It’s always a hassle trying to get your brain to switch back into school mode when a new semester starts.

Watching a zoom lecture can feel extra draining when you get out of the routine of your class schedule, and trying to read through a textbook can make you feel like you forgot English.

There are some ways you can adjust the way you engage with schoolwork that can help you get your brain in work mode.

I recently read about the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that helps you use bursts of focus spaced out with short breaks. The Pomodoro Technique says to use 25-minute work sessions separated by 5-minute breaks. 

I work faster on assignments when there is a deadline, and I think most college students can relate, so having a timer going can help create that sense of urgency. It also helps me to simply make the decision to dedicate a chunk of time to working and blocking out distractions. This is a way I force my brain to think in a different space.

Physical space is another way that can help you get into work mode. If you constantly work and live in the same space, it can be hard to mentally distinguish between the two.

If I’m in my room reading a textbook, it is going to be tempting to turn on Netflix instead, and easy too. Since I am used to relaxing in my room, working there can be tricky because I just want to go back to doing what I want to.

Although I do not do this enough myself, going to the library is a great way to separate your academics from the rest of your life. When you go into the library, only do your homework so that you can associate that place with productivity and make it easier on you.

It also doesn’t hurt that there are other students there working too, it can help to know that everyone around you is in the same boat.

If you don’t want to go to the library, even setting aside a separate area in your living space can be better than nothing. I sometimes sit at the kitchen counter and work on my laptop. While I’m still in my apartment, it adds some separation from being in my room where there are more distractions.

The time you work on homework can also affect your productivity. Working at the same time each day can help you separate the time in your day between academics and regular life. I struggle to get up early, but when I do I feel very efficient. In contrast, working in the evening is difficult because I would much rather chill out for the night.

It’s important to do what you can to help yourself separate academics from the rest of your life, both for your mental health and  to just make your school life easier. I’m definitely going to try to implement these strategies more into my school life, and I hope you can too.