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Menubar Study Hacks

Schedule your breaks with Alarm Clock

My Mum and Dad arranged for me to do a study skills course when I was in high school. One study hack from that course that I still use today is to schedule breaks throughout a study day. Basically, if I work an hour, then I really only work 50 mins and the last 10 minutes is a break. I use that to do something completely different, which is often something “physical” like hanging out the washing. In order to make this work well, you need a timer for the 50 mins, so that you can immerse yourself in whatever you are doing, and rely on your timer to nudge you. I have been using my phone, but Alarm Clock is a great timer that runs from your menu bar. Simple, effective and free (if not particularly pretty). (It also works as an alarm clock etc using itunes Blah blah blah, but I don’t use that feature so can’t comment on it!)

Tick your list with Checkoff

I am a huge list-ticker. I don’t like to use my main to do list (Omnifocus) to cover study tasks that I have lined up to do. Checkoff is a little to do app that sits in the menu bar, and can have notes appended. It can even sync with your ipod. I use it to track my next-up study topics, books to read, writing improvisation topics - everything that I don’t want to hold on my main list, but I want to be able to tick when it is complete. Small things, I know.

What menubar programs help you keep on track when studying?

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