Page 11 - Unit Six 3rd Sec

several different tasks at the same time, or you quickly move from one task to another. So
that's definitely something to avoid if you want to raise your productivity levels. Instead,
you shoulc complete one task and then move on to the next.
Stress and feeling worried also make us less productive. Assess how you're feeling before
you sit down to work. If you are experiencing stress or feeling worried, try to relax by doing
exercise or maybe writing your worries down so you stop thinking about them. This should
make it easier for you to concentrate on your work rather than other things that are
happening in your life and therefore increase your productivity levels.
Reading
A report on a recent study into productivity amongst students
In our research study, we assessed the productivity levels of sixteen to eighteen year-old
students. The aim was to find out which situations led to an increase in the students‟
productivity levels while they are studying. We chose a group of 250 students and asked
them to keep a diary over a six-month period. In these diaries they wrote down how much
time they spent studying every day and what they achieved. At the start of the study, we
asked all the students to make a change to their study habits. We wanted to find out what
effect this change would have on the students‟ at the start of every month for the rest of the
study to look at the effects of varying study habits. Our analysis of the students‟ diaries
resulted in some interesting conclusions. We noticed that most students‟ productivity levels

increased significantly when they got up earlier to study before school. This was even true
for students who had said they weren‟t very efficient when they studied early in the
morning. On the other hand, most students‟ productivity levels declined significantly when
they regularly studied until late into the evening. Another interesting finding was that
studying with other students had a very positive effect on some students‟ productivity
levels, but a very negative effect on other students‟ productivity levels. In conclusion, we
can state that studying in the morning seems to help most students to become more
productive, but the effects of other factors, like whether or not students study alone, vary,
depending on the individual.
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WB
1. Don‟t procrastinate
There is one common error which stops students from being productive: procrastination.
Procrastination is when we delay doing something important. Students often look for an

excuse to do other things, such as tidy their bedrooms, when they should be studying. Make
a study plan and then make yourself follow it!

2. Don‟t study all night
Another bad habit that some students have is studying all night. (Sometimes this is because
they have been procrastinating in all day!) Studying at night instead of sleeping does not
allow the body and brain to rest. It‟s important to switch off to study effectively the next

day.
3. Put the phone away
Some teachers don't allow students to keep their phone with them in class. But students

shouldn‟t let themselves be distracted by their phones. Even better, hand it to the teacher at
the beginning of the class – they will make you have it back at the end!