Things that ruin your study flow

Ignite and take flight.

We all try to go with the flow, but what does this really mean? The proverbial study flow entails many competing interests. You want to stay productive while limiting distractions and build habits to last through school and beyond.

Distractions are the bane of student life. They are unexpected, they can strike at any time and they are the true enemy. So, how do you fight these distractions? By being organized, building good habits and breaking bad ones.

To avoid the sabotaging of study sessions, we’ll look at ways to stay on top of our game and avoid study flow killers.

Phone notifications

An image of a person with blond hair holding up a cell phone and reading a text. Below reads in yellow text, "My phone is blowing up!" — *Via GIPHY*

How many times have you been in the middle of a study session and gotten a notification on your phone? You probably feel compelled to put everything down and take a look, right? How often is it of real importance, however?

Our phones hold so much sway over our lives, but in order to maintain discipline, we must limit our screen time. Between social media, news and everything in between, it’s tough to look away. Feeding the impulse to double and triple your screen time is detrimental to your ability to focus.

The 20-20-20 rule

An image of a man speaking to a person facing them, with the text below in yellow which reads "Natural 20, baby." — *Via GIPHY*

Have you heard of the 20-20-20 rule? This tool can be a huge aid in fighting the urge live your life vicariously through a blue screen. In order to get a handle on this very important rule, you need to “reboot.”

Staring at a screen all day can severely impact your vision. Combat eye strain with this rule, which really does work wonders. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Set a reminder if necessary.

This quick reset helps your eye muscles relax and reduces fatigue. You can also use blue eye filters or wear glasses with blue light protection, especially if you use screens late in the evening.

Cluttered study spaces

An image of a man, grabbing a red stapler reading something in front of him which is out of view. — *Via GIPHY*

Keeping a tidy and organized workplace or study space is paramount to keeping a tidy and organized mind. Do you have items in your place that you simply don’t need or use anymore? Get rid of them by either throwing them out or donating them to someone who could use them.

Organize based on need! Keep the items around you which are essential to your productivity. Also, prioritize items by how often you actually use them. Using the space allotted to you, regardless of size, is being efficient.

Make sure you’re comfortable and invest in a solid setup. Being comfortable means being organized. If you can organize your space, you can organize your life.

Using a calendar

A woman is looking at a calendar from October 1965. — *Via GIPHY*

This might seem old school, but scheduling what you want to do will keep you focused and on task. A calendar (digital or paper) is a way to reduce stress, increase productivity and create a checklist of goals that we wish to pursue as students.

They don’t have to necessarily relate to school or work. They can be flexible and adaptable pursuant to your needs.

The greatest foe we have as students is how to manage our time. How to allocate each minute to each task and what tasks take priority. Colour coding is a great way to identify goals related to school and personal life. Use one colour for each category and create a system that works for you.

Go with the flow

A kid floating on a pool and chilling. — *Via GIPHY*

Flow killers aren’t just the enemy, they are a hindrance to our success as students. They can come as distractions and bad habits, and their goal is to sabotage productive study sessions.

Now that you know this, use the tips outlined to fight the good fight! Keep your head down and your spirit up. Organize, prioritize and socialize! Even just taking time to talk to friends can be a huge boost for your motivation to keep pushing forward.

My personal favourite tool is the 20-20-20 rule! It’s worked for me, and if you take anything away from these tips and tricks, it means that this has been productive! Now you know what ruins your study flow.

Feature image courtesy of Antonio Gabola via Unsplash.

Look for other ways to stay organized? Check out how to create the perfect flow in a small living space!