This YouTube Content Will Boost Productivity
Ever since the pandemic hit and more students had to study from home, the rise of the “Study with Me” YouTube channels have taken over the study forums. What is this content? Study channels are when a YouTube creator live streams themselves studying for hours on end. The streams usually average 10 hours and can sometimes be accompanied by background ASMR type sounds such as typing, a fireplace crackle, or rain. These channels may sound strange at first, but it is content that has helped me build my writing routine and saved me repeatedly when I’m overwhelmed by my workload.
As a freelancer who regularly depend on these videos, I guarantee that you will also improve your productivity as you work through the long lists of writing projects you have on your plate. If you’re a new freelancer, having a hard time starting and keeping a writing system, or you just have a weakness of discipline or peaks of procrastination, this video content is the key to breaking it.
Near the end, I will give you a list of some study channels that are great if you’re interested in getting more work done as a freelancer. But first, here are some reasons as to why these videos can be valuable to your writing career.
Inspiration.
Study channels exist primarily to help inspire you to work towards your goals, whether short-term or long-term. Hundreds of like-minded, determined people are all sitting at home or office, or even a coffee shop turning into these channels because they all have one factor in common — they want to succeed.
So many have found success within the communities thanks to the channels that inspire them to work hard. While studying and working from home, the inspiration I gained from the channels took me from barely finishing work to writing a paper in a couple of hours.
So, if you ever need a push to sit at your desk and work, I suggest popping open one of these videos and gaining a little confidence in your writing routine.
Sit down and write.
One challenge I always struggle with is the act of setting up in front of my computer, sitting down, opening a document, and starting to write. I always thought that I have so much to do before then that I often push writing off from hour to hour until I have to face it during the night.
A benefit of study channels is that it doesn’t give you an excuse to fight against your obligations. Instead, when the video starts and the YouTuber starts the clock, you are then forced to work as well. There are also consistent rules that span various channels. One is that the live chat is closed until the timer runs out. The rule forces you to not have any distractions from the video itself since the streamer and the community is currently consumed by finishing their tasks.
This aspect of the content is an excellent way for those who have trouble starting or ending their articles or blog posts to get it done.
Pomodoro Method to the extreme.
We all know about the benefits of the productivity system, known as the Pomodoro Method. If you don’t, then the brief description is that it is a method that has you put your work time in “blocks.” These blocks of work and rest are usually cut up into minutes that you can control.
For example, you may put the timer on to work for 25 minutes and rest for 5 minutes. The choice is truly up to you and how long you believe you can sit at your desk at a time. For many study channels, the time blocks usually go on for quite some time. I’ve followed one that worked for 60 minutes with 10-minute rest periods, while another put the timer on 90 minutes with break periods of 15 minutes.
Before utilizing the study channels, I was never disciplined enough to stick with my Pomodoro methods. Still, when you have someone in real-time, in charge of the timer, it helps when getting a large chunk of work out of the way in one sitting.
It makes working a little less lonely.
Another reason as to why study channels exist is to simulate a study group. There are many benefits to a group of people working together, and one of these benefits is that it breaks up the monotony of working by yourself.
As a writer, I’m sure you’ve felt this feeling of not only loneliness but dullness, as you wake up every day and sit by yourself, typing away. Yeah, going to a near coffee shop or library can make it a better, but with the world in a pandemic, these places may not be as accessible as they used to be.
So, instead of being alone all the time, study channels are a way not only to see someone working in real-time like you are, but it also provides a study community that I find are always filled with great people to talk to during the breaks.
Interacting with people that are doing precisely what you are doing will boost your productivity throughout the day. So, while you’re working alongside another person virtually, remember to also talk to the community as well.
As Promised, here are some Study with Me YouTube channels that you should jump into:
TheStrive Studies: This creator was one of the first and largest study channels that made it big on YouTube. Even though she isn’t as active as she once was, this channel is great for those who just want a short 1 to 2-hour study sessions.
graceleeproject: Grace is a creator that always has a smile on her face. Her hard work and supportive community will make anyone want to study. Oh, and she has two cats who make the long study streams entertaining during breaks. I use her channel the most.
법무사박오리STUDY WITH ME: While Study with Me channels are known on YouTube in the past few years, it was a type of content that stated with South Koreans to help each other during finals week. This creator keeps up a pre-recorded 24-hour Live stream for those around the world who wake up at various times.
There are many more study channels on the platform, but these three are the channels I stuck with from school to freelancing. I highly recommend all of them.
Give it a Try.
Study channels and its community is a growing corner of the internet. And although the premise may seem out there to you, know that the inspiration, community, and work you will build through these channels will help your productivity and enable you to cross off your goals in a shorter time than you ever thought. Freelancing is a lonely and time-managing career at times, but it doesn’t have to be if you can get a little creative and find corners around the internet that will make these parts of the job a little easier.
