Dr Amina Yonis: How to Become Your Most Productive Self
by Amaliah Team in Uncategorized on 2nd February, 2015
Dr Amina Yonis is a scientist, researcher, YouTuber and businesswoman. She completed a PhD in Cancer and Cell Biology and uses the knowledge she gained during her time in academia to help others achieve their productivity and academic goals. You can follow Dr Amina on YouTube and Instagram as well as her academic consultancy business, The Page Doctor.
On her top productivity tips..
“There are 3 main things that I do to maximise my productivity. If you know me, you know I have so many competing demands: being a mother full-time, running my own business and my YouTube channel where I upload a video twice a week. I’ve had to really fine tune my productivity and I’ve had to make sure the things I do are there to maximise my efficiency, but also my relaxation because it is important to take a break.
With that said, my first tip is to always get changed into outside clothes in the morning. This is the most under-appreciated tip because putting on clothes that you can go out with (and I’m not talking a blazer or suit here!) will minimise the barriers to going outside for a walk.
The second tip is to always get some fresh air or exercise in during the day. Getting some fresh air is so crucial for your mental health, especially now that a lot of us are cooped up at home due to the pandemic; it helps to clear the mind and prepares you for the day ahead. There are also some studies that show that having meetings whilst walking led to better outcomes than having a meeting sitting in a room. These studies found that conducting meetings while on the go reduced meeting times significantly and made people more focused. And a bonus: you’ll also be getting your steps in, so definitely try this tip with your next online meeting!
My third tip is to use post-it-notes for daily to-do lists. I usually do this the night before and I find this simplifies my tasks. I tend to stick the post-its on my desk or laptop and keep an eye on them as the day goes.”
Why did you want to study your PhD and were there any surprising benefits to it?
“I honestly just fell into it after my Master’s degree. It has given me a wealth of knowledge regarding academic writing and the whole academic process. It has also enabled me to start my YouTube channel and my business. I also want to lecture at a university soon and you’ll need a PhD for that.”
How competitive is it to get into a PhD course in London?
“It really depends on the course, university and type of funding. You will need to have the right experience/qualifications and do well in the interview. We can help over on the Page Doctor with all these things.”
Do you know whether arts PhDs are also funded in the same way STEM PhDs are?
“I don’t think so, they are mostly self-funded. This is because the funding usually comes from the charity aspect of these funding bodies e.g. Cancer Research UK and it’s much harder to find charities like this in the arts sector.”
How do you motivate yourself when you don’t feel like doing anything?
“I usually try to shake it off by going for a walk, having a little rant or just doing something completely unrelated. I then tell myself to just get 2mins of that task done. Many times, the challenge lies in just getting the ball rolling with a task but once you get started, it’s quite hard to stop!”
Do you find that being organised/planning impacts on your ability to achieve balance in your life?
“Planning is the key detriment of maintaining balance. I always know what I want to complete at a minimal and after those tasks are done, I’m a bit more relaxed. Without a plan, I just keep going and always feel like I haven’t got enough done.”
How do you control your social media usage to stay productive?
“All my notifications are turned off for EVERYTHING. I only go on Instagram when I need to post something, and then I’m back off and completely forget it exists. Notifications are such a distraction!”
You can find Dr Amina’s takeover on the Amaliah Instagram account under highlights for a limited time.
Amaliah Team
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