Month: September 2022

 

By Amelia Thyen

Try out these timer applications the next time you are struggling to focus while writing!

For me, the hardest part of writing an academic paper is getting my first ideas on a blank page. Even if I am excited to write the paper, I am passionate about my public health topic, and I have a few hours of my day set aside to work on the paper, I still struggle to find the motivation to start writing. Like many of my peers at BUSPH, I tend to be a perfectionist and always strive to write a perfect paper, starting with the first draft. Staring at a blank page is daunting, and it can sometimes be difficult for me to start the writing process for fear that this first draft won’t be perfect. 

If you ever feel this way about writing, know that you are not alone!

One tip that a professor once taught me (shoutout Professor Godley!) is to set a timer for myself and see how much I can get out of my brain and onto the page in just that amount of time. By setting a timer, you give yourself the internal motivation needed to get some ideas down, and you also are able to schedule breaks so that you do not feel overwhelmed. You can start by simply setting a timer on your phone or cooking timer. There are also a few apps and websites that I have found to be extremely helpful for creating that extra push to get writing:

Forest App

The first app that I use to help jumpstart my writing process is called Forest. Upon opening the app, you are prompted to choose an amount of time that you would like to focus for and choose the plant you would like to grow during that time. The plant that you choose will grow while you work, and it will die if you leave the app. I love the idea of growing virtual trees, and I also appreciate that it prevents me from opening up other distracting apps on my phone. If you are like me and can get distracted by scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter, this app is for you!

I like to start with the shortest option, just 10 minutes, and use that time to open up the document where I will be writing, pull up the writing prompt and rubric from Blackboard, and open the BU Library website to easily start the research process. These 10 minutes allow me to transition into “writing mode” and prepare me to focus for an extended period of time. Once the 10-minute timer is done and I have grown my first tree, I like to set a longer timer and start getting my ideas on the page.  

The maximum amount of time to set the timer is 120 minutes, but I find this to be unrealistic for my writing style. I like to set multiple 25-minute timers consecutively in a row, and after each timer goes off I get up and stretch, refill my water/coffee, or allow myself to briefly look at my phone for 5 minutes. Then, I set another 25-minute timer and grow my next plant. This app has helped me focus on writing, eliminate the distraction of my phone, and help me manage my time more efficiently. It costs $1.99 in the app store and is definitely worth it for all of the papers that it has motivated me to finish. 

Promo Focus Website

If you are someone who may not be as distracted on your phone, and you want your timer to be accessible from the computer where you are writing, there is a similar timer for web browsers called Promo Focus. This website allows you to set consecutive timers, and automatically schedules breaks in between your working time. You can set the length of time to work as well as the length of time for a break. You can also enable notifications on your web browser to allow the website to notify you when the timer is done. The website also displays how much time is left on the timer in the tab, so you don’t need to go to the actual page to check the time. Although you won’t be able to grow trees for your virtual forest, this website is a great free alternative to the Forest app and can also help motivate you to finish your writing assignments. 

I highly suggest downloading Forest App and or using Promo Focus the next time you have a writing assignment. Public health writing is not easy, but with a little motivation from these timers, you may find it easier to finish your next assignment!

This Wednesday, September 14, the education librarians are offering a Zoom tutorial for students in the School of Public Health from 1:00-1:50 pm. You may think you don’t need their help (you know how use Google or PubMed well enough to always find something when you are looking). Or you may feel shy, like you should be able to do your research on your own. I have worked at BUSPH since 2005, and I can tell you from 17 years of personal experience and student testimonials, that the BUMC librarians are among the most important people you will meet during your MPH, MS, DrPH, or PhD program.

Here are some reasons why you should attend the tutorial, keep the link to the recording handy, and reach out to them for one-on-one assistance.

 First, the BUMC librarians are kind and generous with their time.

Send them an email at refquest@bu.edu and you will likely hear back from them within a few hours. When you write to them, tell them a bit about the topic you want to research and some specifics about the project you are working on. You might even send them a copy of the assignment instructions.

Students always tell the same story, and I’ve experienced it myself. Send them some details about the project you are working on and ask for a meeting. If they know what your topic is, the odds are very strong that they will do some research before you show up for the meeting. Then they will sit with you and patiently show you where and how they found the best sources. And when you forget what they showed you, they will patiently walk you through the search process again.

Second, the librarians honestly enjoy working with public health students.

Public health topics are complicated puzzles. We are never looking for research on one thing, say lung carcinomas. We want to understand health conditions in particular populations in very specific contexts. A general interest on cancer incidence, screening, prevention, and treatment in Tanzania quickly turns into an exploration of the social and economic conditions that shape peoples’ daily lives.

And we rarely stop there, next we are looking at the health system and availability of specialized care or (too often) barriers to care. Looking at the health system turns into an exploration of history, colonialism, and the structural adjustment policies put in place by the World Bank in the 1980s that gutted public investment in health and education. Then we are on to specific populations. Who is at risk? Why are they at risk? What is happening at the local, government, and international level to change the situation? What evidence exists showing that a particular intervention works or is likely to work?

The puzzle is endless, and our librarians are endlessly curious and always willing to help.

 Third, they are always up-to-date on how to navigate the complexities of search engines and search terms

Pubmed and other search engines are always changing in small and large ways. And Google is notoriously secretive about their search algorithms. They know what’s new and they have many tricks for cutting through the inundation of information. Ask them about MeSH terms. They can open new worlds for you.

Fourth, they will help you learn how to use Zotero, Mendeley, and other citation management systems.

They can talk you through the pros and cons of each, help you set up citation watches, walk you through difficulties with Word plug-ins, and more. If you are still doing your citations manually, because Zotero seems to complicated, they won’t laugh at you. Instead they will show you how to save yourself from hours of aggravation.

Just do it. Sign up for the September 14 tutorial and write to them at refquest@bu.edu today.