Want to be a more effective student this year? Here’s simple ways to fine-tune your focus
Welcome back from the intra-trimester break! While we hope you had a good rest, it’s that time of the trimester when lots of assignments are due, and so you might be feeling some pressure if you have multiple deadlines looming.
While it may be tempting to juggle different assignments simultaneously, it’s not a good strategy for being productive and will likely amp up your stress levels. Why? Research shows that multitasking makes you less efficient and can even make you perform worse on various tasks. It’s not a recipe for achieving good marks!
Train yourself to study more effectively in 2025
- Start early so you can focus on one thing at a time. Take care of one task during one particular block of time by creating a daily or weekly study plan. While you’ll need to invest a little more time in the planning stages, getting started straight away and tracking your tasks methodically will reduce your stress levels as you chip away at smaller tasks over time.
- Keep your study space quiet and remove distractions. Head to the library or book a study space on campus if you can’t find quiet at home.
- Ditch the marathon study sessions! Your attention is only naturally sharp for a limited time, so stick to regular, short blocks of study and take frequent breaks to stretch, rest your eyes and maybe even make a snack. The Pomodoro technique is a popular tool among students to managing smaller blocks of study – use our Pomodoro timer on the DeakinWELLBEING app.
Prioritise self care during assignment time
- Pay attention to your body. If your stress levels are becoming too high, your body will warn you with symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, poor sleep or irritability. We all experience stress very subjectively, so it can be useful to jot down situations or factors that tend to affect you so you’re fine-tuning your self awareness.
- Dedicate some time purely for relaxation. This will help your body and nervous system to settle when you feel your stress levels increasing. Reward yourself for all your progress so far with your favourite meal, a catch-up with friends or a night of Netflix on the couch – just remember to pick up where you left off afterwards so you’re not falling into the procrastination trap!
- Don’t underestimate the significance of routine. Our bodies respond well to regular times for meals and sleeping habits. Make sure you’re allowing yourself sufficient time for exercise and rest, plus try to make an effort to eat nutritious meals in between any indulgent study snacks! See Nourished @ Deakin for some nutrition inspiration to fuel your studies.
Please don’t struggle in silence – reach out for help
If you having a hard time coping and need support, please know you are never alone – your wellbeing matters and we are here to help.
- Make a Zoom appointment with a Deakin Language and Learning Advisor (LLA) to discuss your approach to work and learn how to complete your assignments on time.
- Check out the DeakinWELLBEING app which includes interactive tools, videos and podcasts that can enhance relaxation, focus, energy, mood and productivity.
- If you’re in Australia, access Deakin’s Counselling and Psychological Support service for a confidential chat with one of our student mental health experts, or see how you can book an appointment with a counsellor if you’re located at GIFT City. If you are permanently located overseas, please contact your local health practitioner for further advice and support. Alternatively, check out our Ask Counselling online blog for advice.