Productivity Hack #1 – Pomodoro Technique

Time Management Hack

Managing time effectively is important when at university, whether it’s studying, completing coursework or exam revision. It is easy to quickly become overwhelmed and feel that there is just not enough time to fit everything in. It can be useful, therefore, to employ techniques to help.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro time-management technique was developed by Frances Cirillo in the 80’s, so called because the timer he used was a tomato (pomodoro in Italian) shaped device.
In simple terms, the idea behind the now famous method is to focus intensely on a piece of work for a length of time, usually twenty five minutes, followed by a short break of about five minutes. These regular breaks reduce tiredness, help to clear the mind, reduce stress and in turn increase productivity, creativity and improved quality and quantity of work.
Even individuals with short attention spans find this technique useful, timings can be altered according to need. Procrastination is eliminated as people are motivated to focus completely on a task and achieve as much as possible before the timer rings, therefore using time more effectively.
The technique is not suitable for all tasks but try experimenting with it to see if your performance is enhanced!
Pomodoro Stages
1 – Remove all potential distractions
For example, close your email browser, switch off social media, put your phone on silent, let people know you are not to be disturbed.
2 – Plan
Decide which tasks need to be completed and how many sessions are needed to do this. The timings recommended can be personalised to your preferences. Multi-tasking doesn’t really work with this method, it’s really about breaking longer tasks into shorter, achievable sessions. Be realistic!
3 – Work
This should be easier without distractions, start the timer, breathe and focus! Sometimes, even with the best planning, interruptions will happen. If they do, it’s important to note that the session then ends and another session needs to begin when the distraction has been eliminated. If unrelated thoughts pop into your head, jot them down on a piece of paper to be dealt with later and carry on with the main task.
4 – Take a break
Now take that five minute break, have a drink, stretch, have a short walk or get some fresh air. Have a piece of paper to tick off when tasks are completed.
5 – Repeat
Begin a new session deciding what you are going to focus on. After a few sessions, usually four, have a longer break, 20 to 30 minutes, maybe have some food and clear your head. Begin further sessions feeling refreshed and motivated to work.
Further reading – Cirillo’s book – The Pomodoro Technique.


Have fun implementing!  Cheers, A2B Assessments
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How To Survive Financially At University

If possible try to save some funds before you go to university, find a holiday job and try to accumulate some savings.

Shop around for a student bank account with good incentives but also the one that will meet your longer term financial needs. Freebies can range from interest free overdrafts to gift cards and free railcards. However look at the small print and the overall best deal. Don’t be too easily seduced, they want your business.

Resist spending your three monthly student loan instalment in the first week or you could quickly spiral into long-term debt. It’s a good idea to divide payments into weekly amounts and try to stick to this. It sounds boring but it is a great idea to devise a budget plan and keep a record of incomings and outgoings and to try to live accordingly.

Prioritise rent and then food. Learn to shop wisely and visit budget supermarkets, their products can be excellent and you can make quite a saving. Search for cheap, healthy recipes, there are hundreds online with visual step by step instructions if you’re not the best cook. Don’t be frightened to experiment, it’s fun. Try not to buy too much fresh food at once to prevent waste and if you have access to a freezer, cook bigger portions and freeze leftovers or eat for lunch the next day. Meat is generally more expensive so more veggie based dishes can be healthy and cheaper and make packed lunches when possible  instead of buying food on the campus. Discuss with flatmates what you can share, for example, condiments, toilet rolls , washing up liquid etc, maybe agree to have a kitty for certain things. Another good idea in shared accommodation is to take turns to cook for the rest of the group maybe once a week. It’s usually cheaper to cook in bulk and hopefully ensures you have a decent and free meal the weeks it is not your turn.

Textbooks can be so expensive. Try to save by buying secondhand, try eBay or Amazon’s ‘used’ option. Try placing messages on Uni sites or social media asking if anyone is selling the particular books you want. Use your university and local libraries, if you think ahead you can reserve books in advance as you need them. Also sell your old textbooks if they are not needed to try to free up some funds, some bookshops even have buy back schemes if textbooks are in good condition.

Make use of your student cards, you can get both an NUS extra card and a UniDays Account. Many places offer healthy student discounts, these can include shopping, eating out, nights out at the cinema. Also look out for free/cheap deals for students. eg. free entry to clubs etc

Even with the best intentions university life is expensive. If your finances are not balancing, a part-time job may be a good idea. Apart from earning money, a job will provide you with transferable skills such as time management, team work, customer service and so on which will look great on future CV’s. Most universities have ‘job shops’ you can register with and local shops, bars and restaurants may be looking out for staff. If you don’t want a year round job, look around early for Xmas jobs, a few weeks of full time work can boost the budget for your return in the new year.

