How This Unlikely Productivity Method Transformed My Study Routine

You may not want to hear it, but your phone could very well be what stands 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.

1

Recording Time-Lapses keeps me away from my phone

As a student, you’ve probably organized all your textbooks and study materials, prepared 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 perfect day wasted, right? Unfortunately, I had to fall into this vicious cycle almost every day, even with a solid weekly study plan in place

While I’ll be back often dedicated app blockers like OffScreen, I’m not always enough to stop myself 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 closet, I decided to press it 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 it made me feel responsible for staying on top of it.

2

It motivates me to keep going instead of taking breaks

Over the years, I have tried almost all of them productivity methods people get excited, and everyone usually swears by taking regular breaks. While I do not deny the importance of breaks, taking one when you are in the groove may not be the best idea, because it can disrupt your momentum.

Even if you feel groggy or tired after concentrating on the same activity 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. This is where I found the time-lapse recording 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 over the next time I want to study. And even if I decide to take a break without starting a new video, 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 (another strange method I use to stay focused) which includes a timer and lasts several hours. For example, in the time-lapse below, you can see me working on an assignment while tuning into one of these streams.

Once the time for a break has come, I either continue to study if I’m not tired or take a short walk around the house or just refresh instead of reaching for my phone, since I would need to finish my timelapse to to do. ! This helps me stay on track while also reminding me to take regular breaks.

3

It gives 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 time-lapse video of my hard work gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivates me to keep going.

Sometimes, I like to create short daily summary videos like Instagram Reels or TikToks and share them with my friends. The fragments of my study time-lapses fit perfectly into these videos, and allow me to realistically show what I have done. In addition, they can inspire and motivate my friends to keep their goals.

The best part about this weird but 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 the Camera app and select the Time-Lapse way

On Android devices, you’ll usually find this feature in the Camera app below No longer section, where additional shooting modes are listed. It can be labeled as Hyperlapse instead of time-lapse.

If your device doesn’t have a built-in time-lapse option, you can use a third-party time-lapse app or record a regular video and speed up with an editing app of your choice.

You can also use a phone holder or tripod to prop up your device while recording to prevent shaky footage. I would recommend experimenting with a few different angles to figure out what works best for you. Personally, I like to place my camera to capture my desk and work without including it in the frame.

In this way, an added benefit is that the time-lapse also records my laptop screen, which helps me maintain responsibility and prevents distractions such as watching the YouTube or Netflix study session.

Recording a time-lapse for hours can drain your device’s battery, so be sure to charge it first. You can also reduce the brightness to minimize battery drain during recording.

While this method may not seem appealing at first, I highly recommend you try it at least once. You will probably appreciate its effectiveness only after seeing your first time-lapse and reflecting on how productive (or not) your session was!