Ana GonzalezNew year, same habits? For starters, let’s set something straight. Old ways won’t get you new results, and if you want to succeed this semester, you need to get a good grasp on what you can improve on.
[taq]Whether you are an educator or a student, I think we can all agree that dealing with academics, extracurricular activities, and life, in general, can be a bit tricky. Still, with the right tools and habits, you can juggle and succeed at all of them. [/taq]
The first step is to set realistic goals for yourself. What is that you want to be better this year? Do you want to learn a new set of skills?
No matter what your goals are, write them on a piece of paper, visualize them, voice them out into the universe, and finally follow the recommendations below:
Step ⓵:
Our first recommendation is for you to commit to a goal for thirty 30 days, and set habits for yourself. Achieving a goal is all about being CONSISTENT.
It only takes three to four weeks to develop a new habit. If you can stay on track for 30 days, you will be able to conquer anything. To stay on track, we have put together some great productivity apps that will help you achieve your goals.
App #1: Productive- Habit Tracker
Productive is a free tool that helps you build a routine f positive, life-changing habits. Set personal goals, track your progress, and motivate yourself. To access the mobile app: Android / iOS
App #2: Habit- Daily Tracker
The Habit app allows you to see detailed graphs and statistics to show you how you improve over time. The app is completely free to use! To access the mobile app: iOS
App #3: Done- A Simple Habit Tracker
Done keeps track of Streaks or Chains when you’ve met your goals in consecutive periods. To access the mobile app: iOS
Step # ②:
If your goals are more “learning” oriented, try to dedicate 30 to 50 minutes to them every day. Learning for a minimum of 30 minutes a day can improve your retention. Don’t believe us? Over 2 million people use the Pomodoro Technique. This technique helps you “work with time, instead of struggling against it.”
There are great apps out there that follow this method AND also help you stay away from your phone while you learn.
App #1: Focus Keeper- Time Management
Focus Keeper helps you keep your productivity high, avoiding burnout using the timer. Work with time. Not against it! It’s all about focusing your work efforts in timed 25-minute chunks, with a 5-minute break in between each burst of activity. To access the mobile app: Android / iOs
App #2: Flora- Focus Habit Tracker
Whenever you and friends want to stay away from the distraction on smartphones, plant a seed together (or alone) using Flora. As you focus on what’s more important in real life, the seed will gradually grow into a healthy tree. To access the mobile app: iOS
Another option is pretending to teach someone what you’ve learned. You will be surprised at how much you already know.
According to research done at Washington University in St. Louis, “people learn better and recall more when given the impression that they will soon have to teach newly acquired material to someone else.”
Step # ③:
Get organized. Why is this so important? It’s been proven that the messier your working space is, the more distracted you will be. Start by decluttering the area you’re expecting to work at the most, whether that is your apartment, room, or office. This recommendation goes well with Recommendation 1 because, by setting daily routines and habits, you can become an organizational master.
Step # ④:
Write it down! There is a significant sense of satisfaction when crossing things off your “to-do” list. Here are apps you can use to visualize your day, week, or month.
App #1: Campusknot Planner
Keep up with due dates with the CampusKnot planner. You can create events and invite your peers or colleagues. The planner allows you to send reminders to events, set RSVPs, and much more! For web access, you can visit the CampusKnot website. To access the mobile app: Android / iOS
App #2: Todoist
Todoist allows you and your team to organize, plan, and collaborate on projects, both big and small. You can access the planner via the web or download the app Android / iOS
The most important part of setting goals for this new year should be to have fun while learning and working towards them. A new year isn’t about “changing” yourself in the short term but instead finding ways to be a better “you” and keep it that way.
Our final recommendation is to listen to these awesome sets of playlists while your CRUSH new year.
No matter if you are an educator, a student, or any other title, a new year isn’t about “changing” yourself in the short term but instead finding ways to be a better “you” and keep it that way. We hope our recommendations can help you stay on track during this year.
