Between 8:00 AM lectures, 4:00 PM ward rounds, and the endless pile of Nursing Care Plans (NCPs) due on Monday, it often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day.

The truth is, you don’t need more time; you need to manage the time you have better. We’ve rounded up 5 productivity hacks that are saving nursing students’ GPAs (and sanity) this semester.

1. The Pomodoro Technique (Modified)

You’ve probably heard of this: 25 minutes of work, 5 minutes of rest. But for medical students, 25 minutes is barely enough to read one page of anatomy.

• ** The Hack:** Try the 50/10 split. Study for 50 minutes with intense focus (no phone!), then take a 10-minute break to stretch or scroll Instagram. It aligns better with the density of our medical textbooks.

2. The “Two-Minute Rule”

Do you have a pile of small tasks cluttering your mind?

• The Hack: If a task takes less than two minutes to do (e.g., replying to a class rep’s message, packing your bag for tomorrow, submitting a Google form), do it immediately. Don’t write it down. Just do it. Clearing these small tasks frees up mental space for the big stuff.

3. Digital vs. Analog: Choose Your Weapon

Stop trying to do both perfectly.

• For Scheduling: Go Digital. Use Google Calendar. It syncs across devices and reminds you where you need to be. Color-code your calendar: Red for Exams, Blue for Clinicals, Green for Socials.
• For Note-Taking: Go Analog (if it helps memory). Writing by hand can help with retention during Pharmacology.

4. “Active Recall” over Passive Reading

Highlighting your textbook in neon yellow looks pretty, but it’s passive.

• The Hack: Close the book. Ask yourself, “What did I just read?” and try to explain it out loud to an imaginary patient. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t know it yet.

5. Romanticize Your Studies

It sounds silly, but mindset matters.

• The Hack: If you can’t find motivation, create an aesthetic environment. Go to the library, get your favorite iced coffee, put on a lo-fi playlist. Trick your brain into thinking studying is a “vibe” rather than a chore.

Recommended Apps for NUNSA Members

• Notion: For organizing your entire life.
• Forest: To gamify staying off your phone.
• Medscape: For quick drug references on the ward.

What is one app you cannot live without? Share your recommendations in the comments!