Module 7: Maintaining Motivation

One thing that I used to struggle with the most when studying or trying to complete homework was online distractions. It is relatively easy to put your phone in your backpack (out of sight, out of mind), but it is very hard to cut out distractions on your computer. If you are anything like me, you are probably on every social media site and have your notifications and iMessage on your laptop. This can be extremely distracting when trying to complete homework or do anything online. Last semester I turned off all of my notifications on my computer and removed iMessage and it has turned me into a different kind of student. I am no longer distracted by iMessage or anything when on my computer in class or studying elsewhere.

Though I have dealt with my problem regarding online distractions already, a new tool that I have taken away from this course is the white noise app. It has already in the past few days helped me focus more when completing assignments. I do not do well with listening to regular music while studying, so this app has been great tool for me since it cuts out noise like music does, but is not as distracting.

Advice that I would give to students is to never put Facebook, Instagram, or etc. notifications on your laptop and to not connect your iMessage or any other instant message software. It can be so distracting when you are trying to study or get work done on your laptop and notifications keep popping up. They are distracting and a waste of your time to answer to while trying to focus. I would also advise students to find a noise blocker that works best for them. Whether it be music or the sound of crashing waves, it is important to be able to block everything out around you to focus on your work.

 

White Noise