Tele2 innovation expert Arnoldas Lukošius says that today productivity is increasingly associated not with long uninterrupted studying, but with the ability to manage attention, rest, and daily routine.
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“Technology itself is neither good nor bad. It all depends on how we use it. The same phone can take hours away browsing social networks, but it can also help to focus, plan time, or reduce stress before exams,” says A. Lukošius.
When the hardest part is not studying, but not starting to browse
One of the biggest challenges when preparing for exams is maintaining attention. Sometimes just one notification or a quick glance at TikTok or Instagram can turn a few minutes into half an hour. According to the expert, that is why more and more students use apps that help consciously disconnect from distractions.
One of them is Forest. This app works on a simple principle: while you study, a virtual tree grows, and if you leave the app, it withers. This gamified solution helps turn studying into a clearly defined focus time.
“Our brains like quick rewards, which is why social networks so easily distract attention. Apps like Forest use the same principle for productivity: a person gets extra motivation to maintain focus,” explains A. Lukošius.
He adds that some students also use the so-called Pomodoro method for such work, where you study focused for 25 minutes and then take a short break. This rhythm can help maintain attention longer and reduce fatigue.
Effective learning starts not from reading, but from recalling
According to the expert, just reading notes before exams is often not enough. A much more effective way is active repetition, where the brain tries to recall information itself.
For this, the Quizlet app is often used, allowing you to create virtual flashcards with dates, formulas, concepts, or foreign language words. This can be useful when preparing for history, biology, Lithuanian, or English exams.
“One of the biggest advantages of such tools is that you can study in short intervals and anywhere – on the bus, waiting for class, or in the evening before sleep. Shorter but regular study sessions often yield more benefits than trying to learn everything in one night,” says A. Lukošius.
According to him, an additional advantage is that you can use sets created by other students on specific topics, so you don’t have to start everything from scratch.
Less chaos in the head starts with a clearer plan
During exam periods, stress is caused not only by studying itself but also by the feeling that there is too much at once. When different topics are swirling in your head, it becomes difficult even to understand where to start.
In such situations, planning apps like Todoist can be helpful. They allow you to break preparation into smaller steps: review a specific topic, solve tasks, or go over previous years’ exam material.
“When tasks are moved from the head to a clear plan, the feeling of anxiety decreases. Then it is much easier to focus on one specific action instead of constantly thinking about everything at once,” says A. Lukošius.
According to him, a clear plan is especially important for high school graduates who are preparing for several exams at once and want to realistically see their progress.
All material in one place helps save time
Another challenge when preparing for exams is the abundance of information and its scattering among notebooks, photos, documents, and different conversations. Because of this, as exams approach, it becomes harder to quickly find what is most needed at the moment.
In such cases, it is useful to have one place to put all the material, for example, Notion. Here you can create separate pages for each subject, keep notes, links, formulas, task lists, or important dates.
“The less chaos in information, the less stress. Sometimes productivity is increased not by extra hours of studying, but by clarity and order,” says the Tele2 innovation expert.
Rest before exams is part of preparation
According to A. Lukošius, productivity does not mean constant studying without stopping. On the contrary, rest is necessary for the brain to better memorize information and maintain attention longer.
Apps like Calm can help with this, offering short meditations, breathing exercises, and relaxing sounds. Even a few minutes of break between study sessions can help reduce tension and return to work more productively.
“Burnout before exams often arises not from too little studying, but from poor rest. Technology can help not only to work more productively but also to rest better,” notes A. Lukošius.
He also points out that phone features themselves can be useful for productivity, such as do not disturb mode or social network time limits.
“The most important thing before exams is not to try to study as long as possible, but to create a system that helps maintain focus and avoid burnout. Properly used technology can become not an additional source of stress, but a practical assistant helping to feel calmer and more in control of the situation,” summarizes A. Lukošius.
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