Focus Fridays: Finding Balance and Productivity during the Weekend
Welcome to the first edition of Focus Fridays. Every Friday, I'll share practical ways for IUSB students to stay balanced, productive, and motivated through the semester. You can think of Focus Fridays as the "end of the week reset": reflections on the week and previous assignments, tips, and stories that help refocus before the next week starts quick.
Why "Focus Fridays"?
If you're like me, by Thursday evening your brain and schedule could be packed with things to do from assignments, readings, and the other parts of your life as well. I wanted a reason to slow down and think about what keeps us grounded in the work as it keeps coming at us. Focus Fridays comes from trying to find the balance of studying well, resting well, and actually enjoying college and not seeing it as constant work. Whether you are a freshman still figuring out your schedule or where your classes are or if you are a senior juggling majors and jobs, Focus Fridays will come with tips and stories of when others were in high stress situations regarding school.
What I was doing Without Focus Fridays
Last semester, during finals week, I felt as if I was completely stuck. I've had assignments piling on each other. I would spend a lot of my time in the library and was there until close often, going home while still focusing on work, then going right back into the library when they opened in the morning. I knew that being as behind as I was, I felt like even though I was doing a bunch of work I was not getting through my tasks.
During a day I wasn't scheduled to go to classes or work, I ended up walking on campus anyways, I walked through each building and around most of the trees outside. Taking it slowly, I felt clearer in my mind than I had in a few weeks. That small break was worth it and I learned that productivity is not about the constant working and studying but it also is about giving your brain a break in order to realign your thoughts.
Three Tips for Finding Focus
1. Take study walks
A quick walk around campus can clear your head and boost motivation. Try walking across the bridge or watching some of the squirrels on campus for a short time before getting into your next assignment.
2. The 50/10 rule
Study for 50 minutes, then step away for 10. Set a timer, grab a snack, chat with somebody and once the timer goes off study some more for a balance.
3. Reclaim your phone
Turn off notifications during classes, during study time there can be some helpful apps that could promote studying like Forest, or Flora. Forest grows a digital tree when you focus on work more, it can be a fun way to track productivity.
Campus and Connection
Focusing isn't just an individual skill, it's part of campus culture. IUSB is full of resources that help students manage time and stress. The Student Counseling Center offers free mental health services, and the Career Services Office provides workshops on staying organized and career ready.
These programs help me keep in mind that balance is a community effort. Sometimes focusing means reaching out for help instead of trying on your own.
Current Conversations: The Preface
Every week, my friends and I will wait to see if there is a new issue of The Preface around campus. It does get kind of exciting in a way and it connects us to the campus and each other. I'm mostly excited about doing the crosswords and sudoku puzzles because I feel like they're easy and feels rewarding. The reason I bring this up is because The Preface, whether it be the articles or the puzzles, it is a perfect escape for a student that could be over doing it without realizing it. They can pick up an issue and do a few brain games, learn about events that had happened or will be happening around campus. Once the weekly work is done, students can discuss or engage with said events mentioned in The Preface.
One challenge almost every student faces is the cost of textbooks. Even if you buy used or rent, prices can still add up quick. However, The Scholarship System's article on the Best Places to Find Affordable College Textbooks lists trusted sites and strategies for finding cheap and even free digital versions of required books. The post also explains how to compare prices before committing, which can save students hundreds of dollars a year. Using this advice with IUSB's Titan Bookstore rental options can make a difference for anyone trying to save money.
What You Can Expect Next.
Focus Fridays will also spotlight different posts on students and how they stay motivated on campus.
- Interviews with classmates about their study habits
- Hidden quiet spaces for weekend work
- Playlists for studying and relaxing
- Tools and routines for mental clarity
If you have a good focus tip and would like to voice what you would like to see next, please message or leave a comment, I'd love to include your ideas in upcoming posts.
I love Focus Fridays' idea of a new weekly series of IUSB students staying balanced. My favorite tips are study walks, 50/10 study use, and Reclaim your phone. I did not know the extensive connections on campus, such as IUSB's wellness center, counseling center, and the office, so that was amazing to learn more about them. I would love to learn more about the Hidden Quiet Spaces for Studying. Good work on the blog so far!
ReplyDeleteI like how your Focus Fridays is all about the power of your study space to foster balance and productivity as you move into the weekend. By analyzing your environment, you can create a dedicated area that minimizes distractions and maximizes focus and ensuring that your study sessions are more effective. Embrace the weekend as a time to recharge, allowing for reflection and intentional breaks that enhance your overall productivity. So, set the tone this Friday by optimizing your study space, and enjoy the fruits of your labor throughout the weekend.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this blog post! I really relate to the whole, having so much that doing any still feels like nothing, thing. It is super important for students to take breaks and maximize their study ability during exam time. The tips I personally feel that will be useful is the 50/10 study method! Lastly, having not only the tips but also things to help connect students together, which also benefits their overall mental health!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of Focus Fridays. I really agree with the content within your post and could use an extra dose of productivity, especially on fridays. I especially liked the section where you talked about textbooks and provided a link to access them for cheap. I was unaware of that service and will be using it in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post and I love the concept of Focus Fridays! One side comment I will say is it is a little hard to read some of the text surrounding the article (such as the text being white under "My blog list"), but that is a simple fix! Relating back to the content of the article, I appreciated the tips you shared. I currently feel like I am constantly doing work but never getting anything truly accomplished, so I will have to take some of the tips into consideration. Especially the walk around campus, sometimes I feel we are all in a rush to get to the next place and do the next thing, but walking simply to clear your mind seems like a great way to destress and take a mini break. Although doing that on a Friday wouldn't necessarily work in my schedule, the tips you mentioned can be done ANY day that fits my schedule and I appreciate that. I look forward to reading more from you!
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