Smartwatches and wearable technology are used mainly for better communication and achieving fitness goals – but can they help you study smarter too? A healthy body and happy soul make learning a whole lot easier and with wearable technology’s variety of helpful features, they may be the secret weapon to your best season of study yet.
One of the ways that a smartwatch can help you is by tracking your sleep. It can tell you how long you’ve slept, how many times you wake during the night and the overall quality of your rest. With this information, you can make changes to ensure you’re getting the recommended amount of sleep each night. For example, you can implement a bedtime routine, turn off screens an hour or two before bedtime or adjust your wake-up time. Sleep deprivation and study are never a good match, so make sure sleep is a priority.
The less stressed we are, the more in control we feel. Studying and dealing with life’s responsibilities is also easier. Meditation is a proven way to decrease stress, improve focus and help regain a sense of calm. A smartwatch can guide you through a meditation track, help you to regulate your breathing and keep track of your pulse. Understanding your regular resting heart rate means you’re better equipped to know when your body is stressed. You’ll also be more able to plan how to get back on track to peak performance.
The key to success begins with smart goal setting. Goal setting clarifies what you want and helps you put together an actionable plan that can help you achieve them. Goals are especially important when it comes to online study.
How can a smartwatch help here? Simply input your goal into a compatible app and create a to-do list of actions to achieve it. Once you’ve finished a task, check it off and move on to the next. Breaking the goal down into smaller steps is an easy way to curb overwhelm and feel like you are winning from the start.
As important as a study session is, it’s also vital to take breaks. Overworking yourself will only lead to increased feelings of stress. If your body and mind are tired, the study you’re doing won’t be as effective as it would be if you were well rested. Take short breaks during your study session where you go for a quick walk, tea break, stretch, or eat a healthy snack. Also, schedule larger breaks for truly restorative and restful activities. For example, make Sunday nights family time or self-care time.
Use your smartwatch to input planned break times and set an alert to ensure you remember!
Accountability is an incredibly helpful way to ensure you achieve your study goals. When completing a self-paced online course with the College for Adult Learning, you have the support of your learning coaches, student success advisors and other students.
However, if you’re looking for another way to keep yourself accountable, let your smartwatch help you. Input your to-do list and check it off as you get it done. Some applications allow you to be reminded about unfinished tasks or reward you when you complete them all.
As we drift through our busy days, it’s easy for our well-made study plans to fall apart. A smartwatch can help be smarter by notifying you of important dates like assessment due dates or your scheduled study session.
Tip: Block out time in your calendar and when your study reminder alert goes off, do it right away so you don’t forget later.
The healthier you are, the easier it is to juggle life’s responsibilities, especially study. When used in the right way, smartwatches and other wearable technology can help your health in lots of areas, lead to increased feelings of general health and wellbeing, and give you the confidence to tackle study in smarter ways. Don’t forget to prioritise time for self-care, even if it’s just five minutes of yoga when you wake up or a little time to read or indulge in a favourite hobby before bed.
If you ever want more support, reach out to our learning coaches or support team and let us help champion the amazing work you’re doing.
