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You may not want to hear it, but your phone could very well be what’s standing between you and excellent grades. If you struggle to stay away from it while studying, I have a productivity hack that could transform your study routine.
1Recording Time-Lapses Keeps Me Away From My Phone
As a student, you’ve probably organized all your textbooks and study materials, made your favorite drink, and sat down, fully motivated and prepared for an intensive study session—only to end up scrolling through your favorite social media apps for hours. A perfectly good day wasted, right? Unfortunately, I used to fall into this vicious cycle nearly every day, even with a solidweekly study planin place.
While I’d often turn todedicated app blockerslike OffScreen, they weren’t always enough to keep me from giving in to distractions. That’s when I realized I needed to eliminate the distraction, my phone, entirely. Instead of locking it in a cupboard, I decided to prop it up on my desk and record a time-lapse of my study session.
Surprisingly, it kept me away from my phone for hours, and the act of recording made me feel accountable to stay on task.
Over the years, I’ve tried almost all theproductivity methodspeople rave about, and all typically swear by taking breaks regularly. While I’m not denying the importance of breaks, taking one when you’re in the groove might not be the best idea, as it can disrupt your momentum.
Even if you feel groggy or worn out after focusing on the same task for too long and decide to take a break, using your phone during it is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself stuck in the vicious cycle I mentioned earlier. That’s where I’ve found recording a time-lapse of myself comes in clutch.
Since I’m essentially documenting my progress on video, I often find myself wanting to study for longer stretches instead of pausing the video and starting a new one the next time I’d like to study. And even if I decide to take a break without starting a new video, I do so without reaching for my phone, which is a much better option.
What I typically do while recording a time-lapse is watch a pre-recorded or live “Study With Me” stream (anotherodd method I use to stay focused) that includes a timer and spans several hours. For example, in the time-lapse below, you can see me working on an assignment while tuning in to one of these streams.
Once the time for a break rolls around, I either continue studying if I’m not tired or take a short walk around the house or just freshen up instead of reaching for my phone, since I’d need to end my timelapse to do so! This helps me stay on track while also reminding me to take regular breaks.
3Gives Me a Video to Reflect On and Share
Many people treat themselves to a sweet snack or an episode of their favorite Netflix show after a productive day. For me, the time-lapse of a successful study session becomes a reward in itself. Watching a sped-up video of my hard work gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivates me to keep going.
Sometimes, I like to create short daily recap videos as Instagram Reels or TikToks and share them with my friends. Snippets from my study time-lapses fit perfectly into these videos, and allow me to realistically show what I’ve been up to. Plus, they can inspire and motivate my friends to stick to their own goals.
The best part about this odd yet effective study hack is that you don’t need any additional equipment or apps. Most modern iPhones and Android phones come with a built-in time-lapse mode that works perfectly for this method. On an iPhone, simply open theCameraapp and select theTime-Lapsemode.
On Android devices, you’ll typically find this feature in theCameraapp under theMoresection, where additional shooting modes are listed. It may be labeled asHyperlapseinstead of time-lapse.
If your device doesn’t have a built-in time-lapse option, you can use athird-party time-lapse appor record a regular video andspeed it up using an editing appof your choice.
You can also use a phone stand or tripod to prop your device up while recording to prevent shaky footage. I’d recommend experimenting with a few different angles to figure out what works best for you. Personally, I like positioning my camera to capture my desk and work without including myself in the frame.
This way, one added benefit is that the time-lapse records my laptop screen as well, which helps keep me accountable and prevents distractions like watching YouTube or Netflix mid-study session.
Recording a time-lapse for hours can drain your device’s battery, so be sure to charge it beforehand. You can also reduce the brightness to minimize battery drain during the recording.
While this method may not seem appealing at first, I highly recommend giving it a try at least once. You’ll likely only appreciate its effectiveness after watching your first time-lapse and reflecting on how productive (or not) your session was!
