After a full day at school/sixth form, it can be hard to start studying or revising when you return home, which makes it frustrating if you know you have things to get done! Here are my tips to be productive even after you have worked hard all day: 1. Take a break when you return home from school to take your mind off studying for a while. If you can, try and avoid going on your phone and do something more active that is more likely to boost your energy and lift your spirits. This may be something like going for a walk, listening to some music, or walking your dog. I'd typically take 30-60 minutes off before I started working again, any longer and I'd find it more difficult to get back into studying mode again. However, if you feel motivated when you get home, take advantage of this and get things done straight away. This way, you can finish earlier for the evening which is a great opportunity to give yourself some self-care, e.g. taking a bubble bath, watching a film or just getting an early night.
2. Have a snack that will boost your energy- I like to have a green tea and an apple before I want to start studying again, both seem to boost my energy and this is a good healthy snack to keep me going until tea (okay.. sometimes I may reach for something else when I am sat at my desk for a while!). Other options would be different herbal teas, maybe coffee if you are a coffee fan, other fruits, dark chocolate, or different snacks such as Deliciously Ella 'energy balls'. 3. Have a clear desk, have a window open, and try and have natural lighting around where you are working. If that's not possible, I'd suggest a bright lamp to ensure you don't begin to feel tired if you are sat in a dark space. Your environment is so important to keep you motivated to study, I think taking 10 minutes to clear your desk space and air out the room is definitely worth it to increase your productivity levels! 4. Make a list of everything you aim to do in that evening- seeing the tasks right in front of you can motivate you to get things done and help you stay on track as you can cross things off as you make progress. Also, prioritise tasks on your list (e.g. by writing numbers next to certain tasks or highlight the most important tasks in a different colour). After school, I often like to complete all the easier tasks first to get back into the mood to study, and to decrease the number of tasks remaining! 5. Have a set time when you will stop studying- it's good to be able to have enough time to relax and unwind in the evening to ensure you get a good nights sleep. Having a set time to finish also motivates me to get everything done in a shorter amount of time, meaning that I work more productively. Working productively after school is important so you can get everything done, but also so you have enough time for yourself in the evenings to prevent becoming burnt out. I hope these tips help some of you who are finding it tricky to sit down at your desk after a long day at school, I was in this position many times after sixth form and these are the things that helped me the most x The exam paper in this photo is made by Primrose Kitten- she creates great resources for GCSE and A-Level sciences and maths!
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