Week 12

Nearing the end of TME. ;(

This week's lecture was a bit of a recap and look back over the semester. We talked about the advantages of technology and all the wonderful things it brings, but also about the dangers and stresses. It is important to have time allocated for work and to "be online and available", and to have time when you turn it off and return to and connect your personal life. I have found it hard keeping a balance over the last few weeks with uni, work and life all being in the same space. I feel like I should be studying all the time because I'm at home and near my desk. I am also most productive during daylight hours (you are really lucky to get anything out of me past 7 or 8pm), so this is when I study, but that also takes away from time I can spend outside. This is only getting harder with assignments and exams piling up, but I am still doing ok for now. (I actually find doing tasks and ticking them off very rewarding and satisfying, not stressful usually, so if I am doing more study than I usual would, it is still making me feel good.)

We also touched on how notifications diminish productivity. The brain can do two things at once (like driving and listening to music), but once a third thing is introduced accuracy on all the tasks decreases. Notifications are designed to grab your attention and make you want to look at whatever it is its saying. I am always flooded with emails and texts. I am also part of many Facebook messenger groups which can spam my notifications like no other. I do not want to turn these notifications off, because particularly with the group chats, its been really valuable to stay connected with my peers. But I have set a do not disturb on my laptop and iPad from 8am-6pm, which should hugely help me when I'm trying to focus. I used to have my do not disturb from 8:20-3:10, so it would not distract me during school, but adjusting it to suit my uni timetable more will be really good. It's crazy how much more I focus when I don't have a notification screaming at me every three seconds.

James then talked about organisation methods which was music to my ears. I love organisation, project planning and figuring out the steps to take to reach goal. During isolation I have been writing things down on physical note books and calendars. I love the physicality of this and being able to always see my todo list on my desk. This might not work so well when I actually have to leave my house, and I forget my todo list at home. James uses this app called Todoist which looks wonderful. I have tried several todo apps before, but I have never liked them because they don't connect to my Apple calendar, Todoist seems like it does. Although, even if it doesn't I have basically stopped using my Apple calendar during isolation (in favour for writing everything down) so now would be a great time to switch over programs.

James also still recommends incorporating meditation into your routine. I am still not convinced on this for me. I have tried meditation so many times over the years and I have never really loved the results. For me, nothing gets me more focused and feeling than intense half hour workout. That really clears my brain. So I think I am going to keep exercise as part of my routine instead of meditation, but I will probably try meditation again soon.