Taking breaks when studying is inevitable. It is also an important part of having a healthy working schedule. But, when these 15-minute rest periods turn into 5 episodes on Netflix, our productivity is at risk.
Below we have seven suggestions of how to make the most of your time when you need a break or simply do not feel like working. We call it productive procrastination!
Take a moment of learning. Swap out watching series for a documentary, a podcast or a Ted Talk. We live in a world of instantaneous access- make use of it. You can also take this moment to get on top of your admin.
Try this: watch something educational, update your CV or create a LinkedIn profile.
Do an activity that brings you a little slice of joy. This could be a hobby like journaling, photography, writing, art, music, or planning your business model etc. This is meant to be something that reduces your stress and makes you happy.
Some inspiration: use other ideas or creations as a springboard or muse.
Being active is not for everyone. For those that enjoy fitness: try a full workout. For those that don’t: go for a short walk or try beginner’s yoga. Another option is to simply sit outside.
Our suggestion: download one of the many free fitness apps (there are ones from major sport brands) or find a YouTube instructor.
You have probably heard the term “self-care”. But this is not only about glamourizing face masks and aesthetic wellness. It’s about taking a mental health moment.
Mediation is a great way to centre yourself: Click here to access The New York Time's Guide on how to meditate.
Make yourself aware of what is happening in the world. Check various different news channels, sign a petition, donate, volunteer etc. Or connect with old friends or a grandparent (I give you permission to use your phone). According to a Harvard study, the leading cause of happiness is meaningful relationships.
Watch the full Ted Talk here.
A Tidy Room is a Tidy Mind. Organization is key. Clean up your study space. A tidy and cleanly environment is not only linked to heightened productivity but also with improved overall health.
Here Psychology Today explains the power of cleanliness.
Stop doodling on your notes. Stop staring at the wall. Schedule your study hours or goals (these can range from the rest of the day to the rest of the year). Work backwards from your deadline. Can you afford to be procrastinating?
A recommendation: Book a 123tutors lesson for a time on your newly created schedule.
By effectively using your time (even when you don’t feel like working) you can be highly productive. So if you are going to procrastinate you might as well do it in a constructive way. We look forward to you booking those new lessons with us!
Let’s play a game of true or false as we try debunk commonly held misconceptions about a few university degrees and subjects. This is especially relevant to those looking to enter tertiary education sometime in the future. The answers are in the pictures...
Psychology largely focuses on mental health and mental illness. This can range from eating disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, ADHD and more. It is also separate from psychiatry (which requires a medical degree). So if you are invested in the wellbeing and mental health of people, consider taking this subject, getting into honours and later qualifying as a psychologist. .
You may eventually do this later in your career as an advocate or an attorney with the right of appearance. But, the majority of the legal field consists of paperwork and going over legal documents in fine detail. Those that are great at debating- don’t despair. You will eventually get to show this skill off, but in a specified setting.
You can learn all the fundamentals of coding in Computer Science without any prior experience in programming. All these core concepts will be covered in 1st year. If this is something that you are interested in, it still remains a viable option, even without prior experience.
Journalism degrees are sparse in South Africa. As an alternative, consider joining your university’s newspaper, if a degree is not an option. This way you can get a wealth of experience, immerse yourself in your university’s affairs and connect with new people. This can also all be done whilst studding a vastly different degree.
Engineers frequently work in offices and solve complex problems (ones that usually don’t have existing solutions). As a result, this degree will often rely on mathematics and equations. Additionally, there are various types of engineering, ranging from chemical to electrical, amongst others. This is also a field that has a distinct lack of women. We encourage more to sign up.
Whatever your passion or field of interest, 123tutors will be there to facilitate your academic growth. Book a lesson now to reach your full potential and hopefully achieve the marks to get into your university or degree of choice.
Keep a lookout for a blog post in the future about more decoded degree and career myths.
Entering university is the next step in education for many people and sometimes it can be a difficult path. Often it is restricted by finances (somewhere a textbook is smirking), insufficient marks (try a tutor) and conflict with parents (ouch). Swapping degrees and choosing the correct one is usually where this tension arises. 123tutors would like to ease this transition and equip you with some information and ideas to structure your career options and ultimate choice. Answering the questions below should be a springboard to highlight your areas of interest.
1, 1, 2, 3, ? ? For those that recognise it, yes it is the Fibonacci sequence (a famous number pattern). So each number is a sum of the previous two. It looks like this: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55… For those that are allergic to maths, try the next question and see if you enjoy it more. But for those that found this interesting click here to watch a great Ted Talk titled "the magic of Fibonacci numbers”. Career ideas: engineering, business, actuarial science, accountant, investment manager
“All the world ‘s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.”“There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.” “I came to explore the wreck. The words are purposes. The words are maps.” Quote one is from Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It. Quote two is from Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart. Quote three is from Adrienne Rich’s poem, Diving into the Wreck.Literature and language may be you’re calling. Like if you easily spotted that ‘you’re’ was supposed to be ‘your’ in the previous sentence. If not read on: Career ideas: journalist, writer (novels, poetry, scripts, screenplay), copy editor, columnist, advertising
For those that adore art, this would have been easy to identify that picture 1 is Salvador Dalí's Surrealist painting: The Persistence of Memory. Picture 2 is Andy Warhol's Pop Art painting: Campbell's Soup Cans. Creative inclined futures are a viable option. You just need to be rigorous with your research and planning of career avenues. Career ideas: artist, museum curator, gallery owner, art teacher, private collector, art therapist, illustrator
You may have been excited to identify the mitosis captured in the above image. So if microscopes seem fascinating, blood does not terrify you and improving people's health feels vital, look at our ideas below.
Career ideas: doctor, veterinarian, botanist, phsyio, microbiologist, geneticist The questions above may not have contained content that interested you as there are an abundance of fields of interest. The career ideas are also only suggestions (only you can identify what excites you). This may be difficult for parents with rigid ideas about their child’s future. Our advice: keep an open mind.
We live in a multidimensional society where skills can easily be transferred or adapted. But, we recommend that you book a lesson with one of our tutors before you swap your current field of study completely.
And if you do swap- we will be here to aid the transition....
