Minimalism is one of those recent pop words that seems to be coming up more and more. But what exactly is minimalism? Minimalism is intentionally living with only the things that you absolutely need. Think of the term “less is more.” This is one of the key teachings of minimalism. But minimalism is not only applicable to your environment, in fact living a minimalist lifestyle can have a great positive impact on your study habits and academics.
Declutter Your Space, Declutter Your Mind
One of the key principles of minimalism is decluttering the space around you. It is so easy to gather up items in your home that are often unused or no longer useable. Think of old notes you forgot to throw away or pens that are no longer useable. If there is no reason to keep an item, then simply no longer keep it. This decluttering process is key to clearing your mind. Many studies have proven that your physical environment has a direct impact on how effectively you learn and absorb new information. Therefore, by having an organized, clean space you will be able to focus much better.
Clean Out Your Phone
Now that your physical space is clean, it is time to do the same with your phone. This little device is so accessible and fun to use that it's easy to quickly collect unneeded apps. These apps can serve as distractions from studying, such as games or social media platforms. The good thing is that it is easy to delete them from your phone and your app. Give the axe to all of your phone games. If that is too difficult, keep your favorite but set strict rules with yourself about time spent on it. Next is social media. While social media is great in many regards, it can affect your self-image, sleep and especially your focus while studying. Try to delete platforms you do not use as much anymore or will make a goal of not using anymore. If you want to catch up on TikTok, try setting a timer so you don’t get lost in the endless scrolling.
Minimize Your Schedule, Maximize Your Studying
Now that you have minimized your physical and online environment, it is time to start cultivating a minimalist mindset for the rest of your life. This might seem like an overwhelming task, but it will help you maximize your time available to study. Start by making a weekly schedule. After creating this, you can analyze what is on it and how that is adding to your life. This is to help set priorities and boundaries in your life. Your education and studying should always be a priority, especially if you have an exam coming up, but it is easy to let that fall in the wayside. By creating set study times in your weekly schedule, it will become much easier to study and have peace of mind that you should not be doing another task.
Final Thoughts
A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. Adopting minimalism will help you prepare better for your next exam, as well as help you overall to live a simpler, more fulfilled life. If you are in need of proctoring services, check out Ashton Testing Services.Written by Maria Veras
