{"id":4507,"date":"2013-11-26T17:59:40","date_gmt":"2013-11-26T22:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=4507"},"modified":"2018-08-16T12:57:21","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T16:57:21","slug":"four-tips-to-skyrocket-productivity-during-finals-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2013\/11\/26\/four-tips-to-skyrocket-productivity-during-finals-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Tips to Skyrocket Productivity During Finals Week"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"The secret doesn\u2019t lie in a nifty app that blocks your access to distractions. It doesn\u2019t lie in your ability to focus hardcore during the week preceding finals. Nor does it lie in your intense all-nighters, complete with sugary energy drinks and a plethora of tasty snacks. The secret to staying productive during finals week\u2014and beyond\u2014lies in establishing habits that won\u2019t wear out. Here are a few practical tips to keep your productivity in tip-top shape:  1.\tUtilize your free time. As a public relations student, you\u2019re probably rolling your eyes, thinking, \u201cWhat free time?!\u201d However, as you\u2019re walking to class, taking a work break or waiting in line, are you using your spare seconds well? Resist the temptation to Instagram your picture-perfect latte or Snapchat your girlfriend. Instead, use these opportunities to make a quick phone call, read over a study guide or catch up on your daily news.  2.\tMake lists. Those who claim not to be \u201clist people\u201d can put themselves at a disadvantage. Making lists not only helps you prioritize your tasks, but it also gives you a visual reminder of your workload. Plus, lists keep you accountable for what you do \u2014 or don\u2019t \u2014 get done at the end of the day, making it harder to blow off your final paper for a Netflix marathon.  3.\tTake breaks. Humans have limits. When you try to push past these limits, you don\u2019t become superhuman, you become super exhausted. Instead of wearing yourself so thin you end up with a thermometer in your mouth and a bowl of chicken noodle soup on your desk, give yourself little breaks. For example, for every 60 minutes of studying, allow yourself 10 minutes of video games, Pinterest-perusing, praying, journaling or however you best decompress. Bonus hint: Make sure to set a timer so you don\u2019t forget to buckle down after the break!  4.\tSet your hopes on the light at the end of the tunnel. Give yourself something fun to look forward to at the end of your studying struggles. This could be anything from setting your phone wallpaper to a photo of home, surprising your best friend at work with her favorite candy or planning a post-finals fiesta with your friends. This glimpse of the future will help you remember that while studying is crucial to being a stellar student, ultimately your value doesn\u2019t come from your exam scores.  What\u2019s your favorite way to keep productivity high when motivation and energy are low?  Laura Daronatsy is a sophomore journalism-public relations major at Biola University. Laura She serves as the managing editor of her university\u2019s student newspaper, the Chimes, and is an active member of Biola PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter @LauraDaronatsy or connect with her via LinkedIn.\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4508\" alt=\"polarbearfinals\" src=\"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/polarbearfinals-261x300.png\" width=\"261\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/polarbearfinals-261x300.png 261w, https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/polarbearfinals-87x100.png 87w, https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/polarbearfinals-174x200.png 174w, https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/polarbearfinals.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><\/a>The secret doesn\u2019t lie in a nifty app that blocks your access to distractions. It doesn\u2019t lie in your ability to focus hardcore during the week preceding finals. Nor does it lie in your intense all-nighters, complete with sugary energy drinks and a plethora of tasty snacks. The secret to staying productive during finals week\u2014and beyond\u2014lies in establishing habits that won\u2019t wear out. Here are a few practical tips to keep your productivity in tip-top shape.<\/p>\n<p><b>1.\u00a0<\/b><b>Utilize your free time.<br \/>\n<\/b>As a public relations student, you\u2019re probably rolling your eyes, thinking, \u201cWhat free time?!\u201d However, as you\u2019re walking to class, taking a work break or waiting in line, are you using your spare seconds well? Resist the temptation to Instagram your picture-perfect latte or Snapchat your girlfriend. Instead, use these opportunities to make a quick phone call, read over a study guide or catch up on your daily news.<\/p>\n<p><b>2.\u00a0<\/b><b>Make lists.<br \/>\n<\/b>Those who claim not to be \u201clist people\u201d can put themselves at a disadvantage. Making lists not only helps you prioritize your tasks, but it also gives you a visual reminder of your workload. Plus, lists keep you accountable for what you do \u2014 or don\u2019t \u2014 get done at the end of the day, making it harder to blow off your final paper for a Netflix marathon.<\/p>\n<p><b>3.\u00a0<\/b><b>Take breaks.<br \/>\n<\/b>Humans have limits. When you try to push past these limits, you don\u2019t become superhuman, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/06\/17\/jobs\/take-breaks-regularly-to-stay-on-schedule-workstation.html?_r=0\">you become super exhausted<\/a>. Instead of wearing yourself so thin you end up with a thermometer in your mouth and a bowl of chicken noodle soup on your desk, give yourself little breaks. For example, for every 60 minutes of studying, allow yourself 10 minutes of video games, Pinterest-perusing, praying, journaling or however you best decompress. Bonus hint: Make sure to set a timer so you don\u2019t forget to buckle down after the break!<\/p>\n<p><b>4.\u00a0<\/b><b>Set your hopes on the light at the end of the tunnel.<br \/>\n<\/b>Give yourself something fun to look forward to at the end of your studying struggles. This could be anything from setting your phone wallpaper to a photo of home, surprising your best friend at work with her favorite candy or planning a post-finals fiesta with your friends. This glimpse of the future will help you remember that while studying is crucial to being a stellar student, ultimately your value doesn\u2019t come from your exam scores.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><b>What\u2019s your favorite way to keep productivity high when motivation and energy are low?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Laura Daronatsy is a sophomore journalism-public relations major at <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biola.edu\"><i>Biola University<\/i><\/a><i>. She serves as the managing editor of her university\u2019s student newspaper, <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/chimes.biola.edu\"><i>the Chimes<\/i><\/a><i>, and is an active member of Biola PRSSA. Follow her on Twitter <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lauradaronatsy\"><i>@LauraDaronatsy<\/i><\/a><i> or connect with her via <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/profile\/view?id=218489219&amp;trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic\"><i>LinkedIn<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The secret doesn\u2019t lie in a nifty app that blocks your access to distractions. It doesn\u2019t lie in your ability to focus hardcore during the week preceding finals. Nor does it lie in your intense all-nighters, complete with sugary energy drinks and a plethora of tasty snacks. The secret to staying productive during finals week\u2014and beyond\u2014lies in establishing habits that [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":4508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1622,474,2217,15,40,422,1623,1571],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4507"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4507"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9074,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4507\/revisions\/9074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4508"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}