Technique 1 ​ ​The Pomodoro method
The Pomodoro Technique is originally developed by
Francesco Cirillo as a tool to enhance productivity.
The basic instructions are:
- Decide on a task to be done
- Set a timer to 25 minutes (= “1 Pomodoro”)
- Work on the task
- When timer rings take short break
A Pomodoro cannot be divided. If you are off-task for more
than a minute, you should restart your entire Pomodoro.
If you use an egg-timer, benefit is that the ticking sound of
the timer becomes associated with focus.
​ ttps://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique
More info:​ h
Technique 3​ ​The 5-minute plan
This tool is very popular in our Effective Studying courses at
the University of Groningen.
It is based on the fact that the hardest part of a task, is
getting started.
In the 5-minute-plan you don’t plan in to finish a certain
dreadful task. Instead, you just plan in to work on it for 5
minutes. Actually agree with yourself to spend at least 5
minutes, whether you feel like it or not! After this time, if it is
still dreadful to you, allow yourself to stop.
But maybe, you have got the hang of it now you have taken
the first steps, and you want to go on with it….
Technique 5​ ​Boosting your lecture
Boosting your lecture consists of two parts:
Part 1: Make sure you are early, so you can sit in the front
row. In the time you have left, write down 3 questions you
would expect to get answered in the lecture.
Part 2:
After your lecture, go sit somewhere near the lecture hall to
complete or revise your lecture notes. Or even better: to
discuss your lecture notes with someone else.
This method works very well for motivation, and hence can
help you to reduce procrastination.
Technique 2​ ​Making appointments with others
We, as humans beings, are very sensitive to others. That is
why making appointments with others is a powerful tool.
Set a certain time (morning, afternoon or evening) per week
to study together with someone. If you do so, chances are
big that these times will be more productive, and also more
fun.
Also meeting with someone at a certain time early in the
morning, makes it easier to get up.
Last but not least: making a social appointment ​after​ study
time (e.g. evening), combined with the agreement not to
meet with others before a certain time, can work very well,
too.
Technique 4​ ​Rewarding yourself
It might seem simple. But rewarding yourself doesn’t come
naturally. What tends to happen? The opposite! You tend to
reward yourself for ​not ​working. If you procrastinate your
studies by looking on your phone, you are actually
rewarding yourself (looking on your phone is relaxing/fun)
for ​not s​ tudying.
The trick is to plan in several rewards for ​after​ you have
done any studying! Give yourself plenty of small rewards
(looks on phone, coffee, food, music) but only after you
have done a bit of work.
Whether this is 5 minutes work or 50 doesn’t matter for the
principle, so start with small amounts. It’s the order (‘work,
then reward’ versus ‘reward, then work’) that counts!
Technique 6​ ​Setting Priorities
Take 5 to 10 minutes to brainstorm. Make a long list of all
the things you want to do. Write down all things you can
think of.
Now start to pick out 3 things you really have to do in the
upcoming week. Then pick out 3 things that would help you
to attain future goals, and 3 things you really like or enjoy to
do.
Try to plan in 1 thing of each of these three categories in the
upcoming days.