How ConcentrAid tackles Isolation, Procrastination and Distraction.
Life can be a manic rollercoaster and often, we find ourselves facing challenges that just seem insurmountable. This article will explore three common obstacles we face and explain how the use of ConcentrAid will act as a game-changing solution, especially in knowing how to deal with academic burnout.
Isolation: Work together with Others
Feeling alone is unfortunately becoming all too common in our society. Isolation can ultimately lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. This is especially true in academia, where students who experience burnout are lacking the support they need, both academically and emotionally. ConcentrAid’s virtual coworking space will help to combat feelings of isolation, by finding you an accountability partner. Book a session with a friend, or a co-author, and work together, or if you want to, get matched with someone totally new from our Academic Community. They might be working in your field (leading to deep discussion), or simply need a boost of productivity.
Regular check-ins and mutual support will keep you accountable and provide a sense of belonging and connection. Plus, helping to motivate your peers can be a fulfilling way of connecting with a community and making a positive impact.
Getting Started: Breaking Free from Procrastination
Procrastination is a vicious cycle. It's very easy to put off tasks, especially when they seem daunting or complex. The longer we leave these tasks, they start to pile up, becoming twice as daunting as they started out. Our online co-working space and community will support you in tackling that difficult first step (just getting started), despite how impossible it might seem. We’ll do this by helping you to divide those tasks into smaller, more manageable steps, making them less overwhelming.
The session goals you’re encouraged to set with your buddy will create a sense of urgency, which should encourage you to stop procrastinating and keep working. Knowing your accountability buddy is expecting to see results at the end of your session can also be highly motivating, as most of us humans are natural-born people-pleasers.
Flow & Deep Work: Timeboxing and Goal-Setting without Distractions
Achieving flow (a state of deep concentration and productivity) is essential for success. ConcentrAid can help you to cultivate this state by implementing a structure to your sessions of writing or research.
The central element of this structure is Timeboxing, which refers to the allocation of specific time blocks for different tasks - ensuring you stay focused and avoid multitasking. ConcentrAid uses the Pomodoro technique to structure your sessions (50-minutes work, 10-minute break, and repeat). You can decide with your partner if you would mutually benefit more from silent sessions, or discussion in and between breaks.
Additionally, your sessions will involve Goal setting, where you and your partner will set clear and achievable goals/intentions for the session. Having a defined purpose can provide direction and motivation, which will aid you in avoiding distractions.
We also encourage you to create a distraction-free environment by turning off your notifications, closing any unnecessary tabs, and finding a quiet workspace.
Please remember, overcoming these obstacles takes consistency, especially as constant distraction has become so ingrained in our lives. Be patient with yourself and celebrate your progress along the way. When you start working with ConcentrAid, you can break free from isolation, procrastination, and distractions, and unlock your full potential.
Best,
Team ConcentrAid