If you do find yourself in financial difficulties, seek help. Most universities will have advisers who can help and give advice about further support.

 

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7 Tips For Making Friends In Freshers

7 Tips For Making Friends In Freshers

1) First of all remember everyone is new and will be feeling excited but also apprehensive and a little shy/ nervous. Some people just hide it better than others. Most people are living away from home for the first time and like you are trying to find their feet.

2) Before you go to Uni, there is probably the opportunity to meet future fellow students and flatmates online. Most universities will have forums for new students where you can discuss courses and accommodation. Be proactive and utilise this, get to know people on social media and possibly meet up beforehand or get together on arrival, you will have made a head start.

3) Be friendly….you don’t have to be an extrovert or the life and soul of the party but try to be welcoming and approachable with your new flat mates/fellow students. You are going to be together for a large chunk of your first year so make a particular effort this week. Even if you’re painfully shy, good advice is to smile, introduce yourself, try to remember names and show interest in the people you meet, ask a few questions but keep it light. Remember they are probably feeling the same.

4) Try to get to your new accommodation early and unpack asap, it’s going to be a busy week and it will help make life easier if your room is organised and everything is at hand. You will meet people as they arrive and it also leaves you more time to socialise and join in with the week’s events!

5) Resist the urge to hide away  in your room, if you are unpacking leave the door open so people can chat if they are passing. If new people arrive, introduce yourself, maybe offer to make them a drink, pass your packet of biscuits around, food is a great ice – breaker.

6) Don’t overdo it but do try to join in with as many things as you can, be open to events on offer and join societies you are interested in. In fact, if someone asks you to join a society with them or try an activity that you hadn’t previously considered, give it a go, you may discover a new passion and at the very least meet new friends.

7) Try to enjoy the experience, you may not meet your lifelong friends in the first week but friendships will be forged. Stress not, you are probably there for at least three years and new friends and different friendship groups  will be established over time. Relax and the rest is easy.

 

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Free Software Showcase – AVG Antivirus

Why is having an Antivirus important for your computer?

Antivirus software plays an integral part in ensuring your computer is safe from malware and viruses. Malware causes adverse effects such as deleting your files without your knowledge, corrupting installed programs and in some cases can even expose your personal data.

So what is AVG Antivirus?

AVG is a free Antivirus that protects your system from malware attacks whether you are offline or online. AVG runs smoothly in the background of your machine and you can control the consumption of computer memory and other resources by controlling the automatic scans. It is generally ranked as the best free antivirus currently on the market.

What does AVG Antivirus do?

AVG performs several essential roles all of which are aimed at protecting your computer.
1. It stops malware and viruses from affecting your computer. This is from either the internet or any storage device that is connected to your PC.
2. Blocks unsafe downloads, links and emails which might harm your computer.
3. The antivirus also gets regular updates to ensure it is up to date with possible threats. It is advisable to ensure that automatic updates are enabled at all times.
4. It has scheduled scans on your computer to ensure any threat is neutralised.

Where to download AVG Antivirus

There are several places where you can download AVG Antivirus. We recommended the parent site avg.com. If for whatever reason that doesn’t work you can also get it on CNET or Softonic.

How to install AVG Antivirus

1. First, uninstall any other antivirus you may have installed before installing it. You can do this by going to control panel >programs >Uninstall a program and from the list remove the antivirus.
2. Go to the download folder and run the AVG install file.
3. In order to install, you have to accept the agreement.
4. Select the free license and the antivirus will start to install.
5. After that, restart the computer for the installation to complete and you’re done.

In conclusion, it essential you have an antivirus installed on your computer and AVG is all you need.

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Video Blog #2 – 7 Ways To Relieve Stress

In our second video blog we’re going to be looking at 7 Ways To relieve Stress.  The video is a brief summary of our full 7 Ways To Relieve Stress Article.  We suggest watching the video and then if you want to learn more, read the full blog post.

