Do you struggle with constant distractions?

• phone notifications

• people at the door

• noises and vibrations

Today’s lifestyle is full of opportunities for distractions. Whether they’re active (someone in the room) or passive (haptics on your phone), distractions steal your attention and prevent you from making your time your own.

And they’re just plain frustrating.

And and, your brain is designed to pay attention to them. It's a survival skill. The problem is not every tiny noise and movement is a threat anymore. 

So if you find yourself very distractible, give yourself a break! You've just entered a brand new phase of your life, and there's plenty around to pay attention to. Preventing and filtering distractions is just a new skill to learn.  

Distractions can derail your focus, but with the right strategies, you can minimize them and stay on track. Learn how to prevent distractions, schedule time for notifications, and get back on task quickly when the dreaded distractions strike. 

Take control of your focus this term:

  August 9th - Dealing with distractions

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Have you heard the phrase, “sharpen your saw?”

It’s based on the concept that by stepping back regularly to rest and recharge, you can accomplish even more while you’re working.

Taking a break isn't just about stepping away from your desk, it's about recharging your mind and body so you can come back stronger. Whether it’s getting a snack, stretching, or grabbing some water, a well-timed break helps you stay focused and productive.

But how can you take a break effectively?

• How long should the break be?

• What should you do?

• Shouldn’t you keep working if you’re in flow?

Learn how taking effective breaks can help your brain take a break without totally losing steam.

  August 8th - Take meaningful breaks

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Do you ever find yourself spending hours on a project just to realize you’ve freelanced off in a direction that isn’t important?

Or you’ve spent so much additional time perfecting a small piece of it, just to watch your peers get good grades with much less effort.

Or you are never really sure if what you’re doing is “done” until you turn it in?

Perfectionism can make it hard to stop making adjustments to an already really good, perfectly acceptable project. This wastes time that doesn’t give you proportionately better grades, and could be spent doing something else.

Learn what “done” means before you get started on your project and save that extra energy for another project or play time.

  August 7th - Decide what "done" looks like

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You know how kids really hate stopping doing fun things?

As we get older, we develop a little more discipline about switching tasks, but the truth is transitions are hard. Many students find it hard to shift from taking a break back to studying, leaving the gym to go to work, or wrapping up writing to go to a lecture.

This can lead to wasted time, bargaining against your future self, and the dreaded “procrastination”.

The good news is you can learn to gently shut down tasks and start new ones, so while you still might not WANT to put down the games and start that essay, you have the tools to get into action.

Learn how to make transitions less stressful:

  August 6th - Practice transitions

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