My big topic question: How can we improve our study habits?
I was inspired to research this question from watching many study vlogs since I was young. For example, I love learning new ways to study effectively from TED Talk, Harvard student Helaine Zhao, and Forbes-recognized entrepreneur Elise Pham. Furthermore, my grandparents told me that studying more instead of sleeping is productive. For example, they were taught that sleeping more than 4 hours a day instead of studying meant that they would not get accepted into their dream university. However, Mr Chang taught me that sleeping at least eight hours daily can make us study more effectively. I hope to learn more about how sleep contributes to our healthy study habits. In addition, I would like to research whether naps are as helpful as sleeping when studying. I also study more efficiently in the library, so I would like to find out how comparing ourselves with others affects our study lifestyle.
Current topic question:
What are the time management techniques to increase our productivity?
My friends and I are feeling burnt out with the final months of high school. For example, they told me that they are feeling sleep-deprived from studying even after a restful spring break. I hope to encourage them to study as if we are preparing for a marathon. I hope to go into med school, where I will need to study a lot, so I hope to find efficient techniques that will make my med school days more joyful and pleasant. For example, I want to research whether the Pomodoro technique is efficient for all tasks. I also want to figure out if studying in the morning or at night is better because I find I work better at night. This will help me answer my topic question because time management techniques can help us study more material.
Firstly, one of the most well-known techniques is to create a calendar (1) . A calendar can help us to easily visualize what tasks need to be done, and it shows us which homework we need to prioritize (1). For example, I love using a physical paper calendar, so I can easily cross off my finished tasks (1). Furthermore, it is recommended that we set reminders (1). I think this would be very beneficial because I lose track of time often, even if I know I have a lot of homework to get done (2). For example, we can set a timer, so we do not get too distracted (2).
Moreover, another beneficial time management technique is the Pomodoro Technique from author and entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo (3). This is when we work for 25 minutes without any distractions and take a short 5-minute break to refresh our minds (4). The people who would benefit from this technique are students who are easily distracted or feel easily burnt out from school (4). Another technique is not to follow Parkinson’s Law and set a deadline for ourselves instead of relying on the fact that we will get the task done soon (4). For example, Parkinson’s law states that work expands to fill available time (5). This will make us more motivated to complete many tasks instead of procrastinating (5).
Another technique is to purposely make time to rest (6). Resting is essential for the long-term success of studying and reducing stress (6). Research from Cornell University shows how taking 5-60mins breaks can increase our ability to focus (6). However, social media is not a good purposeful break because it is too stimulating, which can make it more difficult to resume back to studying (7). Some recommended break times include spending time in nature, taking a shower, organizing the study space, or cooking a healthy study snack (7). Not taking study breaks will lead to decreased focus, increased anxiety and depression levels, and reduced retention of information (7). It is important not to tire ourselves too early because studying is a lifelong journey (7). We need to make sure we have energy to keep on enjoying the process of studying (7)
I am planning on researching how sleep can improve our productivity for the next blog post.
My productivity drastically decreases when I do not get at least 7 hours of sleep. This makes it hard to push through a week with many exams back-to-back because I need to keep on studying despite being tired. I hope to research if quick 1-hour power naps are beneficial for studying or if it just make us groggier? I am also planning to go to Queen’s University, where I will be living alone, so I need to start advocating for my sleep while studying. I also love sleeping and studying, so I hope I can easily find a good balance between becoming a medical student. This will help me to answer my topic question because sleep impacts our motivation, which will impact how much information we retain after studying.
ALL SOURCES ARE PEER-REVIEWED:
1)15 Time Management Strategies | SFU Library. https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/learning/time-management/fifteen-time-management-strategies. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025
2)Time Management: 10 Strategies for Better Time Management. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1042&title=time-management-10-strategies-for-better-time-management. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
3)Mastering Your Schedule: Effective Time Management Strategies for Success | Penn LPS Online. 9 May 2024, https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/features/mastering-your-schedule-effective-time-management-strategies-success.
4)lparsons. “8 Time Management Tips for Students.” Harvard Summer School, 14 Oct. 2022, https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/8-time-management-tips-for-students/.
5)Top Time Management Tips for Students | Undergraduate Programs | University of Waterloo. https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/missing-manual/high-school/top-time-management-tips-students. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
6)Study Breaks & Stress-Busters | Cornell Health. https://health.cornell.edu/about/news/study-breaks-stress-busters#:~:text=Ideas%20for%20purposeful%2C%20energizing%20study%20breaks%3A&text=Take%20a%20walk,deep%20breathing%20(see%20instructions%20above). Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
7)Academic Burnout: How to Prevent It and What to Do | UoPeople. 13 Nov. 2019, https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-is-academic-burnout/.
Thank you,
Sarah Kim
