With the holidays coming up, you may be feeling a little more distracted than usual. Christmas Break is so close you can almost taste it! Don't give up now, though. Here are a couple little tricks that help me when I'm feeling unfocused:
Many times if I can't get my thoughts straight, I make a list. This list could be anything that helps me out at the time. If I'm writing a paper, I'll list out what I want included in the paper and in what order (i.e. outlining). Many times I will make general list of things I need to get done for my classes. There is currently a sticky note on my laptop screen that has a list of my major final projects and papers with their corresponding due dates. Making lists allows me to organize my thoughts which results in higher productivity. Plus, what's more fun than marking a finished project off your list?
A technique that the LACD intern team learned was the Pomodoro Technique. This consists of timing yourself in 25 minute segments. There is a timer online (http://www.marinaratimer.com/nN0nZkCP) that counts down from 25:00. During this time, you work straight through without stopping. After this 25 minutes, you take a 5 minute break. Then, you come back and work another straight 25 minutes. This allows you to set a goal for yourself to get work done, then take a short break before your concentration breaks, then work again. Setting mini goals definitely helps me get my work done. This technique helps you to work efficiently, which is great when you're running low on time.
Different people have different ways of coping with their distractions, you just have to find yours! Finish out the semester strong!
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