The Secrets of Work
Productivity (as a student)
as discovered by me...
Last Modified: October 19/2005
Mind you this is my own findings as a post-secondary student... may or may not apply to you, nor may it work for you. But if it does, good for you -- you've learned something today.
1. When you
know you have a long night ahead of you, first step is to switch from contact
lens to glasses.
Why? I personally think wearing
contact lenses for an extended period of time will eventually make your eyes
fatigued because the lens is right on your eye and you don't get as much oxygen
to your eyes. Fatigued eyes lead to the desire to close them, closing of
the eyes when you don't want to do work makes you want to sleep or puts you to
sleep. And eventually falling asleep when you can't afford to will be a
kicker when you eventually wake up. So switching to glasses will give your
eyes more oxygen, which leads to better odds at fighting against eye fatigue.
2. If you sit in front of the computer a lot when doing homework, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of fluids.
Why? Not only does taking the needed breaks keep us from getting antsy, your eyes can use the change of "scenery", aside from pixels. Also, I heard from the radio just this past summer around August that sitting in front of the computer for extended period of time will make the person tired and dehydrated. Interesting... it's like saying monitors have the power to suck out your energy... don't know the science behind it, but I think it's true. I have noticed I get thirsty a lot when I do work in front of my computer. So yeah, drink up and look at something other than pixels. I don't recommend looking at your bed though.
3. Power naps are good -- as long as you can be disciplined to get up
Why? 20-30 minute power naps can be useful in increasing productivity for the long nights when you need to burn the midnight oil. Napping for 20-30 minutes isn't enough to get you into the "deep sleep" stage, so you're not groggy when you get up, but your body gets from rest before the upcoming abuse from homework.
4. Got the time? Find your productivity hours!
Why? Everyone has "pockets of time" in which they can be more productive than other hours. For example, I myself am a night worker -- I prefer to work at night. So when I have a long night ahead of me for school work, I find I am more productive at these time intervals: 7pm - 9:30pm, 11:30pm - 1:30am, 3am - 4am, 5:30am - 6:30am. Of course everyone is different, so you will may find times when you are most productive that's no where near what I have. Try to take the time to find it. Then come those long days, if you can pick your time wisely, you'll create a good balance between being efficient and doing absolutely nothing when you take breaks.
5. Snacks are actually bad... other than it gets you an extra pound or more!
Why? The number one reason we students gain those pounds has a more scientific reason for being bad! Biology 101: When you eat, food is digested by your digestive organs. What keeps these organs running? Your heart which pumps blood, which carry red blood cells containing oxygen for the body, because the body needs oxygen to function. A body has a certain amount of blood, and when your digestive system is working away, they get priority in the amount of blood and oxygen they get to operate over the rest of the body. Limited resources that need to shared. So when you think about it, when you're working and need to think, the heart would be pumping all the blood and oxygen to the brain. But if you're snacking, you're taking away oxygen that could've been for you brain, that now going to your digestive system to digest the snacks you're downing. (Mind you, if you are hungry at 2am in the morning, you can eat a small meal or something if you intend to stay up all night... only cause you're usually sleeping, which is why breakfast is said to be the more important meal of the day) So give your brain more power to work... snack less. You'll be happier later when you use the scale.