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7 Ways To Relieve Stress

Stressful situations are a part of life and everyone can find themselves stressed on occasion. There can be numerous reasons fo

r stress, whether it’s a result of the pressure at work, an approaching deadline to submit some coursework or the realisation your exams are upon you and you don’t feel prepared. In such situations, It is common to be unsettled and uneasy with the mind running in overdrive. These instances are bound to occur from time to time and since you cannot live stress-free for the rest of your life, the best option is to know how to counter stress and bring back balance and calm to your life. The following seven ways can help you do just that:

1. Exercising

Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Yes, it may seem like you are physically stressing your body through jogging or working out but it works wonders in reducing mental stress. If you are stressed after an eventful day, have a run or hit the gym and you will certainly notice the difference in your mood and stress levels. There are also the numerous other health benefits.

2. Take deep breaths

This is of the probably the simplest and fastest way to relieve stress, especially if you are in a place where physically engaging activities cannot be done, for instance, a lecture. Deep breathing helps focus your mind on the breathing away from the stressful situation thereby lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. You have probably heard the saying “take a deep breath” well the latest studies show that you actually need to take at least 4 deep breaths to change your physiology. After doing this you should feel more relaxed and composed.

3. Be Organised

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to get through, list everything in a simple checklist can significantly reduce the pressure felt. You can also allocate a time scale to complete the tasks​ listed. This can be referred back to at anytime and help you feel in control. While making your list, you can also note the things that you have successfully completed. Reason being, if you have a look at what you have done, it can help relieve stress by reminding you that you have completed similar tasks in the past.

4. Avoiding Procrastination

Try not to put things off or let them carry over into the next day If you let tasks outrun their course, stress can continue to rise. It is important to make a point of handling your tasks for the day, that very day in order to begin the next one on a clean slate. A to-do list can help with this.

5. Talk to Someone

If you’re feeling stressed about something, talk to a friend or family member. A problem shared is a problem halved. Just getting everything off your chest and sharing it with someone can really make a huge difference.

6. Listen to Relaxing Music

Music has been shown in studies to effect physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the levels of stress hormones. Most studies tended to be on the effects of classical music. However, from personal experience I find anything quite chilled or upbeat helps.

7. Chewing gum

This may seem like an odd suggestion but it actually works. When you chew gum, it increases the blood flow to the brain while also giving you a sense of well-being. It has also been noted that chewing gum can induce brain waves which are similar to those experienced in a relaxed state. A study by Swinburne University in Melbourne showed that chewing gum reduced the stress hormone cortisol in participants.

Adding one or several of the above methods into your day to day activities should help reduce stress and anxiety.

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Free Software Showcase – F.Lux

Free DSA Software F.Lux

In today’s world, most of us have a tech gadget like a smartphone, computer, tablet or an iPad. We have become accustomed to using these gadgets on a daily basis and thereby exposing ourselves to any possible side effects using them might have. One of the side effects is that the screens of these devices emit blue light. When used late at night the blue light has been shown to mess up your circadian rhythm and effect the quality of your sleep. In order to counter this, the F.lux software has been developed. The science behind this software shows that reducing the blue light, by adapting the computer screen to the lighting of your room can reduce these side effects. The f.lux software is equipped with a “f.luxometer” which measures and removes excess amount of blue light.

Effects of using your computer at night
In order to fully understand the importance of the software, it is important to understand how harmful computer screens can be to our sleep. When you use your computer at night, the levels of melatonin are substantially reduced. Melatonin is the hormone responsible for the regulation of our sleep patterns. Simply put, the light produced by the computer “fools” our brains that it’s not yet time for sleep hence the reduced melatonin production. Research shows that the level of this hormone can be reduced by up to 50 percent in some cases. This can have a big impact on the quality of your sleep.

Also when using your computer at night to respond to email or text, there is the possibility of increased tension which can lead to stress. This can be more pronounced if you are responding to serious messages that requires focus. Such as work or study related emails.  Due to the stress experienced, your body produces cortisol which is a stress hormone than when spiked can also effect your sleep.

How to install F.lux software
Click here to visit the F.lux homepage.  There you will find a the download. There are no redirections and the download is immediate. After downloading, you just need to go to your download folder and select it to commence the installation process.

The first step is to accept the license agreement by clicking on the accept button at the bottom of the dialogue box. The software will then extract the installation files and the system will ask you to allow the program to make changes in which case you will click ‘yes’. At this point, the software will ask you to enter your location in order to effectively match the settings of daytime and night automatically without having to input anything else.

We hope you have enjoyed another instalment of the Blog.

All the best,

The A2B Team.

 

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