Gamification and other Abstract Study Tips!

Blaike Gillshaw

2nd July, 2024

@befmakesart

Productive Procrastination

This is my secret power. Procrastination, I mean. But with great power, as we all know, comes great responsibility. And that is where the 'productive' part has to come in to play. All of us have super powers. Not all of us know how to harness them but the good news is you can learn! So if your super power is also procrastination then you're in luck - here's a cheat sheet.

Being productive is really easy when you feel motivated and procrastinating is really to do when you don't feel motivated. So all you have to do is find a way to do a little bit of both at the same time. 'Motivated Procrastination' is another name we could give it.

Sometimes the most important thing isn't actually working so hard that you're burned out for a week but instead, resting in a way that feels productive so you're able to enjoy yourself and relax without feeling guilty. Have you ever heard that phrase 'if it's stupid and it works then it's not stupid'? A lot of what you're about to read is kind of like that and it might not work for you 100% of the time but it could be fun to try. I've compliled some of my favourite ways to practice 'productive procrastionation' so you can give them a go too!

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Gamification!

'Gamification' is the process of adding games or game-like elements to something to encourage participation. It's why you can 'collect' likes on Instagram, for example. Here we're going to use time as the gamified element.

The rules for the game are as follows. Turn everything into a game or list or a reward and be aware that the rules will constantly change. If you can wrap your head over those ideas, you will be good to go! Oh, one last thing. The trick to all of these mini games is that we aren't focusing only on what has to get done but also what we want to get done. When you start a new game, you probably start on level one and work your way up to the boss. All of these things you're procrastinating fit into levels like that too. There are loads of ways you can implement this into your studies, i've left some of my favourites below!

Ad-Spurts

One of my go to games is called 'Ad-spurts'. The first step is super easy . . . watch TV. Anything you like the only rule is that it has to have adverts. No BBC iPlayer, no DVDs. We need adverts! Those are the secret ingredient here. All you're going to do is watch TV, then when the adverts start you have to do something productive.

Now, what 'productive' looks like to you could be anything. It could be rapidly typing to get your word count up so you can edit your dissertation in a cafe with a friend later. Or it could be folding your laundry, doing some start jumps or chugging some water! The best part is, as soon as the adverts stop, you stop. Then you're 'rewarded' with the next 20 minutes of your show until the next ad break. Then repeat! You can do this for as long as you like, one episode or five! You can increase the difficulty level by adjusting what you watch. Make the game more productive by watching a show with shorter episodes and more adverts or double up the productive-ness by watching a show you can count as research for a project!

Race the Alarm

TV helps me to focus but if it's the opposite to you then there are loads of other ways to play productive games. Set a timer and race to complete everything before it goes off bonus points if the timer is your microwave or oven and then you have to be finished in time for dinner! Set alarms for the end of one task and the start of another. Go on the speediest mental health walk ever and make it back home before the cat needs feeding.

Wait Mode

One super cheat code i've found is that I can complete any household task if I'm waiting for something else to happen. Wait Mode! Sometimes this happens accidently but you can also orchestrate it a little. Plan to meet a friend at 3pm and get ready too early, put your shoes on, that's important! Now spend the rest of the time tidying up - bonus points if your friend is going to come into your space before you head out -because then the pressure is really on to tidy up.

It's important to remember here that studying isn't the only productive thing to do. Having a clean space and staying on top of household chores can help improve your headspace which in the long term, will make you a more effective student

Other fun study tips

Another good way of motivating yourself to study is writing to do lists and earning rewards for every 5 items you tick off. Or make a reward chart and earn stickers and compete with your housemates for who can collect the most in a week. Make it a competition with a prize to win!

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Blaike Gillshaw is a Plymouth based writer and poet whose work focuses around mundanity, conceptualism and friendship. Their most recent project is a trilogy of essay collections written in three weeks, three months and soon to be - three years - filled with ideas about art, life, love and money.

To read more ideas like this, check out This Isn't Everything 1 and 2 by Blaike Gillshaw!