Published Apr 11, 2023, 2:46 PM EDT
From PlayStations to MacBooks, consumer tech has always been a part of Danny's life. Having started writing for MUO in December 2020, his main tech-related interest focuses on Apple products and creative software like Adobe Lightroom.
Danny's writing credentials are wide and varied, including a poem he had published in a book at age nine and a Sports Journalism degree from a UK university. Danny enjoys CrossFit while away from the keyboard (and naturally measures his health progress on his Apple Watch and iPhone). He has expertise in marketing and photography.
In addition to writing for MUO, Danny shares his art on Instagram and runs a website sharing travel tips for people traveling to Northern Europe.
Whether you're still at school or just about to start college, you might be thinking about getting a MacBook. These laptops are popular among students for several reasons; user-friendliness, performance capabilities, and integration with other Apple devices are just three of those.
But despite the amazing benefits of having a MacBook, many students don't maximize the potential of their devices. So, before you step in, it's worth considering some of the top ways to get more done with your new laptop. Below, you'll discover our top productivity tips for students with MacBooks.
Widgets are one of the handiest MacBook features for quickly accessing apps you frequently use. You can add several kinds of widgets, including weather overviews, tasks in your calendar, and global times via the Clock app.
When using your MacBook for your studies, it's worth making your widgets study-specific. For example, you might want to include one for Apple Notes—which will allow you to jot down any thoughts or drop links to useful articles much easier.
You can also try task widgets for different apps, allowing you to track what you need to do each day more efficiently. To add a widget on your MacBook, follow these steps:
-
Click on the time and date in the top right-hand corner and select Edit Widgets.
-
When you find a widget you'd like to add, select the plus (+) icon.
- Hit Done when you're finished adding your widgets.
If you ever find that the Widgets feature isn't working on your Mac, you can check out our top ways to fix the problem.
2. Use Focus Modes
You can use Focus modes to limit distractions on your Mac while studying. When setting up Focus on your Mac, you can control which apps you can access; as a student, you can include tools like Notion and Calendar.
You also have the ability to determine who is and isn't allowed to contact you when the mode is switched on, allowing you to focus without having notifications constantly distract you.
When using Focus mode on your MacBook to minimize distractions while studying, you can also set up schedules for when you want to switch it on. If you have specific periods each day when you sit down and do your work, you'll find this feature much easier than manually turning it on and off.
To set up a study-oriented Focus mode on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Go to System Settings > Focus.
-
Select Add Focus.
-
Click on Custom and give your Focus a name and then click the OK button.
-
On the main Focus page, go to your Focus mode. Here, you can customize your apps, contacts, and so on until you're happy with what you've created.
- Select the back button after completing the previous step.
Now, with this particular Focus mode enabled, you can study with fewer distractions while using your Mac.
3. Use Reminders and Apple Calendar
Organizing your workflow and time is crucial when studying, and your MacBook has two apps that can help you in this respect: Apple Calendar and Reminders.
You can use Apple Calendar to keep track of your lectures and seminars and remove the manual work by integrating calendars from elsewhere. When using the app, you can also block out the periods that you'd like to focus on work each day.
In the Reminders app, you can create a set of lists for your different courses and modules. Within each of these, you can add simple to-do items. On top of that, you can add deadlines for your assignments and exams. Use the Add Date feature to organize everything in this respect.
If you try Apple Calendar and decide you're not a big fan, you can try a selection of alternative calendar apps for time management.
4. Work More Efficiently With Screen Time
You probably have a rough idea of how many hours you work daily, but do you know where that time is going? If you're worried that you aren't using your study sessions wisely, auditing what you do while you're on your MacBook is a good idea.
Screen Time shows you an overview of how long you've spent on your computer and highlights the apps that consume most of your time. You can use your statistics to organize your daily schedule and—if necessary—use website blockers to remove distractions as you study.
To turn Screen Time on, go to System Settings > Screen Time and switch the toggle on.
After enabling Screen Time, you can opt to receive notifications for your weekly usage statistics. Moreover, you can limit how long you're allowed to spend on certain apps each day.
5. Set Up Downtime
Downtime is within Screen Time, and it allows you to block websites at specific times. You can decide to schedule your Downtime during the same period each day, but if you'd prefer, you can turn it off for some days or adjust the times as you feel necessary.
-
To use Downtime, go to System Settings > Screen Time > Downtime. Switch Downtime on via the toggle at the top.
-
Choose between Every Day and Custom for when you want to activate Screen Time. After doing that, you can change the times you want the feature to work for.
6. Bookmark Useful Websites in Safari
You probably access many of the same websites as a student, such as your educational institution's portal. When using a MacBook, it makes sense to bookmark the most useful ones in Safari. That way, you can access them much quicker and start working without too much friction.
Bookmarking a website in Safari is easy:
- After going to the website you want to bookmark, click on the Share icon.
-
When the dropdown menu appears, hit Add to Bookmark.
- Access your bookmarks by expanding the sidebar and going to Bookmarks.
7. Pin Frequently-Used Apps in Your Dock
Similar to how you may have websites you most commonly visit, you probably have a selection of apps that help you with your studies more than others. Pinning these to your Dock makes sense because when you do, you won't need to search for them on your device.
-
To pin an app in your Dock, hover over an app and Control-click to bring up the context menu. Then, select Options > Keep in Dock.
- When an app is pinned to your Dock, you'll notice a small tick next to the Keep in Dock tab.
Use Your MacBook More Productively as a Student
Whether you're new to the Apple ecosystem or you've had a MacBook for a while, these computers are an excellent choice if you're a student. You'll have access to numerous productivity features, allowing you to work more efficiently and with better focus.
Focus and Widgets are both features that are worth trying, and you can also pin commonly-used apps. Elsewhere, you'll find tools for limiting distractions and much more.