Meet Giorgia, our second guest in the sustainable productivity talks. We're diving into the world of sustainable productivity, which aims at getting things done without sacrificing our well-being. We're chatting with experts about finding that sweet spot where they crush their goals while keeping their health, relationships, and overall quality of life intact.
>> Read our previous interview with productivity apps expert Francesco D’Alessio here.
Giorgia Calvi shares her inspirational studying videos on TikTok, where she has 40K followers. She lives in a small village in Italy, not too far away from Milan, where she has just graduated in medicinal chemistry and is now looking for an internship.
By posting aesthetically pleasing short videos, Giorgia motivates others to read actively, organize studying materials, use bullet journals, and overall be proactive and happy in their studying process. We’ve asked Giorgia to share how romanticizing studying and paying attention to details, like the stationery she uses, helps her achieve big goals and stay content.
Giorgia, what motivates you to create TikTok videos and share your studying tips with others?
I love to share some little things that make me happy, like my study corner and my stationery items, because it's a way to romanticize studying. I'm particularly motivated when I receive nice comments from my followers, and they say that my videos have been really helpful. I'm glad to see that even a picture can inspire people all over the world. Plus, sharing your study life can help you connect with other people and make friends!
Have you heard about the ‘sustainable productivity’ concept? How do you feel about this?
Yes, and I agree with the concept of finding a balance between work and a person's well-being. I think that productivity is boosted when a person is content with her/his work environment. It's something that young people like me are particularly concerned with nowadays.
How do you tackle productivity pressure and stress?
Studying can get very stressful sometimes, and it's important to find a way of managing your stress levels. Sometimes, I feel the need to be productive to get as many things done as I can, and this can become an obsession. For example, throughout the day, if you feel tired or unmotivated, you start feeling guilty because you're not doing your best. During university, when I had to take exams, I experienced this productivity pressure… Also, you can start feeling guilty or stressed when comparing yourself with others on social media.
It's important to relieve stress by doing something you love or by going out just to change the environment. You can't forget about self-care. One's "comfort activities" can help you feel less stressed out. My go-to comfort activities are listening to music and bullet journaling.*
Moreover, I usually try to split a big task into smaller ones so that I can focus on little steps, and this helps when I feel overwhelmed. Planning is a good idea when it comes to creating a balance because it can help find time for everything.
Please share your experience with PDF Expert: what do you like the most about it?
PDF Expert is really helpful in modifying documents. I personally use the app to take notes and highlight important information. At university, professors provide us with PDF documents, so PDF Expert is useful to take notes on them. I also like the "tick off" feature that you can use when writing to-do lists.
What inspires you in everyday life?
I like to find inspiration online because the power of sharing helps develop new ideas and creativity. I also find inspiration in my study corner, everyday activities, and student life. I've started creating videos to share details of my student life. In fact, I've always wanted to convey simple things like taking nice notes, creating cool study planners, and using apps to study.
What 3 apps can’t you live without?
Can I share 4? Then, it will be Canva, TikTok, Forest, and PDF Expert.
I love to use graphic apps that help me get creative to make posts and stories like Canva, and I always use social media apps like Instagram and TikTok to share my content and get inspired by others. I like using the Forest app to stay focused and a note-taking app like Goodnotes or PDF Expert.
What personal productivity tip would you like to share with our users?
Make everything exciting! Add some fun elements to the process or follow a ritual so that you can be more motivated to start and do things. It’s important to find what works best for you and customize things so that you can feel excited, even about studying. Creating a specific vibe is what helps you stay focused and inspired.
*Bullet journaling is a method of organizing your calendar, tasks, or to-do lists by handwriting them into a notebook. It’s a proven way to organize and plan activities and stay productive.
Share your thoughts on productivity
Get ready for more nuggets of wisdom from industry leaders! Also, feel free to share your experience with achieving a balanced approach to productivity with us. Slide into our DMs on Facebook or Twitter, or shoot us an email at stories@readdle.com. Our community of sharp, savvy, and hardworking users always keeps us inspired, and we'd love for you to jump into the convo and swap stories with us.
Meanwhile, check our top articles with productive studying tips:
Yevheniia Dychko 
