Testing Popular Study Techniques To See if They Help My Productivity

Over the past few months, I've found that constantly working on university essays and assignments can become repetitive, especially when you're stuck in the middle of a lockdown where working alongside other people isn't possible. These last few months have felt like an endless slog of studying and essay writing for me - thankfully I've now completed my undergraduate degree but it certainly wasn't easy! In the process, I thought I'd add some variety to my monotonous study days by testing out some popular techniques that promise more productive study sessions. While finding new revision strategies and study tips online can be useful, I thought I'd put them to the test to see if they actually work or aren't worth using. Whether you're still studying before the summer holidays commence or you simply want to know what techniques are worth trying, keep reading for my verdict!

Technique #1 - Using Notion to organise revision

How it works:

The best way that I can describe Notion is that it's a digital planner, allowing you to track everything needed for an organised life. There's no determined structure so it can be formatted in whatever way allows you to be productive, whether that's through to-do lists, calendars, databases or many more options. The theory behind this study technique is that you'll no longer have documents scattered across your laptop and notes scrawled in random spaces, as they're streamlined and merged into one easy-to-access platform. Obviously, this isn't exclusive to revision - many people use Notion for their job or even to keep track of hobbies - but I thought I'd put it to the test for study purposes to see if it helped my productivity.

My verdict:

I created a Notion account in January while bored out of my mind with Covid, and I've used it religiously ever since. In fact, not a single day goes by where I don't check it, even if I'm not studying. I use it mainly for my daily to-do lists, but it's also handy for keeping track of readings, assignments, grades and many more things. Plus, I use it a lot for my journalism projects - if you'd like to see my Notion setup in-depth I can definitely do a blog post on it! I've always been a to-do list person so this is an ideal system for me, plus I've found that I'm a lot more productive when all of my readings and important documents are in one place, rather than spending ages scrolling through my laptop.

While I absolutely love Notion, I'd recommend being careful not to rely on it too much! Remember that it's an online website that can experience technical difficulties or your Internet connection could unexpectedly fail, which would be extremely frustrating right before an exam or while taking notes during a lecture!

Testing Popular Study Techniques To See if They Help My Productivity

Technique #2 - Using apps to block phone usage

How it works:

In an age of technology, it can be incredibly easy to get distracted by buzzing notifications on your phone or the burning desire to mindlessly scroll through social media. With online learning, this struggle has become even more prevalent as technology is essential for working and can't be avoided easily. Many apps exist to block the use of your phone for a chosen length of time, allowing you to focus and stay productive without impulsively staring at your screen. I personally tested the Flora app since I like the cute addition of growing your own forest with every period of time spent focusing, and you can even link it to your bank account for the added incentive of not breaking it.

My verdict:

I've never considered my phone to be a massive distraction when I'm working, yet I found this app incredibly helpful! I definitely don't use it every day, but instead rely on it when I'm feeling particularly unmotivated or find myself getting distracted. I honestly didn't realise how often I subconsciously checked my phone until I was unable to, but Flora definitely helped me to stay more focused by preventing this. The only thing I'd keep in mind is that sometimes your phone can be useful for work purposes, whether that's due to a to-do list in your notes app or a photo of some important information, so remember this before setting the focus timer!

Technique #3 - Splitting time by Pomodoros 

How it works:

The Pomodoro technique splits time into intervals that are typically 25 minutes long, with a shorter 5-minute break in between and a longer 15-minute break after four of these Pomodoros have passed. The theory is that you decide on the task that needs to be done and then allocate how many Pomodoros it'll take, making your workload more manageable and easier to undertake. It's supposed to target anxiety generated by the 'ticking clock' that causes procrastination, as this technique instead makes time a valuable ally. There are various apps to implement the Pomodoro technique; I personally used this website but there are many alternatives out there to try.

My verdict:

I tried this technique a few times, but I realised that it isn't the one for me. If you have a short attention span or struggle to get started with a task and want to split it into more manageable chunks, then this is an ideal method to try. Personally, I've always found that I work better in much larger sections, perhaps 2 or 3 hours at a time before taking a more substantial break. With the Pomodoro technique, I found that as soon as I was in the flow of working, it was time to take a break and my thinking was interrupted. Plus, the larger number of breaks meant that there were countless more opportunities to procrastinate and I sometimes struggled to start working again. Since I was working on my final essays, I also found it harder to split these into tiny 25-minute chunks, but I can imagine this technique being more useful if you're working through a series of short questions or tasks. It definitely has its pros, but it's ultimately not the method for me.

Testing Popular Study Techniques To See if They Help My Productivity

Technique #4 - Listen to ambient music

How it works:

While a lot of people strongly advise against listening to music while studying, there's evidence that lo-fi sounds with no lyrics or distinguishable melodies can actually be helpful. Sometimes, the silence can become overwhelming or cause us to listen out for the tiniest noises, whereas having a subtle wash of music in the background drowns out these sounds and supposedly helps to maintain focus. Obviously, it isn't the same as listening to your karaoke playlist when singing along is inevitable; the idea is to use sounds that aren't catchy or distinguishable such as coffee shop chatter, crackling fires or waves on a shore.

My verdict:

Some people always work while listening to music but I've never had that impulse; I'll often instinctively choose to work in silence and frequently find myself in the no-speaking areas of the library. However, I started listening to some ambient music while working just to create variety in my monotonous study days, and I actually really enjoyed it! I spent the entire month of May working on various assignments, which also coincided with the gloomy weather, so I immersed myself in some jungle rain sounds from this Spotify playlist. For me, it was the nice middle ground of having some background noise that wasn't distracting, and I'd definitely use this again for future assignments!

Technique #5 - Vary your environment while working

How it works:

Many people believe that staying in one location can cause you to get bored or feel sluggish while working, so adding some variety to your revision locations can maintain your focus and productivity. This supposedly helps with gaining a renewed sense of motivation, as well as familiarising yourself with working in new environments that'll be useful when it comes to sitting in an exam hall. For many people, moving to a new location also acts as a break while revising, allowing them to start again with renewed engagement and a fresh head.

My verdict:

Believe it or not, I actually prefer working in the same space. Earlier in the semester, I travelled to university quite often to work in the library, but I soon stopped as I realised it was making me less productive. The stress of booking a library slot and finding a seat, plus the excessive time spent commuting and packing up my stuff, meant that it really didn't feel worth it. It started to feel like I was spending most of my day travelling and preparing to work, rather than actually delving into it, plus I'd always return home feeling drained. I've always been surprisingly productive whilst working at home, so unless I desperately needed a change of scenery or wanted a book from the library, I decided not to implement this technique. However, this is just my personal preference - I know a lot of people who really value a change in scenery while working!

As a whole, I found that a lot of these study techniques were incredibly useful, and while some weren't my personal favourites I could definitely appreciate how other people might find them helpful. I'd love to know what your favourite study methods are or whether you've tried any of the above tips, so make sure you leave a comment to let me know!