Hey there! Welcome back to another article of DBverse (aka Diamond Blog Universe!). I hope you had an amazing weekend! I sure did! In yesterday’s post, I mentioned days off. I’d like to know what you consider a day off, and how you spend it! So, share your thoughts with me in the comment section below!

Today’s post is for students, as well as for individuals who work or simply want to maximize their focusing skills. More often than not, you might find yourself scrolling mindlessly on your phone, binge-watching your favourite series instead of studying, watching YouTube videos. Even though there’s nothing wrong with any of these, mistaking work time with leisure time can have very bad results, not only to your health but also your grades!

If you’re reading this on your phone, it’s time to finish this article and then put your phone away and have some rest. Tiredness and repetition can certainly contribute to us doing something else than what we initially planned to. I completely understand that point of view from myself. That’s why there’s something I always follow: If you’re too tired that you cannot focus for 5 minutes to it, have some rest, and try again later.

While it might seem like you’ve tried everything but nothing works, or that there’s nothing you can try for you to get out of your current situation, as always, I’ve got your back. Follow along while I give you the simplest solutions to what seem the most complex problems.

• Pomodoro technique 🍅
  I’m sure you’ve heard this one somewhere. It’s been trending lately. While it works for some people, others seem to not really benefit from it. But, are you with me? I’ve got a trick you can apply to this, so that it is tailored exclusively to you.
  
  All of us have tasks. Some take hours, other minutes, other days. Break your task into mini chunks. That can be up to 5 segments. If that is not possible and you need to do it in one go, go for it. Here’s how you can get your tasks done quickly and the only way you can have quality in your work, always. During your focus/work/study time, set a timer customized to the very task you’re doing. That can be from 25 minutes to 2 hours. [important: DO NOT go over the 2 hour limit WITHOUT a break] Depending on the time you work, have a corresponding break. That can be:
  – 25 mins work ➡ 5 mins break
  – 45 mins work ➡ 7 mins break
  – 50 mins work ➡ 10 mins break
  – 65 mins work ➡ 15 mins break
  – 75 mins work ➡ 20 mins break
  – 90 mins work ➡ 30 mins break
  – 120 mins work ➡ 1 hour break
  Keep in mind that by break I don’t mean you can have your scrolling time 📱. Your break can be used as a quick walk around the block, a quick stretch 🤸‍♂️, de-cluttering your space and preparing for your next focus session, cooking, taking your dog out for a walk (if you have a pet) or even journaling 🗒.
  
  Especially with small breaks such as the 5 or 10 minute ones, it is extremely easy to just grab your phone, open instagram or tiktok and start scrolling. If that’s your way of relaxing then I cannot do anything. But what usually happens is, by the end of the 10 minute break, you will be watching an interesting or funny video which is not over yet. And guess what. You’ll say, just one more minute. Next thing you know, it’s 3am and you’ve been scrolling on your phone for 4 hours.
  
  Result? No work done, exhaustion, very little focus time. And when you’ll get back to the task it will be as if you just started, since you won’t remember a thing. That’s why, no phone. Leave it on the side, somewhere you cannot see. Set it on silent mode and allow ONLY emergency notifications (Focus modes on iPhones work wonders).
  
  Of course texting your favourite people/friends is okay. But you need to limit yourself to just that. Either ask them to use another app which does not have the ability to distract you or promise yourself you’re closing instagram/tiktok right after you reply to your messages.
  
  Comment below 👇 if you want a more detailed version of this. Become a subscriber and I can help you design a schedule tailored to your needs and preferences!
  
• Exercise ⛹
  This one is probably either too overrated or too underrated. Exercise can take your mind off your current worries. For me, it acts like a game changer. And stay with me here, it doesn’t need to be exhausting or annoying. Exercise needs to be something you enjoy. Whether that is dancing your heart out, going for a run or walk🚶, completing that funny YouTube workout you’ve been thinking about. Whatever it is, it works wonders. You don’t need hours on end for it. All you need, is a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes per day of your favourite type of exercise.
  
• Task mixer – Interleaving
  I believe that this one is not well known yet. Interleaving works like spaced repetition, and it basically tricks your mind into continuously shifting its focus from a topic to another. We’re not here to make our lives complicated though, which is why it is not widely used. All you need to do is have 2 tasks. [important: if you’re now hearing about interleaving, start with 2 tasks only. When you get the grasp of it, go on and adjust]. Set a focus time that’s going to be longer than 45 minutes, so that you have enough time to study/work on both tasks. “Cut” the focus session in 2 even parts. For example: if you’re working for 50 minutes, you’ll have 2 parts of 25 minutes each. In part A, you’re going to study/work only on task 1. In part B, you’re going to focus on task 2. That way, you’ll maximize your focus ⚡.
  
  It is very difficult to work in one task for a long period of time, which usually is more than 30 minutes. That’s why interleaving works decently. However, I understand that some people are unable to use it, since some tasks are long and have to be done in one go.
  
  Do you want more details on interleaving? Subscribe to my blog and gain access to more study tips, as well as your very own schedule made by me 😊!
  
  In that case:
  
• Take regular breaks – hydrating yourself, eating well 🍲, sleeping well ☾ and having a good time with those around you is a must for a good quality of life as well as focus ☀.
• Enjoy whatever you’re doing – if studying/working feels like a chore, then your brain won’t be willing to do it, which is completely understandable. That’s why, even if it is not possible, try to find those little things that make your work/studying different. A little bit of positive thinking never hurt anyone ✨!
• Believe in yourself and make it happen! You’ve got this!! ❤

Congrats! You’ve reached the end of another article! I’m so proud of you! You’re one step closer to becoming the best version of yourself. If you want more, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, and I’ll let you know even more tips and give you ideas which will make you unrecognizable! Comment down below 👇 what you would like to see more on my blog and tell me your thoughts on today’s article! I’ll see you next week!

With love ❤, Evelyn