You sit at a desk to start studying for your upcoming exams, but all of a sudden, you hear your phone notifications. You turn your phone around and click on the Instagram message. And there you go, before you know it, you have spent 3 hours scrolling through endless reels. Many of us are victims of the “just five more minutes before I will start studying” scenario, but few of us are successful at building consistency into our study routine. One of the best ways to turn your weakness into your advantage is by redesigning your home screen with productivity apps that will truly help you achieve academic success. Here some highly suggested apps/websites which will enhance your study routine.
Notion:
Being organized and preparing your week ahead of time is an effective habit which will help you manage stress during exams. Organization is a subjective preference in which some people consistently use planners and goal trackers while others simply jot down their tasks. Depending on your preference, organization apps like Notion help you store your due dates, to-do lists and notes neatly.
- Notion helps you organize your goals, reminders, timelines, notes, etc.
- Templates on Notion, such as the Habit Tracker or Cornell Notes system, will help you stay on task and focused
- Tracking progress is a crucial habit which can boost efficiency when balancing multiple tasks at once (especially around the final exam season when you have to meet deadlines and study altogether)
Pomofocus (Web Extension):
Oftentimes, when working on a laptop, you can be sidetracked by the countless tabs you have open or when you start perusing through frequently asked questions in the search engine. The Pomodoro technique helps you focus without compromising productivity because you can group your work into a repetitive pattern of work periods and short breaks.
- There are many apps and web extensions that help you organize your study blocks into Pomodoro. A commonly used website is Pomofocus.
- The simple user layout helps you stay on task without getting carried away by the intricate functions within the webpage
- You can alter the time of your sessions and keep track of your breaks with the ringer
- For students with ADHD, the simple layout boosts productivity in comparison to other Pomodoro trackers, which have several extra features
Khan Academy:
Most of us are familiar with the Khan Academy videos, which have excellent explanations for various topics; however, there are more benefits to this app/website
- For instance, you can track your progress and move through modules which closely mimic your curriculum
- The consistent practice questions throughout the modules help students perform active recall and enhance their application skills
- You can use the practice tests to review in the weeks before your exams
Quizlet:
- Quizlet flashcards are the quickest way to study for courses such as Biology and English
- Flashcards are one of the best ways to retain information
- Since there is an app and a web version, you can easily perform this study method on busy days
- Quizlet and other apps use AI to understand your learning pace and provide questions accordingly. You can choose the mode which works best for you (eg, test, learn flashcards, match)
Sleep Cycle:
Maintaining a good sleep schedule is crucial for academic success. While many students stay up until 3 am to study for a test, it is more important to prioritize sleep because good sleep directly impacts your efficiency during a test.
- You can experiment with multiple sleep tracking apps to understand which app helps you the most. A commonly used app for sleep is Sleep Cycle
- This app tracks your sleep to understand your sleep cycles and how well you slept throughout the night
- Through this app your can create sleep goals and develop habits that support those goals. This would be a great New Year’s resolution!