Creative drift. Procrastination. Daydreaming. Idling. Dilly-dallying. Partying. Social gatherings. The list goes on and on. But one thing is certain, if you are a student studying full time for a career in animation, it is very easy to get distracted and give into the temptation to slack or let your mind wander toward areas of non-academia.
Here are some tips on how to regain your focus and sharpen your scholarly skills when temptations of distraction sets in or your mind starts to drift:
In-Sight, In-Mind. Post your study schedule for the day on the wall in front of you. Calendar reminders via email or your app of choice is nice, but your study goals and project deadlines — both short term and long term — need to be instantly visible all the time, staring you back in the face. Your goals need to be out in the open day and night, requiring no effort whatsoever to review.
Mind Cleanse. Take a breather. Stand up, stretch, walk briskly, do some jumping jacks or a quick exercise of your choice for one or two minutes while keeping your mind completely off school. When you come back to your dorm room, desk or studio space, shake it off, refocus and continue.
Power Lunch. Take lunch seriously. Force yourself to take an hour lunch every day where you get away from your classes, out of your dorm or studio, and go somewhere far removed both mentally and physically. While on lunch, call or meet a friend to socialize and enjoy your break.
Dress Like You Mean It. Wear a suit. I typically avoid suits like the plague, but once in a while, even if you live alone, it can help give your academic mind a professional jolt. This acts on a psychological level that can help make you feel obligated to act and perform professionally as if you were in an office environment. Plus, when you take lunch dressed professionally, people will perceive and treat you accordingly, which further cements this quality in your consciousness.
Toggle Switch. Turn off or on your music. If you are losing focus, try turning on some music. If you already have music playing but can’t focus, try changing the music selection or turning it off all together.
Maximize Your Day. If you get all your studying and homework done early and have a few hours to spare, take some much deserved siesta time — but save some of this surplus to review and refresh your curriculum. Maybe even endeavor to start a personal animation project. However, don’t overload your plate, because your normal school workload will undoubtedly keep you busy. But maximizing each day will in turn maximize your learning, your growing and your chances of landing a job once you graduate.
Navigate Speed Bumps. If you run into a dead end at every turn and are spinning your wheels trying to accomplish what seems like the simplest of tasks, move on. Sometimes, temporarily going around a speed bump and coming back to it later is a better option than letting it eat up a large portion of your day, making you very frustrated and letting it greatly impair your productivity.
Unplug. Under no circumstances should you have a browser window open while studying or doing projects unless it’s directly, specifically required for the task at hand. This goes doubly-so for social media. Log out of all your social networks and turn off all corresponding notifications and alerts.
Caffeine Can Be Your Friend. Feel like you’re starting to drag? Grab a cup of your favorite green tea, extra dark chocolate, coffee or iced tea. Caffeine can help you focus, but use in moderation as an overdose can make you jittery and anxious, making it that much harder to focus.
Sleep Tight. Take your rest as seriously as you take your favorite class. No matter how much caffeine or guarana extract you consume, it can’t make up for sleep deprivation. Your mind and body need to rest approximately eight hours (even creative individuals like you) every night to ensure maximum performance the next day.
Keep this list handy, perhaps posted next to your daily schedule, so the next time you feel the urge to drift, you’ll have a resource immediately available that can help you re-focus, be productive, and get the most out of your college experience!
Martin Grebing is the president of Funnybone Animation Studios. He can be reached at funnyboneanimation.com.
