USE YOUR PHONE TO GET ORGANIZED

The Wrong Way to Use Your Phone When Studying:
When it is time to sit down and do your homework, your phone is not your friend. If your phone is sitting beside you while you study, it will be a constant distraction. Whether it is the temptation to play just one more level of Zombie Candy Birds or to reply to the text that your friend just sent, acknowledge that you are human, that you are weak and that you will not be able to resist. Every time you give into that temptation, you get distracted from your homework, and it takes you longer to get things done and makes you more likely to forget what you are trying to learn.

Think that you are awesome at multitasking, so your phone is not a distraction? THINK AGAIN! Our brains are incapable of multitasking. We can only focus on one task at a time. When we perform several tasks at once, we perform all of them more poorly than if we were to focus on one at a time. Studies show that those who study while surrounded by distractions, like phones or loud music, have difficulty remembering what they learned the next day.

Limit distractions by:
  • Keeping your phone and other devices in another room when you are studying.
  • Putting your devices on focus, do not disturb or airplane mode to reduce notifications and other temptations
  • Trying one or more strategies from this video.

The Right Way to Use Your Phone When Studying:
  1. Use it as a day planner: Download an app to help you keep track of assignments and daily tasks.
  2. Use it to manage your schedule: A calendar app can help you track due dates, tests, appointments, and more. Set reminders so you don’t forget anything important.
  3. Use it to check in with your teachers: Whether your teacher uses Teams or another app, check for updates daily. You can also use your phone to email or message your teacher if you have questions.
  4. Use it to set an alarm: If reminders aren’t enough, set an alarm or timer to start important tasks. You can also set daily alarms for routines like starting homework or packing your bag.
  5. Use it to get in the right frame of mind for studying: Many apps offer guided meditations to help you calm your mind, focus better, and improve your grades.
  6. Use it to make to-do lists: Task list apps help you remember what needs to be done. You can also create routine checklists, like what to pack for school.
  7. Use it to stay focused: Try an interval timer to stay on task and take regular breaks. The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work, 5-minute break) is a great way to stay productive without burning out.

There's An App For That!

OneNote: From to do lists, to course notes, to research and reading assignments, you can keep it all in one place with OneNote.

myHomework: This app is like an agenda for your phone

Trello: This app and website can help you make to do lists that can incorporate colour coding, due dates and more.

Evernote: Use it like an agenda. Also handy to gather information for projects and assignments.

GoodNotes: This digital notebook software works great on a tablet. 

Remember the Milk: It can be linked to your Google Calendar, Evernote, Outlook account and more. Use it to make to do lists and schedule reminders.

Interval Minder: If your mind tends to wander when you study, use this app to remind you to refocus.

Interval Timer: While most people use this app for the gym, you can use it to set up timers for study periods and study breaks.

Smiling Mind: A great app to help you get started with mindfulness.