs to be done really helps me stay motivated! And saying "I will have this done by this date." outloud to someone else is super helpful in keeping me both productive and accountable for getting it done.

Unfortunately this has the side effect of like... making me procrastinate until the very last minute.

Also I like having a video/show up in the background while I'm working, like a video essay, an episode of a dubbed anime, etc. I need to keep it full screened though or else I might open a new tab and get distracted lmaoo.

 

[Herbizarre]

There was one time where I decided to put rain sounds at high volume while working on a Marbles on Stream level. It worked, so it's safe to assume the same can be done for personal projects.

 

[recarmdra]

Setting and achieving short-term goals! Its great to have long-term goals, too, but short-term goals have always always boosted my motivation and productivity, and before you know it, you'll have achieved the long-term goal you set up for yourself!

 

[Oga-ponn]

I've been trash at productivity for who-knows-how-long, so when I started high school senior year almost a month ago I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Currently I keep a to-do list for homework assignments to complete so I don't forget about them, and sometimes I utilize a pomodoro timer. There's plenty out there that you can use just by searching it up! ^_^ (and if the pomodoro method doesn't work for you, there are several alternatives like the reverse pomodoro and more.)

 

[oran]

sometimes I utilize a pomodoro timer

ohhh i've heard a lot of good things about the pomodoro technique! i've tried it out a couple of times, but i should probably get better at remembering to do it consistently

 

[cinderace]

hmmm. it really depends on how lenient your schedule is, but with my possible ADHD swag i’ve found a lot of my own coping skills… of course, these are just for me, and exactly the same stuff won’t work for everyone!

1) if possible, do some kind of body doubling. have a friend with you also doing homework or join some kinda study group that’s a scheduled time

2) i try not to do schoolwork in bed. literally anywhere else is better- at my desk or at the kitchen table, just somewhere that’s not the sleepy-cozy-time area

3) i find the pomodoro timer/ sprint timers are helpful but i only usually do that for writing and not much for school lolololol

 

[ninazrdl]

I don't like planning, that makes me feel like I HAVE to do it, and when I feel that way, I don't want to do it. So I do it whenever I feel like to.
And I don't like timers, I would be thinking about how many time left all the time.
But I do feel guilty of not doing my work. So whenever I feel guilty about it, I start doing it.
For computer projects, sometimes I take my laptop out, and do it for "one battery" time. I don't like my battery go exactly empty, so roughly between 20 or 50, but that is plenty.
Another useful method is do it until I feel hungry or sleepy. My body goes eco mode when I am not doing my project, but using my brain really burns off a lot of calories. So when I feel fine, and I can eat/sleep afterwards, I do it until I am hungry or sleepy, and go eat something or sleep. But the most important tip is: ALWAYS STOP WHEN YOU FEEL SLEEPY.

 

[farewell friend]

I write out all my assignments out in an planner with due dates, so I can keep track of everything.
When it comes time to do work, I sit down with some instrumental music and try to zone in and focus.
I really like the act of checking off the assignments I have completed when I finish them--it encouraged me to work harder and get more done.

Sometimes, when I need to work on something but I need a change of scenery, I go to a local cafe and work there. I actually plan on going to a local cafe this Saturday : ) getting a coffee and working on a large assignment I have due Sunday. It's nice to go outside sometimes.

 

[noctiluca]

I don't like the way word productivity is used in our society as it implies that leisure and time spent making mistakes are wasteful yet those are those are some of the most important times.

That being said, what helps me is understanding that we will never be as productive as we would like to be so we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves. Some days, we won't get what we need done, and we shouldn't beat ourselves up for that.

The most essential part to being "more productive" to me is understanding yourself and your study habits.

For example, do you work best doing it in small spurts or all at once? For me, I could do either, yet I found myself doing best when it was all one task after another.
I think for most people, chunking it into smaller tasks may be easier and lead to a sense of progression (e.g. I'm going to do preliminary research and brainstorming on Monday, I'm going to gather my sources and write my thesis statement on Tuesday, I'm going to have an outline and write 2 paragraphs on Wednesday, I will finish 2 paragraphs on Thursday, etc.)
It might even differ on the subject. Math was generally just in one or 2 sittings maximum for me.

Do you work best with others or do they distract you?
Sometimes group studying is more about making it fun and keeping each other accountable.

Are your needs fully met?
Drink plenty of water, be nourished, and be well-rested.

Get things "out of your system"
If you need a few minutes to chat with a friend or a relative, go for a walk, take a nap, play 30 minute of your favorite video game, etc. go do it. Those things may be on your mind for a reason and are not just "distractions." They represent your needs, and it is better to do them than suppress them.

Are you in the right environment?
I work best at home at my desk while listening to music and possibly chewing gum. That may not be the same for you as you require silence and asmr videos. I functioned OK at library or on the bus/light rail ride to school honestly. Maybe outside is better or at night?

And finally, know which times are your work times.
For example, between classes on Tuesday, Friday night after running errands, etc. Ritualize it, and make it consistent.

It's not really a method per se, but just keep these things into consideration. If nothing else from this post applies, just don't be so harsh on yourself just because we live in a society that makes us feel guilty for being "unproductive." It shouldn't be like that.